Leaning Now towards External Beam Radiation

gaburrell
gaburrell Member Posts: 25
edited March 2014 in Prostate Cancer #1
Today I saw my Urologist and he confirmed that the cancer looks to be contained within the prostate.

I was leaning towards traditional surgery, but since I have a weak heart due to Congestive Heart Failure and a gaft implanted in my left leg due to Vascular Disease the Urologist said there may be complications and high risk with surgery.

Have those who have had the External Beam Radiation treatment had problem with leakage? Even though there is no incision like in surgery.

I am 54 with a PSA of 6.4 and Gleason Score of 7 (3+4).

Gil

Comments

  • lewvino
    lewvino Member Posts: 1,010
    #2
    My father was treated in
    My father was treated in 1997 with Proton beam and External beam Radiation treatments. He did not have any leakage but had very strong urgency to find the bathroom fast, some mucus discharge from the rectum and very minor bleeding. These cleared up in time post treatment. Though still today 12 years post treatment if he needs the bathroom he needs to find one pretty fast. He carries a 'jar' in his vehicle for emergencies.

    Larry
  • gaburrell
    gaburrell Member Posts: 25
    #3
    lewvino said:

    My father was treated in
    My father was treated in 1997 with Proton beam and External beam Radiation treatments. He did not have any leakage but had very strong urgency to find the bathroom fast, some mucus discharge from the rectum and very minor bleeding. These cleared up in time post treatment. Though still today 12 years post treatment if he needs the bathroom he needs to find one pretty fast. He carries a 'jar' in his vehicle for emergencies.

    Larry

    Leakage
    Thanks.

    Gil
  • ld34
    ld34 Member Posts: 24
    #4

    I had 33 external beam

    I had 33 external beam radiation treatments about 3 months after my R.P.

    Radiation,of the prostate bed , was recommended because the pathogy report of my prostate
    indicated that the cancer was very close to leaving the prostate gland. All this happened about 12 years ago.

    I had no bad effects from the radiation treatments. No leakage or fatigue. I actually went to a 1-2 hour workout each day

    I wish you the best.
  • DougP
    DougP Member Posts: 7
    #5
    ld34 said:


    I had 33 external beam

    I had 33 external beam radiation treatments about 3 months after my R.P.

    Radiation,of the prostate bed , was recommended because the pathogy report of my prostate
    indicated that the cancer was very close to leaving the prostate gland. All this happened about 12 years ago.

    I had no bad effects from the radiation treatments. No leakage or fatigue. I actually went to a 1-2 hour workout each day

    I wish you the best.

    Id34,
    Do you recall your PSA
    Id34,

    Do you recall your PSA and Gleason score? Also, did you have any invasion in the margins? I ask because you said that was 12 years ago...so I assume no reoccurence?

    DougP
  • ld34
    ld34 Member Posts: 24
    #6
    I do indeed . Psa going in
    I do indeed . Psa going in was 7 ,Gleason going in was 7. After R.P. gleason was 9 (from the pathology report of the prostate when it was out of my body)

    Psa remained less than .1 for 9 years. Slowly creeping up, now it is 4.0 (down from 4.8)
    from 6 weeks ago.

    I am 75 and I want to put off Lupron as long as I can. Just as a side bar.I have no symptoms now and I had no symptoms prior to my R.P. If I didn't know my psa I wouldn't know I had an issue.
  • DougP
    DougP Member Posts: 7
    #7
    ld34 said:

    I do indeed . Psa going in
    I do indeed . Psa going in was 7 ,Gleason going in was 7. After R.P. gleason was 9 (from the pathology report of the prostate when it was out of my body)

    Psa remained less than .1 for 9 years. Slowly creeping up, now it is 4.0 (down from 4.8)
    from 6 weeks ago.

    I am 75 and I want to put off Lupron as long as I can. Just as a side bar.I have no symptoms now and I had no symptoms prior to my R.P. If I didn't know my psa I wouldn't know I had an issue.

    Thanks for your reply. I
    Thanks for your reply. I just completed a RP 10 days ago and will be returning to have my catheter removed on Monday after having to have it re-inserted this past Monday. I couldn't pass any urine. I'm 56 years old and my PSA was 5.7 and Gleason post-op is 7. I too, did not have any symptoms. I have high cholesterol and had my PSA checked when I was having blood test for cholesterol. My wife thought that at 56, I should have my PSA checked.

    Good luck!
  • lewvino
    lewvino Member Posts: 1,010
    #8
    DougP said:

    Thanks for your reply. I
    Thanks for your reply. I just completed a RP 10 days ago and will be returning to have my catheter removed on Monday after having to have it re-inserted this past Monday. I couldn't pass any urine. I'm 56 years old and my PSA was 5.7 and Gleason post-op is 7. I too, did not have any symptoms. I have high cholesterol and had my PSA checked when I was having blood test for cholesterol. My wife thought that at 56, I should have my PSA checked.

    Good luck!

    Give your wife a big thank
    Give your wife a big thank you for getting you checked! I know many men that won't get checked for what ever reason. I actually Got a baseline back when I was about 42 since my dad had been diagnosed. Now its my turn at 54.
  • channelsurferdude
    channelsurferdude Member Posts: 12
    #9
    Do your research...
    Check out Proton Beam Therapy

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