Sonny- IG/IMRT #30 done and only 5 to go

At 7:30am Friday morning I completed Treatment #30 of the planned 35. 1 week and only 5 treatments to go.

This week I started to experience some of the side effects for the first time since treatment began.

The urinary urgency has increased to multiple times per hour during the day, but surprisingly I still only get up 1 time per night on average. The urgency has some pain accompanying it. The dr. said it most likely is a little bladder neck/sphincter spasm when nearing completion. It may be just a little spasm, but the pain is probably a 6-7 on the 10 scale.

The one effect I feared the most (loose stool- the big D) has/had not showed up. But there has been a fair amount of pain associated with going. Tried some Tutts ointment last night and finally got some relief.

All in all I feel like I will get through the 35 treatments fairly well. If I only have to deal with the side effects for the last week I feel really blessed.

Just doing my part to document the process and progress for those that follow in our path,

Sonny shocked

61 years old
PSA 11/07 3.0
PSA 5/09 6.4
Diagnosis confirmed July 9, 2009
12 Needle Biopsy = 9 clear , 3 postive
<5%, 90%, 40%
Gleason Score (3+4) 7 in all positive cores
CT Organ Scan - negative
Nuclear Bone Scan - Negative
da Vinci 9/17/09
Post Surgery Pathology:
Gleason: Changed to (4+3) = 7
Stage: T3a
Tumor Volume 12.5%
NERVES SPARED-positive margin, extra-prostatic extension
30 day PSA 0.4, 50 day psa 0.53, 64 day psa 0.6
IMRT scheduled to begin Nov 30,2009 (74 days post surgery)