Starting radiotherapy

I had a good chat with my assigned cancer care nurse in my local NHS hospital today.

I am Gleason 4:5 T2c

i started Triptorelin on 23rd April and I have a review on 21st June to check how well the hormone treatment is shrinking my PCa

At this review my oncologist will look at the week befores blood test results for PSA and Testosterone

If she thinks my hormone treatment has had the desired effect I will be given a start date for my Radiotherapy

This will start approx at the 3 month point from my first hormone injection 

so I have my fingers crossed, as I wanted to do the awful 7 weeks Monday to Friday RT during the summer months

In my area NHS Trust, RT is normally given at 3 month point if your PCa is responding to hormone therapy 

Other areas may have different standards, I post this just for information 

This sort of an update

Ive had my 2nd Decapeptyl IM injection on 23rd July and next day my “list” arrived from the hospital. 20 fractions starting 7th August.

i have had my planning CT scan supported with ultrasound probe and finished up getting my three “freckles” tattooed 

Edited by member 28 Jul 2018 at 21:04  | Reason: Not specified

Yes, good luck.

I'm sure you will be back soon telling us all your concerns were unfounded. There will be sessions which don't go absolutely smoothly when you might get the yellow card and sent out for 10 minutes while you drink a bit more (often to a lot of leg pulling by your fellow patients😁).

On one occasion I was given the card and told to do some strange exercises to get rid of some gas. It's the first time a lady has ever asked me to do that!!😃😃😃

We look forward to seeing a picture of you ringing the bell!

Well, I had fraction number 7 of 20 today. A third of the way through. It’s not been so bad as I thought so far. I have no urinary issues and no bowel Problems yet, but I suppose I am still in early stage? I define feel a lot more tired, but I’m not sure at all if this is due to the 5 hours on the go from door to door every day. I have followed advice, I shower twice a day, using Dove soap and shower cream, I have some 98% Aloe Vera gel that I apply liberally over the treated areas. My treatment so Fay is IMRT supported by Ultrasound. I get zapped from 6 o’clock under the bed, then 9 o’clock, 11 o’clock, 1 o’clock and finally 3 o’clock, so five in all. This is the same every day. I am now firmly in the routine. I have been able to cycle every day, about an hour and a half, after I get home, which I find therapeutic. The fitness has most definitely had a big impact on my treatment ever since I started on hormone therapy up till now.

Hope the remaining fractions go well. You’re well on the way through the 20 so here’s wishing for the side effects to remain low to non existent.

Interesting that you said the IMRT is supported by ultrasound. Is that to check your bladder is filled to the correct level? 

I was scanned by the machine using X-rays each day to check position and bladder filling.

All the best,

Ian

My RT was pretty similar, except that as soon as I developed loose bowels (about halfway through the 20 sessions,) I was told to stop using the mini enemas. Also, no ultrasonic probe was used, the RT machine also did a preliminary X ray.