Radical radiology

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User

Posted 16 Aug 2020 at 07:02

Hi, a year ago I was diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer and have just started radiotherapy. I have been on hormone therapy for nearly a year and as I have had a liver transplant sill be unsuitable for chemo. I am actually receiving radical radio therapy as the cancer has spread to the pubic bone and is very small. My consultant is brilliant and fought for this. Has anyone experienced this. It seemed everyone I had previously seen had written me off.

User

Posted 16 Aug 2020 at 07:02

User

Posted 16 Aug 2020 at 18:53

That comment you made 'it seemed like everyone I'd seen had written me off'.

It often seems very tick box. As if there is no intelligent thinking allowed. It's good that someone fought your corner and came up with something slightly outside the tick box. That's how it should be.

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User

Posted 16 Aug 2020 at 14:03

Hi Andyg2,

Do you know what the radiotherapy is directed at?
e.g. prostate?
bone met?

These are both possible treatments, but currently rare for advanced prostate cancer. There is new-ish evidence to show they can be very beneficial, but this hasn't gone mainstream on the NHS yet.

I'm guessing you are being offered this because they can't do chemo?

Has anyone mentioned abiraterone or enzalutamide drugs? They might also not be possible because of liver transplant, but I don't know.

User

Posted 16 Aug 2020 at 14:53

Hi Andy 62,

The beam is encompassing the prostate and very small area in the pubic bone. The proximity makes it easy to catch everything in one go.. I think the fact I can't have chemo has played an important part in the decision.The area of bone is very small.

User

Posted 16 Aug 2020 at 18:53

That comment you made 'it seemed like everyone I'd seen had written me off'.

User

Posted 16 Aug 2020 at 22:57

We have had a couple of men who've had radical radiotherapy with advanced prostate cancer. Research has shown this to slow progression of mets.

Yours is going one stage further and attacking the met too. That is sometimes done after radical treatment with curative intent, although uncommon.

I think you are to be congratulated in managing to secure this treatment. Is the intention curative? I can't see why not.

User

Posted 17 Aug 2020 at 00:03

It seems the intent is curative my consultant has never voiced any promises but has made reference to curing on a couple of occasions. He was prepared to get support from some of the top people. The location of the mets almost makes it difficult to not include everything. I obviously want the best outcome and had always known there was two of us in this. I had asked on previous occasions for PSA tests but with no success. Eventually I insisted by which time the picture was not great. I have spoken to several men who also found GPs reluctant to request a test.One person was a medical professional. In a different field and he was told this was quite widespread. It seemed surprising to me that the hepatoligists had made such great efforts to get me a liver transplant but appeared that I was being written off in uroligy. I feel very lucky to be in my present situation, whilst feeling angry that it need not of reached this stage.

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