Ureter stent choice and procedure

[lamaranewton]

Hello my friends my name is Lamar. I was diagnosed with T3b N0 M0 eleven years ago and PSA was 22 and I had a Gleason of 4+3=7. I had a robotic radical prostatectomy followed by radiation. I chose not to start Lupron until my PSA began to double in any 12 month period. I began an intermittent Lupron program once my PSA hit 33. I stopped after 4 months and by November I had a prostate cancer tumor removed from my bladder. I went to MDAnderson last month and they told me my cancer was constricting my right ureter causing blockage and a rise in my creatinine. I am having a stent procedure for that on April 11. My question for the group is whether to choose the metal or plastic type. I would appreciate recommendations, comments, suggestions or anything that could help me decide which one. Thanks!

[smroush]

I had ureter stents in for over 8 months back in 2012 - 2013 due to a PCa tumor causing a blockage. I think they were plastic, though I am not absolutely positive; I had never heard of metal ones. My urologist said they could only leave a given stent in for 3 months so I actually had 3 different stents in. The main thing I learned was the importance of the proper size being used. Each of the two times that an existing stent was replaced a slightly smaller one (length for sure, not certain about diameter) was used for the new one. The original one in particular was too large for me and resulted in more feelings of internal scratching and poking and a slight amount of blood in the urine at times. The smaller ones were noticeably more comfortable. After external beam radiation and about 9 months on ADT (Lupron and Casodex) the tumors shrunk enough that they were able to remove the stent. I have been stent free ever since.

[lamaranewton in reply to smroush]

Thank you

[j-o-h-n]

***** Timing is Everything (this a post from yesterday Wednesday, 03/14/2018) *****

I've had 39 treatments (8 weeks, 5 days a week minus 1 day). I did NOT have any side effects during the actual "FRYING". However years later it was discovered that my left urinary tract has become scarred/constricted and required many, many "in and out stents" for my kidney and urine. BTW the in and out of the stents were "a walk in the park". No Pain or discomfort. Rad was done at Memorial Sloan Kitterring cancer center in NYC in 2005. After not having a stent in my tract for a few years my Urologist went in to see what's happening this past Wednesday. This procedure was done based upon routine CT scans and a scheduled Ultrasound prescribed by my Urologist. So in went a stent (he also added one in my right side for a kidney stone in my right Kidney).

Just be wary of the damage that Rad can do (even if it's silent).

My stents were PLASTIC.

Good Luck and Good Health.

j-o-h-n Thursday 03/15/2018 5:11 PM EDT

[lamaranewton in reply to j-o-h-n]

Thank you!

[RalphieJr64]

I now have a metal stent. Had 1st a plastic stent. They last any where from 2 to 4 months. A metal stent 6 months to a year. They do go in robotically through the penis. It hurt like hell to urinate for a few days. But ok now.

Good luck

[lamaranewton in reply to RalphieJr64]

Thank you