SBRT side effect

[Jewelrylady]

my husband is getting his 3rd SBRT today. He is noticing difficulty urinating. Urine flow is slow and he is having to pee more frequently because he feels like he’s not emptying his bladder fully. He isn’t having any pain. Is this a normal side effect and is it permanent? He will talk with radiologist this afternoon but I’m curious what your experience has been. Thanks.

[Jpl506]

Very common, expected might be a better characterization. Mine lasted a couple of weeks after the completion of treatment. I was scared I was going to have to go to the ER a couple of times because of exactly what you described. Your Dr should be able to prescribe something to help. Ultimately I didn’t take anything for it and it passed. It did come back temporarily at about the 12-15 month time frame but nowhere near as severely.

[Jewelrylady in reply to Jpl506]

Hopefully he won’t have any need for ER! Thanks for sharing your experience. Do you currently have the same problems?

[Jpl506 in reply to Jewelrylady]

No I’m back to baseline after the temporary flare at 12-15 months. It only lasted a couple of weeks as well. I was told it was a possibility so I wasn’t too concerned.

[Tall_Allen]

Yes, it's expected. Here are other expected side effects:

prostatecancer.news/2018/10...

[Jewelrylady in reply to Tall_Allen]

thanks for the link. Knowing it’s expected helps decrease anxiety, even if it doesn’t decrease discomfort!

[fireandice123]

Is he on Flomax? When I had my RT I had increased urinary problems. I was already on Flomax, the standard 0.4 mg dose. My RO increased the dose to 0.8 mg and the problems abated. After RT was completed everything went back to normal within a couple of weeks.

[Jewelrylady]

He is taking Alfuzosin. He will continue with that and nurse suggested he try Motrin (with food) in the evening. If that doesn’t help, they prescribed steroids, but hoping he won’t need that.

[PCaWarrior]

I finished SBRT early in November 2023. I had to pee nightly. Went back to normal after a week. Unfortunately my fatigue hasn't gone away yet but is supposed to leave soon.

[Jewelrylady in reply to PCaWarrior]

That’s good news! Hopefully fatigue will go away soon. So far my husband hasn’t had fatigue. He’s got two more treatments to go.

[PCaWarrior in reply to Jewelrylady]

The radiation mostly damages cancer cells. But some healthy cells get caught in the crossfire.

Rest is important. We need to rest to recover.

YMMV on the duration. It takes a couple of months for some to get better. Some guys get better right away (me with the urinary tract - me not so much with the fatigue).

[Jewelrylady in reply to PCaWarrior]

Sorry, what is YMMV

[PCaWarrior in reply to Jewelrylady]

YMMV: Your mileage might vary.

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

It was the Rocelsius temperature reading in ancient Rome during the big fire.

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Tuesday 11/28/2023 5:22 PM EST

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

It was the Rocelsius temperature reading in ancient Rome during the big fire.

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Tuesday 11/28/2023 5:20 PM EST

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

I was just in Rome (really) and I believe it was the talk of the town🤣

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

Welcome back........ This is a question I ask anyone returning from Roma. Did you see one parking space? Most "Roma" Italians are born in a parking space...........

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Tuesday 11/28/2023 10:03 PM EST

[VCinTx]

Fatigue, fatigue, fatigue for many weeks. But it will get better.