Stage 4. IMRT + HDR Brachytherapy

[FightCancer101]

I have Stage 4 (metastasis in L2). Currently on ADT. I have chosen IMRT followed by HDR Brachytherapy. I'm starting IMRT in January 2024.

What was you experience with this combination? Did it work? Any side effects?

Thank you for your responses.

[timotur]

Hi, I had HDR-BT/IMRT at UCLA (Chang) for Stg3bN1M0 +SV (GL 3+4). It's a good choice for advanced PCa with favorable O/S statistics. The BT procedure itself is not bad, some soreness and oozing for a few days, and some slight incontinence for two weeks. ADT for 18 months was the hardest part, but manageable through exercise and diet. I'm in remission 4.5 years later and no apparent SE's. (see profile)

[FightCancer101 in reply to timotur]

Thank you for your response. All the best to you!

[Yokohama2023]

Hi, I had seed brachytherapy 2 months ago first …started ADT 4 months prior… currently halfway through linac 8 of 15. For me it’s gone fairly smoothly .. rough 2 days after brachytherapy due to tubes , overnight stay, catheter… they make you stay 3 nights in hospital where I am.. I had a spinal epidural and it was totally fine . The worst part for me so far was the massive catheter which causes pain and made it difficult to sleep , maybe double check sizing if possible.. I have the sudden urgency to urinate frequently and just go .. like when when you really have to pee and hold it .. I guess I have good control not a big deal. My sleep is a bit shallow hard to sleep more than 4 hours at a time . Where I am in Japan this is called tri modality treatment and pretty successful. My doctor mentioned using only dual modality results in reoccurrence but he’s had better success with this combo. The question I have is the adjuvant ADT duration. Depending on diagnosis zero to 18 months recommended. I’m intermediate unfavorable so generally 6 months recommended. It really hasn’t been that bad .. I take a Chinese herb they recommend 3 times which helps with hot flashes .. other than that for me very tolerable but I generally work out often. I highly recommend some sort of exercise which will make a huge difference … take care!

[FightCancer101 in reply to Yokohama2023]

Thank you, for your response.

What kind of Chinese herb are you taking for hot flashes.