Supplements prostate cancer

[Willowdene]

My husband had prostate cancer and had prostatectomy 2 years ago. He now has PSA of 0.2 and has to have 4 weeks of daily radiotherapy to eliminate rogue cancer cells in bed. We taken glucosamine, fish oils, zinc, Vit B , Vit D, VitC supplements for many years.does anybody in this forum know whether these could cause problems to kidneys etc. His kidneys are okay he is 73, consultant doesn’t seem concerned , fine for age. Fit and well and a bummer that he has to have radiotherapy, he has some incontinency due to damage to one nerve at operation and further treatment can cause him to be fully incontinent which being fit and active will be devastating.

[RickHow]

Sorry to hear your difficult period of time. Lets first talk about the supplements. You say he took them for a long time and at 73 his kidney's are, according to his doctor, fine. This answers your question I think. They obviously have had no effect on his kidneys to any significant degree. Now lets talk about radiotherapy, or what is commonly called radiation.With my cancer I have had this therapy, on several occasions. There was NO affect on my kidney function as my egfr, creatinine levels, blood work (kidney related) remained unchanged at each time. So much depends on what part of the body is being treated. For example I had a tumor in the upper femur in the leg. They removed the hip and that portion of the femur. I had radiation to "kill" any small cells still laying around in the remaining femur. This was uneventful radiation. Radiation is not to be feared. In this case I just was escorted to a dressing room, removed pants and underwear, put on a gown. Then escorted to the radiation (called Cyber knife) table. You are placed in a position (told not to move). The pulled gown back and the table remains stationary as they aim the radiation at the area. You feel NOTHING. It took about 15 minutes. No after affects. I went for a few days, everyday with a break every 3 days.

Then there was a tumor in my pelvis (left side, and one on right). This required radiation to try to kill as much of the tumor as possible. Not completely. Same process. Required naked from waist down but they treat you with as much dignity as possible as you lay exposed to the nurses and radiologist. This time the radiation was given through the back. It required hitting areas of the colon and stomach. After the first day I was ill. Vomiting, exhausted. Constipation. But it passed after a day, and subsequent days the radiologist gave lower doses, but for more days, and all was fine. I had this again one year later.

They say prostate radiation CAN (but not always) cause some light urinary incontinence as it takes a day or two after to again gain self control. So have some proper incontinence pads/underwear just in case.

Don't fear the radiation for prostate. While not something we would look forward to, for that area it is not terrible. Especially to just kill a few left over cells. Those that suffer more are when it is used to treat actual tumors for which you receive large doses, for longer periods of time each visit, and for many more days.

[Willowdene in reply to RickHow]

Thank you as always RickHow you certainly have been through the wars but always there to help people. Your a treasure to the forum