PMR and cancer treatment: I was diagnosed with PMR... - PMRGCAuk

PMRGCAuk

20,122 members37,704 posts

PMR and cancer treatment

Hankb profile image
26 Replies

I was diagnosed with PMR in November last year and am taking 4x5mg pred per day. I have now been diagnosed with early stage prostate cancer and have been advised to have radiotherapy treatment. Does anyone have any experience of what effect PMR has combined with cancer treatment? I hope the question makes sense.

Written by
Hankb profile image
Hankb
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Read more about...
26 Replies
SheffieldJane profile image
SheffieldJane

I just wanted to wish you well for your forthcoming treatment. I expect your own doctors will have specific advice for you. I am sure people with personal experience based, things to say will be along soon Hankb. There are definitely people on the site who have managed both conditions.

Hankb profile image
Hankb in reply to SheffieldJane

Thank you for your reply and your support.

MrsNails profile image
MrsNails

Hi Hank

Sorry to hear about your diagnosis, l have been through Treatment for Breast Cancer, Surgery & Chemotherapy but not Radiotherapy.

My PMR if anything behaved much better & certainly the Chemo had an effect in so far as l had no flares & l was able continue to reduce my Pred.

Best of Luck with your Treatment & don’t hesitate to ask any questions you may have & keep in touch.

Kind Regards

MrsN

PS Radiotherapy generally makes people tired so factor that in.

Hankb profile image
Hankb in reply to MrsNails

Many thanks for your reply. I feel more assured now that I know what to expect. I thought that radiotherapy might cause tiredness.

MrsNails profile image
MrsNails in reply to Hankb

Just take care of yourself & if you have someone to drive you all the better as a friend of mine said the most stressful part of Radiotherapy was finding somewhere to park! Though at this time the hospitals are not as busy so parking isn’t such an issue....

Good Luck 🍀

Hankb profile image
Hankb in reply to MrsNails

I live within 10 minutes of the hospital which is a plus. Many thanks for your support much appreciated. Feeling more positive about things now.

Telian profile image
Telian

Hi Hank

I have GCA and PMR then breast cancer. I had radiotherapy and didn’t have any adverse PMR effects. The fatigue usually comes on after your treatment - I had a touch of it just before treatment finished but it is quite short term in the scheme of things. Best wishes.

Hankb profile image
Hankb in reply to Telian

Many thanks for your feedback. I hope you are making a good recovery. It's so encouraging to know you've come through without any adverse effects, makes me feel more positive about the treatment.

pmrgcavictim profile image
pmrgcavictim

Hello Hankb, wishing you a quick recovery. Radiotherapy tiredness big time after my first go with cancer, 40 years before PMR and GCA. Sorry to hear you are going through both at the same time. Will be thinking of you, on your road to recovery. Trevor.

Hankb profile image
Hankb in reply to pmrgcavictim

Many thanks for your support it's very much appreciated at this time.

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador

My husband had r/t for prostate ca a few years ago - he was fairly OK for the first month of the two month course but then did get quite tired. We chose to take our camper van to a site about half an hour from the unit - otherwise he'd have had a long trip each day, we live more than an hour from the hospital - and he did manage to do quite a lot of touristy things. Everyone is a bit different in response to r/t

All the best.

Hankb profile image
Hankb in reply to PMRpro

Thanks for your reply. I hope you hubby has made a good recovery after his treatment. We are fortunate in as much we live quite close to the hospital, about 10 minutes drive away. Any additional fatigue on top of the PMR fatigue will be a challenge but I will have to manage it the best I can. Your support is much appreciated.

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply to Hankb

His PSA has fallen steadily - it wasn't that high in the first place though found when it was on its way up. He has had one unpleasant post r/t adverse effect but it isn't common and only a problem because he was on anticoagulant medication.

Hankb profile image
Hankb in reply to PMRpro

Thanks very much for the info. I'm pleased his PSA has fallen which is a very positive sign of effective treatment.

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply to Hankb

His colleagues who work in r/t were greatly in favour of it as an option and said the success rate was very high. The urologists had mixed opinions - mostly in favour of surgery which actually wouldn't have been a good option given his other conditions, not least the anaesthetic. No-one suggested hormone therapy and one urologist has said he'd have recommended watchful waiting!

Hankb profile image
Hankb in reply to PMRpro

I have an appointment on 1st March with urologist to discuss treatment options but at the moment I think I would prefer radiotherapy route. I've a friend who is the same age as me and he had r/t and found it to be very successfull. With all the positive information and support I've been getting from this forum I feel a lot more positive about the whole thing now. Thank you for your feedback.

piglette profile image
piglette

My brother was diagnosed with prostate cancer last year. We went through all the options along with some very modern treatments. In the end he decided to have his prostate removed.

Hankb profile image
Hankb in reply to piglette

Because of my age, I'm 78, he said he wouldn't advise an operation but recommended treatment, so I'll think I'll go along with that at the moment. I have an appointment with the specialist again next week do discuss the options. Thank you so much for your input it's much appreciated.

piglette profile image
piglette in reply to Hankb

My brother was operated on by a robot!!

jinasc profile image
jinasc

Hank

I have sent you a PM.

Hankb profile image
Hankb in reply to jinasc

Thanks.

Hankb profile image
Hankb in reply to jinasc

Good morning Mavis.Just a short note to let you know that I have joined the group, they tell me it takes about 3 weeks to process.

I've found this group so helpful I must congratulate everyone who helped found it.

Have a good day.

Regards

Bryan

jinasc profile image
jinasc in reply to Hankb

That post has made me have a great big grin on my face. I bet you are the first from South Africa. The Charity is run on a shoe string with 2 part-time volunteers all the rest are volunteers.

👍😍

When you get time you might like to read this old post.

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk....

THANK YOU A THOUSAND TIMES OVER.

Hankb profile image
Hankb in reply to jinasc

😊👍

Charlie1boy profile image
Charlie1boy

Hi There,Have only just read your post, and yes, I have experience of both conditions.

Diagnosed PMR December 2014, and then with prostate cancer July 2016, by which stage I was at 8mg.

Absolutely no problem having the PMR whilst undergoing the course of radiotherapy other than I had to hold my arms in a certain static position which was uncomfortable.

The radiotherapy you just have to go through - not at all painful, but there are other considerations ( not related to PMR) which you will have been told about. At the end of the course I felt fairly knackered!

Following on from the radiotherapy I had a three year course of hormone injections; one every 12 weeks. These caused hot sweats which I could certainly have done without. I still get them today, and my last injection was in August 2019. I never experienced these sweats prior to the cancer diagnosis, but I can't help wondering whether the pred exacerbated the situation.

Currently I am on 1mg of pred daily, and best of all the cancer seems to be in remission. I am just 81years old.

Good luck

Paddy

PS: Ask any more questions if you wish - you can always send a personal message.

Hankb profile image
Hankb in reply to Charlie1boy

Hi Charlie1boy.Many thanks for your message, I feel a lot more reassured now hearing that you have already successfully been through radiotherapy whilst suffering with PMR. If I have any further questions I will definitely get back to you. I see the radiologopist on 1st March to discuss start of treatment. Thanks again.

You may also like...

PMR and cancer treatment

I have been taking Pred since Nov 21. Started at 15mg and have managed to taper to 10mg. A little...

Breast cancer and PMR

My question is really about how the cancer treatments could possibly affect PMR, I have been on...

Advice on PMR and cancer

Diagnosed with PMR in March this year and been on pred ever since - now 14mg. I hadnt heard of it...

Safe skin cancer treatment for PMR, advice please

Does anyone have any experience of Efudex cream for solar keratosis or skin cancer? I was prescribed

Just diagnosed with PMR and concerned this will impact on my bladder cancer treatment -

bladder cancer? I was diagnosed with bladder cancer Nov 2015, had the tumour removed Dec 2015 and...