Results of diverticulitis caused by radiation treatments

[TexasPRD]

I had 44 days of external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) to treat prostate cancer over two months.

In week four I started getting intense pain and symptoms of diverticulitis. I had diverticulitis twice before, five years and ten years previously so I knew the symptoms. Radiation continued and after treatment stopped, I ended up with an infected and perforated colon and went to emergency. Was in hospital for 11 days where my colon was removed in an ileostomy and I am now spending the rest of my life wearing an external ostomy pouch.

I am looking for studies of diverticulitis being started and caused by radiation treatments. My doctor basically stated, I guess it's just a coincidence. I am looking for information for a potential malpractice lawsuit because no one should ever have to experience what I went through.

Thank you for any info you can give.

[AlfredSaxon]

I had external beam radiotherapy to the bed of the prostate, this was some 7 years after I had the prostate removed, this treatment was prompted by a small increase in PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen). Radiotherapy caused me radiation cystitis which manifests itself in passage of blood when urinating, plus some other long term problems. Clinicians usually fail to advise patients that the treatment damages both malignant & heathly tissue, the hope being that the damaged healthy tissue will regenerate--this does not always happen. If there's negligence, then its the failure to be fully transparent about the substantial damage that radiotherapy can inflict. Radiation into the pelvic area has caused many patients severe long term health problems--this is evidenced by the existence of the Pelvic Radiation Disease Association the PRDA. I hope that this helps.

[Lyubov in reply to AlfredSaxon]

Exactly what happened to my husband! He has to use a Foley 24/7; had hyperbaric oxygen therapy that seems to have stopped the hemorrhagic bleeding in uring. And just recently has been diagnosed with radiation proctitis that causes terrible bowel problems! His QOL has been horrible.

[Dasch123]

I have had 28 sessions of pelvic external radiotherapy and 3 sessions of high dose internal brachytherapy over a course of 6 weeks with chemotherapy. I got bowel issues very early on in treatment and they have persisted. I am 9 months out of treatment now and have finally been referred to a gastroenterologist. I have had a colonoscopy and 12 biopsies with have concluded that my bowel is permanently damaged by radiation. I am having a seHCAT scan to check for Bile Acid Malabsorption next week and also being tested for EPI which they have can also occur as a result of my treatment. My symptoms are really impacting on my day to day life