SpaceOAR hydrogel - Hype or Help?

[Darryl]

Anyone have any thoughts or experience with SpaceOAR hydrogel for undergoing radiotherapy for prostate cancer...good or bad? What your doctor told you about it will be helpful to hear, too. Please reply below...thanks!

[no5ole]

It hasn't hurt. At least not yet. 11 Jan 18, had HDR, markers implanted and SpaceOAR hydrogel placed. As I was out at the time, can't comment on the insertion procedure. Afterwords, the holes from the HDR got more of my attention than the gel. After the initial HDR discomfort lessened I had a sensation of pressure, not pain. After a couple of days, this moved into the background of feelings and I forgot about it. At different times since the insertion, I have had very minor sensations, not pain, just once in a while it feels like I am sitting on something small. A soft marble, some wadded up fabric. I can feel a pressure, but again no pain. My bowel movements have altered, I assume due to the restriction the gel created by pressing on my rectum. The diameter of the stool has been reduced to about the size of a large 1st grade pencil or a Lincoln Log. The stool has been soft (may be due more to my diet). I have had no issues with bowel movements.

As to helping with external radiation. I have had 15 of 25 treatments (#15 was 16 Feb 18). So far, there have been no lower GI tract issues. No bleeding, no pain, nothing other than what I mentioned above.

Short term (15 treatments) I have no complaints about the gel. Long term, call me in 10 to 15 years.

My numbers, age 61 at time of PSA, Jul 17 PSA 11 (normal physical, no pain or issues). 5 Oct 17, biopsy, all 6 cores positive, 5+4, 4+5, 5+4, 4+5, 4+5, 4+4 (2nd reading by Walter Reed). High risk, aggressive. DRE normal. Casodex 1 Dec 17, Lupron 12 Dec 17. 11 Jan HDR, markers, SpaceOAR gel. 29 Jan 18 started external, 25 doses. Casodex to stop with last external treatment (2 Mar 18), Lupron for 12 months. Dislike Lupron side effects VERY MUCH.

At this time and point in my treatment, I would recommend SpaceOAR gel.

God bless everyone here and I hope for positive outcomes for all of us.

Rich

[Darryl Partner in reply to no5ole]

Hi Rich can you please clarify what you mean by “hdr?”

[no5ole in reply to Darryl]

Evening Darryl. High dose radiation, brachytherapy. Internal radiation like seed implant but temporary and higher dose. One treatment, 12 to 20 (mine was 15) radiation points inside the prostate. Computer controlled dose based on radiation plan created by oncologist using all available scans. No residual radiation, no restrictions on pregnant women, small children or radiation sensors on cruise ships.

[davidgmorse]

I did radiation therapy using something like space oar I believe - a daily insertion of a protective device with each treatment. I believe it has saved potential damage to rectal and other organs. I can tell you the doctor - a pioneer in the use of such device.

[tjdillon in reply to davidgmorse]

David - that sounds like something other than Space OAR which is inserted once before the first radiation treatment and lasts for the duration of the multiple radiation treatments and then is absorbed by the body - not a daily insertion.

[Mrkharn]

I was scheduled to receive it but.

It was new. The hospital had been doing it for one month. Opinions varied on the forums.

And I had just won a big battle with the insurance company. I didn’t want another battle for SpaceOAR. So I declined it.

Just thinking this morning about how it would have been approved in the insurance package probably and I regret my decision. I had a lot of radiation problems.

It’s probably a good thing and might have helped.

Mark