Merry Xmas everyone and well wishes for 2019 for everyone.
Dad had a RP (partial nerve sparing) June 2018 and had a PSA 0f 0.08 for 4.5 months. It suddenly increased to 0.17 in December which naturally caused alarm. Scans showed no change which we expected under 0.2. Oncologist was keen to move to treatment which I agree with and he was placed on hormones for 6 weeks prior to his radiation commencing. He has tablets for the first month but also a monthly injection that he will have for 6 months. Radiation is 33 sessions to the prostate bed. Dad is very fit and active and runs daily which I believe will help him with some of the side effects from hormones and radiation . Any other suggestions of what he can expect or how to cope with the effects would be much appreciated. He is understandably anxious.
Thank you all in advance as always!
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k538
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if your Dad is deficient in iodine his body will readily absorb the radioactive radiation which he is being treated with ?
If your Dad however has optimum iodine his body will block absorption of the radioactive iodine thereby avoiding unwanted exposure to radiation which can lead to other cancers later on ?
they only want the prostate to be zapped with radiation but I think it may affect surrounding areas
I would leave a link but don't think it's allowed - organic sea kelp will provide the iodine - we all have it in our family even the dog - just sprinkle it on your food I put mine on a ricecake with low fat spread
Encourage him to exercise vigorously throughout (if he can afford a personal trainer, this would be a good time). It helps the radiation work better, protects healthy tissues, fights fatigue, and protects bone mineral density. If he is taking ANY supplements, he should stop while he is getting radiation - they may interfere with the radiation. Particularly avoid multivitamins, and anything that is called an antioxidant or a free radical absorber (they do the opposite of what the radiation is trying to accomplish).
Great tips- thank you. I'll be sure to tell him to stop his supplements. What's your view on the sea kelps above. Is that ok to take in your view? He's exercised throughout his diagnosis so I know he will be determined to do the same as much as he can through it.
Foods will probably do no harm unless taken in huge amounts. Iodide protects the thyroid gland ONLY from radiation exposure, but the radiation he will be getting is precisely targeted and gets nowhere near the thyroid.
Thank you for that info. He is having mapping beforehand 10 days before radiation commences. We are in London, England, but private care rather than NHS ( not that it matters in reality) at an excellent hospital so I'm hoping they will run through the dos and donts on the visit but just in case, it's good to have tips or questions to ask from such a knowledgeable community!
I am in week 3 of radiation treatments and also on hormone therapy. The hot flashes are the most uncomfortable side effect so far. There are drugs that are supposed to help with this, but I am wary of adding yet more chemicals to my body. I am following the advice to exercise often and am taking calcium on the advice of my urologist. I've been told to expect urinary difficulties later in the treatment but nothing so far. So I will stay active and stay positive. As an aside, the longer you stay with this site, the more you will be able to make decisions about the advice you receive here. Take everything with a grain of salt and do a lot of research on your own. If you have found a urologist and/or oncologist that you trust, I would put their recommendations at the top of your list.
The worst of my experience is not knowing what is going on!! Thus the reason you posted your question too I assume!! They will tell you about hot flashes / night sweat, mood swings etc. which are typical female menopause symtons with the addition of sexual impacts such as no libdo and ED. The removal of his testosterone (chemical castration) causes this.
In my reading of soooooooo many posts taught me that reacaction to the hormone treatment vary greatly. It’s got nothing to do with being a wimp or a tough guy, its biology!!! I share my experance with many because I never saw some things coming!!! I was the tough construction worker guy! The tough guy that now crys (uncontrolably) at the drop of a hat. Like a schoolgirl left home on prom night!!! The tough muscular guy that is now 60 pounds overweight while starvation and excersise are of no help! The tough guy that needs help lifting virtually anything of substance!!! I also came down with severe “Lupron Brain” which cost me my job (Google it, Chemo Brain as well).
It’s not my goal to falsely alarm you! I share because nobody warned me of the possibilities of these side effects, but now, after the fact, admit the chances were there! I went through months of fearing that I was loosing my mind or geting dementia. My Oncoligist recently admitted that he never believed in Lupron Brain until a close friend of his complained of it. Most Doctors admit that they know very little about it. It took my own research, on sites like this to get answers and proof that it is real!!
I urge you to do the same with anything you / he finds out of order.
I pray that your Dad’s treatment is like a cake walk but if he feels like something is off, odds are its the treatment. All of a sudden his hips hurt, keeps forgetting keys, can’t touch his toes, unwaranted rage, depression, etc., guess what?!!!!
There aren’t many options but if you expect something, I think it’ll be easier to accept it should it actually happen!
I'm so sorry to hear you've had such a tough time with it and thank you for your advice and contributions. Keep being positive even when it's not always that easy to do so. I've certainly felt the frustrations with the medical experts on I understand your frustrations well. We went for mapping today in advance of radiation. They are adamant that we will give a 66 dosage for 33 sessions to the prostate bed. Dads rectum and bladder looked perfect in scans with "easy mappping" they claim. He is on ADT for 6 months additionally. I feel upon advice on the forum and my own research that it should be at least 70 as the dosage and potentially the wider pelvic region not just the prostate bed for 0.18. I'm no expert of course but I do wonder why they suggest 70 on most studies but the private radiologist expert insists on 66.. any advice?
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Long-Term ADT With Radiation
Treatment - radiation vs. surgery
Might be on a radiation trial.
Surgery or Radiation? 
Radical prostatectomy successful - now what?
