Salvage radiation prep

[Tonik25]

My husband 54 had RRP back in June 2018 Gleason 9 clear margins. Went undetectable but now at PSA 0.1 which has triggered salvage radiation for 7 weeks and ADT for 6 months. No side effects from ADT yet, been on it 6 weeks I think. Due to start radiation next week but at the planning appt. they could not get what they needed due to lower bowel not being clear. Had taken movicol night before and then then an enema at the hospital but still not clear enough. Same happened again today so he will be back for the planning scan on Monday morning. He is naturally frustrated by this and worried this is going to be a theme through the 38 treatments. For anyone who has been through this do you have any advice you can share about prep you did to empty bowels? Thanks.

[thierry]

Hi , did you mean PSA at 0,1 , zero point one ? I Don't understand . Best regards

[Tonik25 in reply to thierry]

Yes PSA is now at 0.1 . Has been steadily rising after being undetectable for 2 years.

[fluffyfur]

High fiber diet and taking metamucil every day. Magnesium oxide can also act as a laxative if taken in the evening. Try 500 mg of that.

Increase daily water intake. Does your husband drink water during the day? He should be having a liter or two.

Exercise. Light walking etc.

[Fanger1]

May consider getting up earlier and having coffee and doing some light exercise. Also, as others have said, increase hydration and fiber. I started my radiotherapy today. So far so good. Good luck with your treatment.

[Tonik25]

Thanks for everyone’s responses. Got Metamucil tick. He does exercise e wry day and has been doing resistance training in the mornings to combat side effects of ADT so seems like he is already doing all the right things. Hopefully it goes better on Monday!

[treedown]

I had to stop eating cruciferous vegetables per RO. So I ate IMO poorly during radiation. Last week I started eating good again, greens, veggies for about 2 days and they almost had to cancel a treatment. I worked it out in the bathroom, pardon the pun. I went back to the bad food until after the last treatment.

[pbr9]

I went thru it all.Salvage Radiation/ADT(6 mo).I was at .36,4 months after RP in Feb 2018.Maybe wait and see if PSA rises past .10,and then enter into SR/ADT.I stayed Hungry for my Radiation Treatments,so my Rectum would be clear as they literally Scan you 1 minute before Treatment,or else cannot do the 7 minute treatment.I would wait and see if the PSA rises any furthur,and do the SR/ADT if the reading gets to .20.I had Positive Margins,they removed my Seminal vessels(both),small section of Bladder.I was Gleason 7,but upgraded to Gleason 9 (at the Margin),so I am considerd Agressive.About 3 weeks ago,I had a PSA test,this being 8 months past all my SR/ADT(6 mo) and I scored a 0.01,so I'm naturally GRATEFUL.Your Husband will get to where I am.I would just not eat until,after my Radiation Treatments,and yes(Full Bladder).Your Husband will get thru this.Guaranteed.

[pbr9]

Also,I got diagnosed at age 54,I will be 56 in several months.I am Happy to say,I got thru it,and so will your spouse.It was never as bad as I had IMAGINED.As they say,"Nothing Hurts,as much as you THINK"

[Tonik25 in reply to pbr9]

Thanks so much for your advice and I wish you well. I don’t think he has any concern about the treatment he just wants to get on and do it which is proving difficult. The RP had all of it challenges but he bore it all so well and remained positive. We have 3 youngish children so really don’t have time to dwell on anything too long. X

[Haberdasher]

I went through 8 weeks of radiation January and February. Had a Gleason of 9 with surgery in June of 19. I had a little of your husband’s problem but got through it fine. My only suggestion would be to perhaps see if they could change the time of day for radiation.

[fluffyfur in reply to Haberdasher]

This is a good suggestion too. Hubs went at around 10 am to his sessions. Time enough to use the bathroom before, drink coffee, etc.

[mike__d__c]

Is that standard that a PSA of .1 would trigger immediate salvage rt?

[Tonik25 in reply to mike__d__c]

I think they normally wait for 0.2 but are going in hard because of his Gleason 9.