Post Brachy

[conbio]

Just a short note here for others anticipating this procedure. I recently finished 23 EBRT sessions, had a two week rest, and then the brachy. All done at University of Washington oncology cooperating with Seattle Cancer Care Alliance.

It was the typical surgery - "ok, take 5 deep breaths of oxygen and your arm will start to feel warm..." and POOF! Wake up in recovery room. I had 65 seeds implanted. Some minor aches for a couple days - took some ibuprofen and Tylenol. Sleeping ok now after a week. Had to go on Flomax to help urination - a little crampy after voiding but minor. I'm pretty active but was told to dial it way back for two weeks - no weight lifting and stay off the bike for a while. I'm still going to the climbing gym a couple times a week but have backed off.

I was told the brachy radioactive field effects will peak in a month and then will be inert by 4 months or so. I'm curious of how your mending has progressed. Thanks.

65 yo, Gleason 4+5, lesions limited to prostate, no mets. In middle of 18 months of Lupron.

[Tall_Allen]

Be sure to ask for follow-up CT in a month. I know a lot of doctors skip it, but I think it's prudent to get it to assure coverage. I hope your side effects are mild.

[conbio in reply to Tall_Allen]

Oh and thanks for that - I just had that today and all looks good

[timotur]

I had HDR-Brachy and recovery was pretty quick. The first two weeks I had some urgency-- felt like I still had to pee after emptying my bladder. The perineum was sore for a few days, but was able to do light walking/running in about four days. Urination/bladder function was pretty normal after a month and no other SE's to this day almost three years after the procedure.

[conbio in reply to timotur]

Just for clarification - I had LD brachy. 65 of those little buggers implanted

[timotur in reply to conbio]

Yes, hope you have a smooth recovery and good test results going forward! LDR wasn’t an option for me with the tumor outside the prostate (+SV). ☹️

[cancerfox]

I had a similar treatment regimen only with Eligard and 100 radioactive seeds, and am also fairly active. You may have had a different kind of radioactive seeds implanted, because mine had a half life of 2 months, so they wouldn't really be inert in 4 months. I had no soreness after the procedure, which surprised me, but a few days afterward I noticed increased fatigue, which also surprised me. I had more frequent bowel and bladder movements with increased urgency of both after the procedure, so it was prudent to have a restroom nearby when I went anywhere, and I am still experiencing some of these effects 10 months after the LD Brachy, though not as serious. I hope for you that your side effects are minimal.

[conbio in reply to cancerfox]

Thanks!

[NYC_talker]

Glad to hear it went well. I had one more than you -- 66 seeds implanted back in January, LDR brachy as monotherapy. I had hardly any urinary issues and was off flomax in little over a month and I'm not sure I needed to have been on it at all.

I'm now 3 months out and the only thing I've noticed has been somewhat increased inflammation of hemorrhoids. I alway had them, periodically, no big deal. But they are now more inflamed, a bit different quality. From what i've read, this is a short-term side effect of brachy if one previously had inflamed hemorrhoids. Other than that, nothing to complain about.

[conbio in reply to NYC_talker]

Thanks for the input, that's encouraging you are doing so well