SpaceOar or Barrigel or nothing ?
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I'm not a fan, but some patients and ROs think it's worthwhile. Precluded for ECE.
I had IMRT and HDR almost three years ago. Chose nothing, as I was concerned that SpaceOar could act as a protective barrier to cancerous cells outside the prostate, even though no ECE was diagnosed. I have had no problems at all since then.
As I understand it, it pushes the rectum away from the prostate so they can irradiate the prostate without causing bowel problems (assuming that the cancer isn't into the bowel there) by radiation killing or injuring cells. As I don't want bowel problems for no benefit, I'm getting SpaceOAR.
My doc wont be using it based on the fact my lesion is on the side of the prostate near the rectum. He said he does not want to risk trapping any cancer cells on the wrong side of the gel. Seems comfortable with the accuracy of the process without it.
I will be undergoing IMRT-44 starting in March.
I had spaceOre in 2017 when it was pretty new. I think it was not done properly and whether it helped or not I don't really know.