Oar Gel and gold placements for beginners on this journey

[Eadgbe]

I am a beginner on this PC journey but feel fortunate that I caught my cancer before it had spread beyond the prostate. I caught sepsis from my directed transrectal biopsy and spent a lovely few days in ICU flirting with the nurses and trying not to mess up the bed and floor too much.

I have 9 weeks of RT prescribed with 9 months of ADT. I have been adamant about not screwing up my rectum, since I am an educator that still works. So I just completed the gold insertions and the barragel placement. Being somewhat of a wuss, and traumatized some from the last procedure, I was very anxious about this new procedure. I suspect some of you feel the same way. So here is a report.

I used nitros to not give a shit about any pain. It worked OK but nothing to write home about. The procedure was short - about 10 minutes max. Most pain was mainly due to the initial pain killers. There were 3 gold seeds inserted in my prostrate and I don't even know if that was painful. I think the insertion of the gel had the most discomfort, but it was momentary. I could drive myself home. My butt is sore now (60 minutes later) and I'm using ice and tylenol as I write this.

If this works, no question the few seconds of discomfort will be well worth it.

[Photographerhere]

The oar gel insertion is not fun, at all.but short in duration. I had SBRT (5 sessions) and now on a year of lupron. Nine weeks of RT may be just right for you, but i have never heard of anyone going beyond six. Have you chatted with another doC? I did and it changed my decision making. This is a big deal, so a second opinion makes sense

[Eadgbe in reply to Photographerhere]

That's very interesting about the RT. I will inquire about that. I wonder what Tall Allen has to say regarding that duration.

[Justfor_ in reply to Eadgbe]

Typical 42-43 fractions at 1.6-1.7 Gy. 5 fractions per week, 8.5 weeks total.

[Eadgbe in reply to Justfor_]

That sounds about right.

[Hidden]

Yes, that ultrasound probe in the bum for an hour can take it's toll.

[Eadgbe in reply to Hidden]

They didn't do that to me. Who actually know what all went up there but the whole procedure was over in about 10 minutes. I was to have a cat scan the next day to check on placement and was told a probe was to be used but the tech laughed when I mentioned it and said, "They should take that language out of the instructions. We don't do that anymore." Being heterosexual, I was relieved, but kind of pissed that I had to worry about it. Another example of miscommunication that I am encountering along the way.

[Hidden in reply to Eadgbe]

Interesting! Maybe someone else (Tall_Allen?) knows how they found your prostate without some sort of imaging.

[Eadgbe in reply to Hidden]

What I mean is that it didn't take an hour.