Here I go... LDR Brachy seed guys say HEY!

[PianoMan212]

Hi all. Been a few months...

Having LDR seed procedure at MSK tomorrow with Dr. Zelefsky. I had another MRI which showed the tumor unchanged from the MRI in October, but evidence of prostatitis, which I could have told them! I wonder if this was from the biopsy? Who knows.

Bloodwork and chest Xray fine (although some weird minor "streaky" lower lobe something that they said is a very common finding and nothing to worry about.) PSA up to 7.6. So that progression was March 2017 4.9, stayed that way till Sept. 2017 when it went to 6. May 1, it's at 7.6 Still no spread, no seminal invasion, no lymph nodes, all in the capsule, all on the left, abutting the edge.

Those path reports are a little confusing, because I had an MRI guided biopsy which took the standard 12 then 5 more in the PIRADS-4 area (FUN), but it looks like there may be a smaller lesion that is 3 + 3. The largest % of 4 in my 3 + 4 dominant lesion is 8%.

So seeds will be a mono therapy and hopefully we're done. He seems extremely optimistic. I know I'm lucky with my situation, except for being diagnosed at all. I also have an amazing husband who has very comprehensive insurance.

I am mostly afraid of that walk from the prep room to the OR and getting on the table. I have never had general, and from what I hear it is lights out, then you're up and done. Also hopeful that the side effects will be minimal, and Dr. Z is putting SpaceOAR gel in too. Been on Flomax for almost a week ahead of time, very true to its name, though I never had any retention or constriction problems. So many pills! I have the orange pee ones for pain, Flomax, they put me on low dose prophylactic Viagara, Cipro for four days after, plus my regular Avapro. Holy crap. I am turning into my 85 years old in laws with the pills! Bowel prep in a few hours, should be fun.

Words of encouragement and some personal experiences with this would be so welcome. In the meantime, thank you all for being here, for stepping ahead of me in this journey, and breaking ground ahead. I will pay this all forward.

xx

[Tall_Allen]

That sounds like a great plan and Zelefsky is a master at seeds.

I want to warn you in advance that having prostatitis (which seed placement may make worse) may interfere with the smooth steady decline in PSA over time. It's nothing to worry about - just remember that when you have a PSA bounce, it's only because of the prostatitis.

[PianoMan212 in reply to Tall_Allen]

Thank you. It comes and goes, and I manage well enough. Mostly I just want this stage over. I know I am lucky. I hope as this starts the luck keeps going.

[JLINSCHEID]

Can't speak to brachytherapy, but been under anesthesia a bunch of times. Everyone reacts differently, but I've come through well each time--and with a good anesthesiologist standing by, I always felt I was in good hands. They always asked a million questions beforehand to help determine the risks and best way to administer it. And yes, it's pretty much, 10, 9, 8, . . . Wake up and it is over. Although sometimes I ended up feeling pretty tired and went back to sleep for several hours when I got home or back to my hospital bed. Good luck. Sounds like you are in good hands.

[PianoMan212]

How was your side effect experience? I know they come on with time. I had 50 Palladium seeds.

[PianoMan212]

That sounds like a pretty good experience. My doctor said seed loss is rare, tho they have me peeing through a screen for the first few days.