My doc suggested 25 standard radiation treatments followed by brachytherapy. I'm intermediate unfavorable. Anyone done this? Side effects?

[PingPongGuy]

EBRT plus seeds?

[Tall_Allen]

It does have a high rate (19%) of late-term urinary side effects. Less, with high dose rate brachytherapy, if you have access to it.

[MJCA]

I had brachytherapy first, then radiation. Please keep in mind, this was 16 years ago and I am sure technology has come a long way. Initially I had burning of my skin and urethra. Lots of fatigue.

I had hip surgery this past October and since then I have had a retention issue. I have to use a catheter to urinate. First uro cited it is due to scarring on my urethra due to radiation. Second uro wants more testing. You need to ask yourself do the benefits outweigh the deficits? Good luck.

[spencoid2]

I had low dose brachy along with IMRT in about 2013. I don't know how different the side effects are for high vs low dose. I had no side effects during radiation, took a lot of mushroom supplement while doing radiation to support immune system.

However I had and continue to have effects from minor to major including urinary blockage that required intermittent catheterization. One event result in sever damage by a misplaced catheter that was inflated in my prostate. I am still suffering daily from that abuse.

So I you do have urinary retention after radiation therapy, make it absolutely clear to the treating nurse or doctor that you need special care to not do additional damage. I did but the bitch doctor ignored me. If there is any question about the competence of the treating staff (one hint in my case was the doctor and nurses surfing the web to figure out what to do) get the fuck out of there and get to a real hospital with an on call urologist. Now I know so I want to share this with others.