Fiducial markers in the prostate

[040951]

Hi guys has any of you chaps on here had these markers placed in your prostate for targeted radiotherapy, I have the markers put in and I am having side effects even before any radiotherapy please reply if you have had this new treatment thanks Kev

[Chris37]

Yes I had a couple placed in my prostate before radiotherapy. I was not informed about the side effects. Later that night when visiting the washroom I fell and lost consciousness. When I came to and eventually entered the washroom I voided a lot of blood from anal passage was filled with blood.

A terrible experience. I had to use a laxative to bring my system back to normal. So now you know what to expect. Taming the Beast is full of surprises and pain. Yet you must give in but remain focused. Good health to you

[040951 in reply to Chris37]

Thanks Chris I had 3 put in 2 weeks back had no trouble at all for a week then I had an infection in my urine and found it difficult to pass urine that's now sorted in a fashion now I cant hold urine , they tell me I need to hold 500 ml of fliuid for me to have a cti scan but at the moment that's impossible cant figure out where they go from here as I cant progress with the radiotherapy without the scans so who knows , I might just request they remove the prostate and be done with it my friend thanks for the response

[Muzzman]

I had 3 put in and have had no side effects from them. I must say the radiologist who did was excellent and it was over in 5 minutes. I'm now just starting week 3 of radiotherapy and that has been going well so far, nothing like as bad as the chemo that came before.

The fiducial markers allow them to be highly accurate with the radiation and avoid any collateral damage. When having the radiotherapy I feel the bed move a few millimeters when they pick up the fiducials on the scanner and it readjusts position.

Sorry to hear about your experience and hope the rest of your treatment goes well.

Cheers, Murray.

[040951 in reply to Muzzman]

Thanx for the reply I had no problems having the markers put in, my problem is I have suffered with BPH for years and an on finesteride to shrink it and it worked no problems with the waterworks but since having these markers put in 2 weeks back I cant stop passing urine leaking, the thing is they want to do a CTI scan and MRI scan and for the cti I must hold 500 mil of water while they do it that is not going to happen I could not hold it I don't know what there next move is I cant progress on to 5 days radiotherapy until the scans are done , just wondering what the worst case scenario is going to be , my cancer is relatevly small so I don't realy want to have the prostate removed but the way its looking is that I come off this trial and go down that path I cant see any alternative

cheers guys

[oskit]

I had markers inserted 18 months ago.

Apart from some initial bleeding, had no other side effects.

Two other friends are undergoing the same and had similar experience to me.

I've experienced a number of unexpected side effects since, due to the radiotherapy and my bladder being completely blocked, but at the moment things seem to have settled down.

My friends sailed through the radiotherapy without anything more than the expected bladder sensitivity for a few months which gradually wore off.

Hope the doctors can sort you quickly. Good Luck!

[RonPavluvcik]

I had 4 fiducials put into prostate back in 2008 for my CYBERKNIFE treatment, and no problems with the fiducials since. Unfortunately the cancer remained in my bloodstream, and I have been trying numerous pills and treatments since to prolong life...good luck.....

Ron Pavluvcik, Shelton, CT 203-767-1123

[adriansaunders]

I had 3 put in and have just started radiotherapy. No serious problems except that I'm having more problems than I did have passing urine at night, stopping/starting etc. I've been on tamsalosin for about 3 months and it was OK before the markers were put in.

[040951]

I had 3 markers put in 3 weeks back no problems on week one the the problems started I had to have a CTI scan and MRI scan prior to me going on 5 days high beam radiotherapy which starts on Dec 15 this year, to enable me to have the scans I had to have an empty bladder this was impossible as the markers prevented me from passing any urine at all I had to be taught how to self catheterise which I am now doing not very nice at all but has to be done all the scans now done and I am ready for the treatment but I fear its going to be a long match before I had the markers put in which was a piece of cake I was fine but now I am the other end of the spectrum,

think on guys having the markers put in is the easy part its after , I understand its a new treatment and needs to be done for the benefit of all but I can assure you I feel ill and have not started my 5 days radiotherapy yet I have the joys of that to come very soon who knows what will happen, I have a meeting with my research team next week I have so me serious questions to ask , if I could put the clock back I would not have gone down this path believe me guys I am no wimp but this has knocked me about a great deal so think on