Question about SBRT

[Scootman]

I had 5 treatments ending 2 weeks ago for mets on my ischium pelvis and tailbone. One technician told me I should feel pretty good in two weeks. But another Doctor told me two you are still going to be irritated and four weeks is more reasonable to feel better. Can anyone give me any input as to what they were told and experienced. Thanks

[6357axbz]

What SEs are you experiencing?

[Tall_Allen]

My friends who've had it started feeling better into the 2nd week. I guess it depends on the size of your mets.

[Scootman in reply to Tall_Allen]

I have started feeling better but hoping would get better than is now. Do you know how long the radiation keeps working on the cancer cells?

[Tall_Allen in reply to Scootman]

When they blast a met, it is usually an ablative dose.

[Gudgelm]

I just finished the same treatment. I experienced a delayed reaction. The third week was the most uncomfortable and fatigue lasted into the fourth and fifth week. My advise is to be patient and kind to yourself. It's never as easy as the doc's think.

[SeosamhM in reply to Gudgelm]

Heartedly agree, Gudgelm. The radiation dose is effectively instantaneous and cell death is relatively quick, but how and how long our bodies deal with all of that cellular debris and associated toxins is an individual matter. “Be kind to yourself” is a brilliant plan.

[Scootman in reply to Gudgelm]

When you say uncomfortable do you mean the area that was treated still gave you some pain

[Gudgelm in reply to Scootman]

Not as much site pain but more feeling....toxic. Just tired, mildly nauseous. Felt like crap!

[Scootman in reply to Gudgelm]

I am in the the third week now and I noticed the area that was targeted is bothering more this week than last . I was concerned the treatment failed but I guess I am dealing with issues as you did. Fatigue is still an issue.

[barrybayarea]

I finished 25 treatments a few weeks back, the doc told to expect the worst 1.5 weeks later but it never happened. I felt the same slightly bad and down through the last few weeks and after. There were fequent uriniation issues for 2-3 weeks, which got better too. Generally speaking, it got better everyday after it stopped. Congratulations on completing it.

[Scootman in reply to barrybayarea]

So being 2 weeks out and still feeling some discomfort is not out of the question.

[barrybayarea]

No it is not, give it 3-4 weeks at least. Obviously this will vary for each person, depends on what parts of your body were radiated and with how much dose. It will however get better

[Scootman in reply to barrybayarea]

Thank you started to think it had not worked.

[Scootman in reply to barrybayarea]

Completed the sbrt 4 weeks ago and as you said took the 4 weeks for things to start to feel better. Had a PSA done this week and my PSA has been climbing for last year. I am on Zytiga and prednisone for about 2 months. My last PSA in August had gone up to 62.9 was told because of the mets in pelvis. reading today is 56.2 . A drop but hoping for a larger drop. I am assuming this drop was from the sbrt not the Zytiga . Not that I am not thankful it did not go up but was hoping for a more significant drop. Am I assuming correctly. Thanks

[barrybayarea in reply to Scootman]

I will let someone more educated on the subject than me reply to that. I can only tell you what I experienced. My PSA had already dropped before radiation from ADT.

[j-o-h-n]

As my ex-wife use to tell me..... No pain No gain..... and boy was she right........

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Tuesday 09/29/2020 7:00 PM DST