Hi. Had a consultation today with an oncologists who does Brachytherapy (seed implants). I'm a low risk patient. If any one can share information with me regarding the efficacy, short/long term side effects, from personal experience or from your research.....I'd really appreciate hearing from you. Robert
If you are truly low risk based on - PSA, Gleason, encapsulated tumor, Partin tables, staging score and etc. I wouldn't hesitate. Depends somewhat on your age and personality what your choice will be. I believe there is history that demonstrates efficacy out to 20 years and counting. Side effects (SE) are typically minimal compared to some other treatments.
I am at 2.5 weeks since implant and have had no meaningful SE. Had 24 needles and 72 seeds. I-125. SE, with I-125, will typically build for the first month, plateau during the second month and slowly recede to nil about a year after the implant. The most common are urinary frequency and urinary urgency. I have yet to notice any change in those departments.
Thanks Robert, Yes apparently I am low risk based on all the data you mention. I am glad to hear you are doing so well. What have you learned as far as long term SE and sexual dysfunction? Please keep in touch. We are similar in more ways than one.....Robert PS I'm just 62.
Last edited by moderator2; 06-25-2012 at 06:29 PM.
My Brachytherapy was done in Seattle by one of the acknowledged experts in the field. These numbers are from him.
Possible permanent complications.
Urinary incontinence - rare. Mild frequency and urgency 5% of patients.
Rectum - Temporary, painless bleeding at one year out - 2%. Brachytherapy with EBR - 7%.
Impotency - The better it was before, the better it will be after. Less than 60 years old, 10% impotent, 30% partial loss. 60-70 15% imp, 40% partial loss. More than 70 25% imp, 50% partial loss.
Robert
Last edited by bharlan; 06-26-2012 at 11:59 AM.
Reason: Omitted info about rectal side effects
I can honestly say I've had tooth extractions that were worse than the seed implant. From the time my wife and I arrived at the surgery center to driving away was about 3.5 hours. I watched the anesthetist insert an IV into my left arm, turned to watch a nurse attach a blood pressure cuff and was out like a light. The next thing I remember is hearing this faraway voice saying "I'm going to take out your catheter now". Felt it being removed but no pain. A small amount of blood and a couple of clots in the urine on surgery day. Some painful urination the first day but by no means disabling. Minor pain the second day and none since. Some swelling of the perineum so that it was more comfortable to sit on a donut for the first week. Don't know if I mentioned it but the doctor has me on Flomax (generic) for the first few months and Naproxen Sodium for 4 to 6 weeks. Naproxen Sodium aids in urination; didn't know that. Finished an oral course of Bactrim during the first week. The whole procedure was absolutely not a big deal.
Robert
The Following User Says Thank You to bharlan For This Useful Post: Robert765 (06-26-2012)
Thanks again Robert. You are a continual source of GREAT comfort to me. I am hoping for the BEST of results like you. Please keep in touch. From Robert to Robert. Take care.
Just wanted to touch base with you again. Looking over the comments on 3 sites I'm on, and re-reading yours, I realized you are the only person who has responded to my comments who has gotten seed implants. I will be starting the initial process this week with Dr. Richard Stock. If Dr. Grimm was who you went to in Seattle, Dr. STock is his counter part here in NYC. In fact, Dr. Grimm has emailed several times regarding various Brachytherapy studies and endorsing Dr. Stock as one of the best in this area. I would like to keep in touch with you through out this process. So please stay in touch via this site. I want to hear how you are doing. Robert
Last edited by moderator2; 07-04-2012 at 01:24 PM.
I don't visit often these days so didn't catch your initial post.
I can endorse the other Robert's comments, though I didn't have the swelling in the perineum and I haf a general anaesthetic for the implant. I am now 68 and have no side effects and no cancer, and the whole thing was completely painless except for some bowel disturbance a few months in - which I put down to a reaction with other (external) radiation I had for a different cancer 20 years earlier.
Thanks Tumbleweed,
It is so good to hear from you and Robert since you both have had this procedure. On the few sites I joined, the majority of members seem to have had surgery and I haven't had the opportunity to talk to anyone who has had Brachytherapy. There is one guy, however, I corresponded with, who is having the procedure this week. So we are keeping in touch. So I value both your responses, and hope you will follow the posts that I am sure to write soon and I begin my treatment (probably by the end of July or Aug. at the latest). I am very happy to hear you are doing so well. Robert
Yes, Dr. Grimm was my brachytherapist. Sounds like you're in good hands. My recovery is going fine. Tomorrow, the 6th, will be one month since the implant. Everything is working as expected. Slight urinary slow down, especially first think in the morning. Am not noticing any other side effects.
Will stay in touch. May be intermittent from July 19 to Aug 30. Will be in Glacier National Park and Waterton, AB trying to keep up with Grandchildren.
I concluded that as the majority (at least in the USA) of folks with Prostate cancer get it sorted by brachytherapy, that the preponderance of folks who had other forms of treatment on patient sites is due to the high success rate of brachytherapy. It was certainly my position that before the treatment I was a daily visitor here, and for a few amonths afterwards, but after that it has become a 2 monthly or so visit to see if there is anything I might be able to help with and get news of old supporters.
Thanks for that comment. Actually another guy, from another site, who is having Brachytherapy this week, said the exact thing as you when I expressed my surprise at not finding many guys on these sites who had Brachytherapy. I guess if you have success with a treatment, and few serious side effects, you aren't as inclined to seek support. I guess that's good news for us Brachy guys. Well, I hope you will stick with me for a while until I get through this and I am well on my way back to my "normal" life. I'd really appreciate it. Robert
I wanted to update you and Tumbelweed about my seed implant procedure that I had done 2 days ago by Dr. Richard Stock in NYC. You both had been so supportive and informative in helping me navigate my journey from my recent diagnosis in May to now. As you said Robert, the procedure was a non-event. In mid morning, out mid afternoon. Two days later, bowel, urinary, and sexual functions working perfectly...as before. I hope I stay side effect free for the course of the treatment. It is very surreal in that I don't even feel like I had anything done to me...given 3 days ago I was worried about having prostate cancer. I am very happy I chose this treatment. I hope I can stay in touch with you guys, and any one else reading this post who has been through this treatment. It has been difficult finding guys who have chosen Brachytherapy. To have your support and shared experiences over the coming months will be so comforting and valuable to me. So, I look forward to hearing from you soon on this site. Robert
Last edited by moderator2; 07-26-2012 at 10:29 AM.
Glad to hear all went well, your initial reactions match mine. You can expect changes over the next 3 months as the seeds start working. Don't forget to use a condom for the first couple of weeks at least in case any seeds "get loose". If urinary symptoms (like getting up every couple of hours in the night) appear, then cranberry juice has a soothing effect and control your fluid intake if possible so that there is nothing there to fill your bladder at night - not so easy to do if it is hot and dry where you are of course.
With any luck your complete recovery will be problem free, but if you are worried about anything get back on here and/or speak to your doctor.
Just returned from Glacier and Waterton National Parks. Good to hear you are doing well. My own side effects are still minimal. Seemed to tire easily during the last month. May have been largely due to the RV travel, 2 to 5 young grandchildren and a couple of other unrelated aches and pains. Anyway, back home and feeling good.
Hi Robert,
Yes, I remembered you said you'd be away during my implants. It will be two weeks on Tues. and I feel fabulous. So surreal when I realize that I had a procedure for prostate cancer. I heard from Peter (Tumbleweed) so I wanted to touch base with you as well. I think I am urinating a bit more but nothing to be concerned about, and the "feeling" down there seems a bit different, but not painful or uncomfortable....just different. My urologist tells me symptoms may appear about week 3/4, so we'll see. Right now, I've never felt better. I'll stay in touch with you and Peter, since you are a handful of guys I have found who have had Brachtherapy. Hope you trip was terrific. Sounds like my kind of trip.
Robert
