Hi Charlie,

Glad to hear your report of the immediate after effects of brachytheraphy,
I've got one more month of lupron (should be called limpron)  then seeds in
May.I'm 62 and also looked at the numbers and QOL issues before making my
decision. Keep us posted on your follow ups.

Tom

Sounds great Charlie. Hope you keep us up to date - all contributions are
*helpful* and appreciated. I will be getting seeds in about a month. Have to
do 25 Radiation treatment first which will start on March 30th. Hope things
continue to lok up for you.
Age - 69
8/12/02 - PSA 3.7
10/13/03 - PSA 4.69
11/11/03 - PSA 4.8
11/18/03 - Biopsy - 10 cores
one core-25% of core-Gleason 4+4=8
all other cores benign tissue
12/10/03 - Consult - Oncologist
12/16/03 - Consult - Radiation Oncologist
Treatment Plan -
HT - started 12/17/03 - Eulixen & Lupron
2/10/04 - Started - Flowmax and Megastrol
Radiation - IMRT to begin 3/30/04 - for 5 weeks
Theraseed implant after Radiation completed

You are most welcome.  And listen to Bev.....she knows best.  (G)  You are
bound to be a bit irritated by the catheter.  Ron was and when we got home
after the first of two HDR treatments, it was quite painful for him to
urinate initially.......however, he passed two blood clots an hour or so
later and never looked back.

Interesting how the methods of treatment with brachytherapy are all
different.  Ron (71) had the two HDR treatments a week apart.....rested for
two weeks, and then had 25 EBRT ones.....which were a piece of cake!!  No
hormone therapy at all.  I asked the rad onc a month or so ago, and he was
of the opinion that Ron didn't need it.....and that the jury was still out
on whether it helped prior to surgery or radiation.

We are in just outside Toronto, Canada btw.  I would say the only 'bugbear'
was a daily 4 hour round trip for a few minutes of radiation......but it was
summer and not too bad at all.  The people at Sunnybrook's Regional Cancer
Centre were absolutely wonderful and did everything they could to make it
easier for Ron and myself.....emotionally and financially.

We don't pay for medical care, btw.  And this treatment is apparently about
$48,000 US, according to Fernando in California.  (Just over $67,000 Cdn)

Rest, take it easy for a few days and keep on posting.  There isn't a
question that these people can't answer......or direct you to a link that
answers it.

And it seems (to me, anyway) that more people are opting for radiation since
I joined here a year ago.  But if 70ish or over, you would have an equal
results choice.

I also am noticing a disproportionate number of 'under 50's' lately.  Or is
this because men are becoming more aware and getting a PSA test earlier??

Cheers.......Ron and Heather
His stats at age 71 were.....
PSA 10.7, June 2003 (down from 11.5 in Feb. 2003)
Gleason 4+3,
8 cores positive on the one side only.
Bone and CT scan clear.
PSA in Oct. '03 - 3.66
PSA in Feb. '04 - 3.7

Hi Charlie,

I too had brachytherapy, on January 6, and like you experienced little if
any problems.  I had bleeding for about 48 hours as a result of the
temporary catheter, but that was more of an annoyance than anything.  I
never had any pain or even discomfort, though the first few nights I did
have to get up several times.  Now, after nearly three months, it is usually
just once a night, but that's what it was before the brachytherapy, so I
guess I'm back to normal.  I will go for my first PSA test in a couple of
weeks, so I'll let you know how that turns out.

For the record, I'm 62, Gleeson 6, T1c, and PSA of 4.0 before.

Bob

No, you can run your mouth all you want just be a couch potato for another
day or two.

Get on the phone with your doctor and ask about Hytrin or Flomax (pronounce
flow-max) as this will help with painful urination.

You can also email me directly with any questions.
Bev