 |
 | Home | Contact Us | FAQ | Search & Site Map | Link to Us |
 | Sign In | Join | Other 45 Sites in Network |
Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Prostate Cancer / August 2004New to Group-Just had seed implants
I'm new to posting here but have been reading posts since just after my seed implants on July 14, 2004. I had 94 Pallidum 103 seeds implanted. Just some background. I'm 56, PSA was 4.4, increased from 3.5 15 months prior. Had biopsy and one of 8 showed about 22% cancer. Gleason was 6 (3+3) and Stage T1c. Since the implants I've had almost none of the urinary side affects, just one extra trip to the bathroom most nights, pretty minor really. One thing I have had since the implants is the feeling of needing to have a BM almost all the time. At first I was constipated but have been taking stool softeners and am no longer constipated but still feeling as if I have a golf ball in there. The nurse at the doctor's office says it's from my prostate swelling and putting pressure on my rectum. That sounds reasonable but just curios if anyone else is having this. It's not painful more annoying than anything else but wish it would go away. I want to thank everyone for this valuable resource, it's great knowing this group it out there. Doug Hi Doug, Congratulations on your relatively minor side affects. I had 110 PD-103 seeds implanted June 10. My peeing situation is considerably worse. I need two Flowmax a day and I still have some discomfort and frequency. If I skip a pill, I really pay the price. It becomes very uncomfortable to start and just dribbles out until I get tired of standing there then go through the same thing again 30 minutes later. Not bad as long as I stay with the two-a-day's, though. My bowels haven't been much of a problem. The only time I feel any sort of discomfort down there is when I sit on a hard or lightly padded surface. Then, it feels like I'm sitting on a large marble. May you continue to do well, Larry > I'm new to posting here but have been reading posts since just after my > seed implants on July 14, 2004. I had 94 Pallidum 103 seeds implanted. [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > > Doug > Hi Doug, > ... The only time [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > sounds reasonable but just curios if anyone else is having this. It's > > not painful more annoying than anything else but wish it would go away. I did not have any special urgency to move my bowels, but I did, and still do to some extent, have the golf ball feeling. I bought a doughnut cushion at a drug store and sat on it at work and while in my car. It helped a lot. Now, seven months later, I no longer seem to need it. I recall someone else posting something on this newsgroup about a similar feeling. I suspect it's not common, but not rare either. Alan Doug, I had Pd103 seeds implanted on 6/2/04, the swelling, urinary retention and/or urgency seemed to peak at about the one month point then began to improve.I'm on Cardura instead of Flowmax and like Larry, if I miss a dose I regret it. I've been very happy with the minimal side effects I've experienced. At this time about 95% of the radiation has been expended and I'm looking forward to PSA testing, but that will have to wait a bit as I'm still on Lupron. Wish you the best. Tom > > Hi Doug, > > ... The only time [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] > > Alan Hi Tom, I've been meaning to ask. Why no PSA tests because you're still on Lupron? I'm still on Zoladex and I just had mine taken. I'm sure they believed there was some value in that. Larry > Doug, > [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > Tom > Hi Tom, > I've been meaning to ask. Why no PSA tests because you're still on Lupron? > I'm still on Zoladex and I just had mine taken. I'm sure they believed there > was some value in that. > Larry My doctors took PSA readings while I was on Lupron too but the results were misleading because Lupron or Zoladex suppresses PSA output. After radiation my PSA was undectable at one month and again at 3 months. However at six months it read 0.8. According to my doctor, the .8 reading was "normal and expected". The two undetectables were caused by the Lupron. I'm hoping that, over time, my PSA will decline. From what I've read, it takes an average of 20 months and sometimes 36 months or more for PSA to settle down to its "nadir" value after radiation. PSA can bounce around after radiation. However they say that if it goes up three times in a row, then we're in trouble. If, while still on Zoladex, your PSA goes up, then you have a real problem. However if it stays very low, you don't know that you don't have a problem because the Zoladex will mask it. So testing PSA while still on Zoladex doesn't give you as much information as it will after the Zoladex wears off. PSA production lags testosterone return. So even when your testosterone comes back, it might still be a month or more before the PSA readings arrive at the non-Zoladex levels. Alan Thanks for the clarification. When I stop my Zoladex, I can expect an up-tick. It's a question of when. My urologist and oncologist suggest two years but I'm lobbying for one year. Whenever I question two years, there is no definitive answer. I understand every aspect of my treatments from the initial HT to the EBRT's to the seeds. But the logic for the duration of the HT is not clear. Larry > > Hi Tom, > > I've been meaning to ask. Why no PSA tests because you're still on [quoted text clipped - 34 lines] > > Alan > It's a question of when. My urologist and oncologist suggest two years but > I'm lobbying for one year. > Whenever I question two years, there is no definitive answer. I understand > every aspect of my treatments from the initial HT to the EBRT's to the > seeds. But the logic for the duration of the HT is not clear. I've searched for information about this in the past. I took HT and had dangerously elevated liver enzymes that caused me to come off after 4 months worth. I found one clinical trial that said the only benefit is before and during treatment, not after. I found another that said two years. I think the problem is that there is not yet enough data to know. The science is not yet fully developed and the statistical studies have the usual problems of all of these statistical studies - one measures apples and another measures oranges, so you can't tell for sure what to conclude. There is a good website run by HT experts at: http://www.prostate-cancer.org/education/education.html If you find the answers there, or anywhere, please post the citations for the rest of us. Alan Larry, I just went for another Lupron shot this morning and asked the same question. My Dr. said that any PSA testing while under the influence of an androgen blockade (lupron / zoladex) would not yield a valid result of the brachytherapy and at this time would probably show something like .2ng/ml. The .2 would be terrific if it was not influenced by the medication that is scheduled to end in a couple of months. As I've said before, I'm anxious to stop the lupron and begin follow-up testing. I have extreme confidence in the team of professionals that provided my treatment and do not hesitate to question anyone, but I also respect their judgment and advice. Whew!! another hot flash, just love this damned Lupron ;)) Tom > Hi Tom, > I've been meaning to ask. Why no PSA tests because you're still on Lupron? [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > > > > Tom Thanks for the comments Tom, Have your tried Soy Isoflavones for the hot flashes? Your comment reminded me of a movie "Strange Brew". It has a scene where the two lead characters get a hold of the shock therapy machine and enjoy shocking each other. Cracks me up <g> Larry > Larry, > I just went for another Lupron shot this morning and asked the same [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > > Tom (snip)no longer constipated but still feeling as > > > if I have a golf ball in there. The nurse at the doctor's office says > > > it's from my prostate swelling and putting pressure on my rectum. (snip) I had 85 Iodine 125 seeds done on 3/30, much the same sensation, about 4 weeks ago started getting very bad diarrhea, MD's solved that with a combination of Imodium and Metamucil. It's such a minor side effect in comparrison to what you read about in this group, hard to complain very loudly. Yep, a swollen prostate is a pain in the butt! But it will go away, the swelling will subside and all the problems will be a distant memory and hopefully the cancer will be gone, too. Bev > I'm new to posting here but have been reading posts since just after my > seed implants on July 14, 2004. I had 94 Pallidum 103 seeds implanted. [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > > Doug I know exactly what you're talking about, Doug. I had 83 Pd 103 seeds implanted on May 7. I was expecting urinary problems and had a few, but the bowel urgency came as a surprise. I was having bowel movements 3-4 times a day and also experiencing very hard stools despite the fact that I get a LOT of fiber. I mentioned this to my oncologist but didn't get a good explanation. He seemed a bit surprised, in fact. He suggested that I take Metamucil. I did, and the problem has been subsiding significantly. Whether that's a result of the Metamucil or simply a factor of time, I'm not sure. Anyway, I expect you, too, will find the problem lessening in the coming weeks. I had two fairly significant periods of urinary problems--one after about 3 weeks and another at the 2-month mark. Urinary flow became not so much a "flow" but rather a slow dripping, and I thought I was going to have to be catheterized. I took lots of Ibuprofen and started taking saw palmetto to try to reduce swelling. Again, the problem diminished, and at 3 months post-seeding, I am pretty much back to normal in all respects. Ron Carter > I'm new to posting here but have been reading posts since just after my > seed implants on July 14, 2004. I had 94 Pallidum 103 seeds implanted. [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > > Doug Ron, Thank you very much for your comments. I raced downstairs and took a Saw Palmetto. I used to take it regularly before my problems started but stopped prior to the EBRT's. Didn't want any outside interference. Also, I weaned myself off of the Naproxin that I had been on since the seeds. That might be a contributing factor also, but I hate being on anti-inflammatories for an extended period due to the potential side affects they can cause. I've been hoping Turmeric as an anti-inflammatory would be sufficient. Anyway, it's reassuring that you had very similar problems and got over them. Larry > I know exactly what you're talking about, Doug. I had 83 Pd 103 seeds > implanted on May 7. I was expecting urinary problems and had a few, [quoted text clipped - 37 lines] > > > > Doug > ... Also, I weaned myself off of the Naproxin that I had > been on since the seeds. That might be a contributing factor also, but I > hate being on anti-inflammatories for an extended period due to the > potential side affects they can cause. ... Having seen my mother die of Alzheimer's disease, I've been taking ibuprofen or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatories every day. There's evidence that even low doses will greatly reduce your chance of getting Alzheimer's disease - but only if you start taking them long before the symptoms of AD develop. They say the best way to die is a massive heart attack and that cancer is a terrible way to go. But I can say that having seen both cancer and Alzheimer's, I'm not at all sure I wouldn't rather die of cancer. Alan I take Gingko Biloba. Same idea but healthier in the opinion of those who are into herbal alternatives - i.e. me <g> Thanks, Larry > Having seen my mother die of Alzheimer's disease, > I've been taking ibuprofen or other non-steroidal [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > >> Alan My father died of Prostate Cancer. My father-in-law is close to death with Alzheimers. Both are taking about the same amount of time, but my father had terrible pain. My father-in-law doesn't remember.  SignatureProstate Cancer Survivor (so far), not a doctor PSA 16 10/17/2000 @ 46 Biopsy 11/01/2000 G7 (3+4), T2c RRP 12/15/2000 PSA .1 .1 .1 .27 .37 .75 EBRT 05-07/2002 @ 47 PSA .34 .22 .15 .21 .32 Erection 05/12/2003 @ 48 HTbegins 07/21/2003 @ 48 PSA .07 .05 Lupron 7/03, 8/03, 12/03, 4/04 non illegitimi carborundum > > ... Also, I weaned myself off of the Naproxin that I had > > been on since the seeds. That might be a contributing factor also, [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > > Alan > My father died of Prostate Cancer. My father-in-law is close to death with > Alzheimers. Both are taking about the same amount of time, but my father > had terrible pain. My father-in-law doesn't remember. Steve, Not remembering is a blessing. My mother knew for years that she had Alzheimer's and was getting worse and worse. She hated it and was miserable. She knew that she was losing everything she had. She half knew that her delusions were delusions. She lost her ability to speak intelligibly and suffered terrible frustration because of that. She became paranoid. She had to be moved to an Alzeheimer's care facility - it was one of the good ones - but still a place that no one would ever want to live in. Eventually, she stopped eating and starved herself to death. There are a few things people can do to protect themselves. No one knows why these work, but there are significant statistical correlations between these measures and reduced risk of Alzheimer's. The ones I know about are: Prevent high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Take low doses of ibuprofen every day. Take an occasional drink of alcohol. Keep physically active. Keep mentally active - working your mind every day. I'm doing all of them. Alan Heard an interesting program on Alzheimer's this weekend, an episode of "The Infinite Mind," which is on my local NPR affiliate. You can find this episode at http://www.lcmedia.com/mind335.htm (and even listen with Real Audio). It included some research, like the "Nun Study." > > My father died of Prostate Cancer. My father-in-law is close to death > with [quoted text clipped - 32 lines] > > Alan > Heard an interesting program on Alzheimer's this weekend, an episode > of "The Infinite Mind," which is on my local NPR affiliate. You can > find this episode at http://www.lcmedia.com/mind335.htm (and even > listen with Real Audio). It included some research, like the "Nun > Study." Thanks Glenn, I'll check this out. I met Dr. Sunderland some time ago. He was recruiting people for a clinical trial on Alzheimer's screening and I went to hear him explain the trial to a group of candidates. He was a very impressive guy. Alan > Prevent high blood pressure and high cholesterol. > Take low doses of ibuprofen every day. > Take an occasional drink of alcohol. > Keep physically active. > Keep mentally active - working your mind every day. I don't know about his BP I don't know about ibuprofen -- I doubt he took it He had a lot to drink He wore out several stationary bicycles He was constantly working his mind But, I'll pass this on to my wife and hope she doesn't forget to do them > > Prevent high blood pressure and high cholesterol. > > Take low doses of ibuprofen every day. [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > But, I'll pass this on to my wife and hope she doesn't forget to do them Of course you can do all these preventive measures and still get Alzheimer's. I watched my weight, exercised a lot, drank tea, ate vegetables, kept generally very healthy, and even had parents who were cancer free. And I got cancer. Go figure. Alan |
Reply to this Message |
 Sign In
 Join
 My Latest Posts My Monitored Threads My Blog My Photo Gallery My Profile My Homepage Start New Thread Enable EMail Alerts Rate this Thread
|
©2008 Advenet LLC Privacy Policy - Terms of Use
This website includes both content owned or controlled by Advenet as well as content owned or controlled by third parties.