I was originally set up for 25 IMRT and then seeds. About 1/2 way through
the radiation I started to have prostate swelling which seriously affected
my flow. So my Uro and Rad Onc decided it would be best to forget the seeds
and go for the full 42 IMRT. My bladder had also shrunk during Radiation
resultind in very frequent pee breaks and they felt that this might also get
worse because of the concentrated radiation of the seeds so near the
bladder. They said that the 42 IMRT had the same result as the 25 plus
seeds. The lingering side effects of all radiation is a little worse with
all Rad as I am finding out now - bowel problems, fatigue. etc, but it will
improve. The biggest problem the Uro saw with the seeding was that there was
very little he could do to improve things after they were implanted.
George
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 MD
12/16/03 - Consult - Radiation Oncologist
Treatment Plan - Northeast Ga Cancer Center
HT - started 12/17/03 - Eulixen & Lupron (2nd 4 mo Lupron-4/26)
2/10/04 - Started - Flowmax and Megastrol
Radiation - IMRT to begin 3/30/04 - 42 treatments - Completed 6/8/04

What our rad-onc told us was the seeds are easier on the bladder, etc than
the external radiation. Go for the seeds!!
Bev

Hi Mike,
I had and still have worse retention than that and I'm doing OK.
I had 25 EBRT completed mid May followed by 110 PD-103 seeds implanted on
June 10. The catheter was removed while I was in recovery. My trouble peeing
varied but mostly consisted of frequency. I would go once, not empty, then
have to go again a few minutes later. There were times when it was very
uncomfortable but the worst seems to be over and it has improved greatly the
last week or two. Flowmax helped immensely. I travel a lot and wear a
depends insert while on airplanes but have never needed it. Though luck
might have played a part in that.
All in all though, I don't think a little retention should play much of a
factor in your decision. Everyone's different of course, but if seeds are
your best course of action for fighting the cancer, I say go for it.
Larry

The seeds have a higher probability of causing urethritis. See:
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http://www.prostate-cancer.org/education/localdis/scholz_newlydiagnosed2.html
"The main side-effect of concern from brachytherapy is radiation
effect on the urethra, the small passageway that carries urine
out of bladder, through the prostate, and out the penis. The
urethra gets a maximum dose of radiation because it is in the
center of the prostate. The side-effects of radiation on the
urethra, termed urithritis, can include any of the following
symptoms: urgency to urinate, painful urination, urinary
frequency, slow urination, and occasionally complete blockage
of urination requiring the temporary placement of a catheter
to drain the urine. About two-thirds of men35,36 treated with
brachytherapy have short-term symptoms of urithritis that
last a couple of months after the implant."

Short-term symptoms can usually be endured. Of greater concern
are the 5-10% of men who have symptoms lasting up to a year,
and occasionally longer. "
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