Dear M,

I had a seed implant on May 7--a different form of radiation, but I
suspect that the side effects are somewhat similar.  If so, your
girlfriend's father is definitely going to want to stay away from
soccer for awhile, as well as any other form of rigorous physical
activity.  The radiation is going to cause a certain amount of
inflammation/swelling in the prostate.  That, in turn, is likely to
cause urinary problems.  I had always been a compulsive runner, but
when I tried to return to running after my seed implant, I found that
it irritated the inflammation and increased the swelling to the point
that I ALMOST needed to go in for emergency catheterization.  Escaped
that procedure by the skin of my teeth AND by giving up running.  I
did a little walking instead to maintain some degree of activity.  I
also had some bowel problems.  Metamucil seemed to clear those up.
After three months, the side effects all but disappeared completely.
Nothing now but a little urinary frequency (which is sporadic).
Again, the effects of external beam radiation are probably a little
different from the effects of seeding, but I suspect that there is at
least some similarity.  Incidentally, two weeks ago, I went to Peru
with two of my sons and a good friend and hiked the Inca Trail to
Machu Picchu.  So you can see that I am no longer worrying about side
effects.  Your girlfriend's father will be able to get back to his
soccer game, too, but he needs to take some time to recover and not be
in a hurry.

Ron Carter

Just Google "EBRT" (external beam radiation therapy), "brachytherapy",
and/or "IMRT" (intensity modulated radiation therapy) and you will get
more good information than you can deal with.

Jim Thomas

...

...

I think your girlfriend's father will have to see what happens.
Exercise is generally a good thing.  Radiation and hormone
therapy will make him more tired than usual, but if he gets
plenty of rest and some exercise, he will probably feel better
than if he quits exercise altogether.

However, as Ron said in his reply, it is possible to overdo it.
He'll have to be guided by his body - doing what feels good
and stopping if it doesn't.

Incidentally, it is now thought in the US that radiation therapy
requires 74 Grays of radiation for the best chance of a cure.  In
the U.S. I was given 2 Grays per session.  If the same dose is
used in Peru, that's only 70 Grays.  He might wish to ask his
doctor just how much radiation he will actually be getting and
whether 35 sessions is quite enough.

   Alan

I agree with Alan he needs to make sure he's getting enough Grays.

Fatigue is the biggest and most common side effect. I think the doctor is
trying to protect him by telling him not to play soccer. Even for a 70 year
old soccer is a rough sport. And would your father would play soccer gently
and take it real easy on the field? I doubt it so no soccer! Besides he
doesn't need a groin injury or a direct hit by the ball to the area.

Seems that some of the older men who have radiation therapy do require a
little more sleep. My husband had his RT in the morning and went straight to
work but he did go to bed earlier at night. On the weekends he took naps. A
good friend of ours was about your dad's age when he had his RT and he came
home and took a nap every day after treatment.

The fact that your father is physically fit going into this is very positive
and he will probably do very well with little fatigue. There is a long list
of things that might be a problem. Urinary problems are also common and
quite treatable with medication. Bowel problems are also treatable. These
things usually fall under minor irritation and will go away. Sometimes it
takes a few week and in rare instances it might take a few months.

Your father will see a change in his ejaculate. It will go clear and
eventually it will go away. Sometimes doctors forget to mention that and it
comes as a big surprise to some men. He might even experience some erectile
dysfunction.

Most guys go through RT with very little trouble. Be mindful that he may
have a problem or two and if he does he needs to tell his doctor right away.
(The prostate often swells during treatment creating urinary problems, etc.)
Tell your dad to keep walking, eat right and enjoy his life. Jumping on the
table every day for a few minutes for several weeks for his IMRT is just a
minor hassle.
Bev

Thank you all for your reply !!!