Prostate CA, radiation, lethargy

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Mary K Farrell - 11 Jul 2006 22:59 GMT

I've been lurking here for a few days now. Question for you:

I have a friend who was dx'd with prostate ca and went through the radiation
therapy about 5 years ago. So far, so good. His test results have risen only
slightly again, but are still within acceptable limits.

Joe is a very private person (he never even told his family when he was
diagnosed -- or even yet!). He's 65 and can be very stubborn.....which is
why I'm asking the questions instead of him!

Anyway, it's been 5 years now since he completed his radiation therapy. He
still has very little -- or no -- energy. He says he hasn't felt "normal"
since he went through the therapy. Instead, he gets up in the morning
feeling okay then, by the time he's been up for a couple of hours, he feels
wiped out. I've tried to get him to talk to his doctors at the VA but he
says they can't do anything about it ("and besides, my primary is a nurse
practitioner").

Have any of you gone through the radiation and subsequent fatigue? Is it
"typical" for it to last this long? Is there anything you can suggest that I
might be able to say/do to help him?

I appreciate your advice.

Kate

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Justin Case - 11 Jul 2006 23:08 GMT

: I've been lurking here for a few days now. Question for you:
:
[quoted text clipped - 21 lines]
:
: Kate

Too bad that your friend is such a private person! During my radiation and
for a good many days thereafter -- three or four weeks, maybe -- I was
unusually tired and wiped out, but things have returned to normal now, five
years later. Of course, at my age, 76, I have a lot less energy today than
I did five or ten years ago. If you can persuade your friend to talk with
his physician there might very well be some other cause of this lethargy.

Ken Bland

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Steve Jordan - 12 Jul 2006 00:07 GMT

> I have a friend who was dx'd with prostate ca and went through the radiation
> therapy about 5 years ago. So far, so good. His test results have risen only
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> why I'm asking the questions instead of him!
>

I have to say with all due respect that I have little patience for a man
who hides from the facts of his illness. *He* should be asking
questions, not relying upon Mary, who undoubtedly hopes that her efforts
will prove helpful.

This is not uncommon; the "manly man" hides in a corner while his female
relatives or friends carry the burden of learning about his PCa. This is
consistent with my belief that (a) the human female is the (not
necessarily physically) stronger sex, and (b) she is the more realistic
of the sexes.

> Anyway, it's been 5 years now since he completed his radiation therapy. He
> still has very little -- or no -- energy. He says he hasn't felt "normal"
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> practitioner").
>

Bluntly, that last is absurd. Somewhere, there is an MD who is
responsible for Joe's tx (and to whom the NP is responsible) --
although the ultimate responsibility is Joe's and no one else's. If Joe
does not know who that is, he is failing to protect his health and it is
time and past time for him to take charge.

If he is so stubborn, he should be prepared to raise the issue and keep
on raising it until he has an answer.

Although with this disease consistency of experience is sadly lacking, I
can say that fatigue *caused by radiation therapy alone* after five
years is unlikely.

There very well might be other conditions causing it. Joe has been
negligent. Time to bypass the nurse practitioner and take command.

> Have any of you gone through the radiation and subsequent fatigue?

There is too much missing from the post to permit an answer. What
co-morbidities are there? What other treatments were applied?

> Is it "typical" for it to last this long?

Impossible to say. See above. Also: Joe's experience is likely unique to
Joe. Each of us reacts differently.

> Is there anything you can suggest that I might be able to say/do to help him?
>

Bluntly, yes. Tell him to take command of his case and to stop hiding
behind his friend.

That's as straight advice as I can give.

Regards,

Steve J

"What are the facts? Again and again and again -- what are the facts?
Shun wishful thinking, ignore divine revelation, forget 'what the stars
foretell,' avoid opinion, care not what the neighbors think, never mind
the unguessable 'verdict of history' -- what are the facts, and to how
many decimal places? You pilot always into an unknown future; facts are
your single clue. Get the facts!"
--Lazarus Long

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Beverley - 12 Jul 2006 01:15 GMT

I'm mostly with Steve on this. I will add that there might be something else
cause the fatigue and lethargy. It could be physical in nature so he needs a
good medical check up or it could be caused by depression. We all know that
one of the SE of PC is often depression which will cause fatigue and
lethargy.

Make sure his next appt is with the MD! NP's and PA's are wonderful people
and handle simple things like colds and ear infections but he needs to see
the MD. Go with him to his appt.
Bev

> > I have a friend who was dx'd with prostate ca and went through the radiation
> > therapy about 5 years ago. So far, so good. His test results have risen only
[quoted text clipped - 61 lines]
> your single clue. Get the facts!"
> --Lazarus Long

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I.P. Freely - 12 Jul 2006 01:57 GMT

>> [Joe's] primary is a nurse practitioner").
>>
> Bluntly, that last is absurd. Somewhere, there is an MD who is
> responsible for Joe's tx (and to whom the NP is responsible)

My VA clinic "doctor" is a PA, and unless and until one of us is smart
and assertive enough to escalate an issue to an MD, I'm at his mercy.
He's the one who ignored my PSA three years too long. No mas!

What I do now when the VA drags its feet is use TriCare, which as a vet
Joe has free of charge, to go see a REAL doctor of my choosing. Did that
just last week on another issue.

> Tell him to take command of his case and to stop hiding
> behind his friend.
> That's as straight advice as I can give.

To which I concur strongly. I'll never understand anyone over about 6
who's unwilling to take care of himself, yet every day I see otherwise
SMART people killing themselves. But, failing that, we and Joe laud your
assistance.

I.P.

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Steve Kramer - 12 Jul 2006 02:20 GMT

Hi, Mary Kate!

My wife told me that I was fatigued after radiation. I didn't notice it.
However, I did notice getting better. It was temporary and I cannot imagine
why it would not be so with Joe.

However, I'm wondering... Is Joe on hormone treatment? Now that will
fatigue a man.

Please thank Joe for me for his service to our country.

Signature

PSA 16 10/17/2000 @ 46
Biopsy 11/01/2000 G7 (3+4), T2c
RRP 12/15/2000 G7 (3+4), T3cN0M0 Neg margins
PSA .1 .1 .1 .27 .37 .75
EBRT 05-07/2002 @ 47
PSA .34 .22 .15 .21 .32
Lupron 07/03 (1 mo) 8/03 (4 mo), 12/03, 4/04, 09/04, 01/05, 5/05, 10/05,
2/06, 6/06
PSA .07 .05 .06 .09 .08 .132 .145
Non Illegitimi Carborundum

> I've been lurking here for a few days now. Question for you:
>
[quoted text clipped - 21 lines]
>
> Kate

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Alan Meyer - 12 Jul 2006 02:37 GMT

> ...
> Have any of you gone through the radiation and subsequent fatigue? Is it
> "typical" for it to last this long? Is there anything you can suggest that I
> might be able to say/do to help him?
> ...

I can confirm what everyone else has said. Whatever fatigue I
experienced due to radiation dissipated within months, if not
weeks, after the end.

If Joe is taking hormone therapy, that could account for his
lack of energy. If it's not that, then he needs to tell the VA
or wherever he goes for medical help. He may have a
serious disease, heart trouble, or depression - any of which
may or may not be treatable, but he won't know if he doesn't
get examined.

Alan

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Glowing in the Dark - 12 Jul 2006 11:02 GMT

>> ...
>> Have any of you gone through the radiation and subsequent fatigue? Is it
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
>
> Alan

I just finished up a course of 39 treatments and never noticed any
incremental fatigue. I did make it a point to work out every day for about
an hour and a half. I also would concur with the comments relating it to
possible depression. I find that to be the greatest source of "fatigue" in
my case.

Signature

Glowing in the Dark

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Alan Meyer - 12 Jul 2006 16:31 GMT

> ...
> I just finished up a course of 39 treatments and never noticed any
> incremental fatigue. I did make it a point to work out every day for about
> an hour and a half.

I think that's an excellent antidote to the fatigue. Exercise plus extra
rest.

I did the same thing. I know my energy went way down because my
ability to run dropped dramatically from four miles to one with great
huffing and puffing. But I think the Lupron had a great deal to do with
that too.

I experienced no fatigue in ordinary daily activities.

Alan

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