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From: BobS on 18 Sep 2008 22:31
My PSA has increased to a point that I have decided (in conjunction with my
radiation oncologist) to have salvage radiation. I am going in tomorrow for
the first of two or three visits to be imaged to prepare for the salvage
radiation. They are going to use CT guided IMRT for the salvage radiation.
Is there anything I should ask the oncologist? Are there any suggestions
about how to minimize side effects from the radiation? I have already been
told by the oncologist to drink 16 to 24 ounces of water about an hour
before each treatment.

BobS

Age 68
PSA 9.0 5/2004
Biopsy 6/2004 G7 (3+4)
RLRP 8/18/2004 G7 (3+4)
Negative Margins
PSA 11/2004 - < 0.01
2/2005 - < 0.03 (less sensitive test, different lab)
5/2005 - 0.04
8/2005 - 0.04
11/2005 - 0.07
2/2006 - 0.067 (different lab)
5/2006 - 0.11
9/2006 - 0.15
11/2006 - 0.15
5/2007 - 0.17
8/2007 - 0.18
11/2007- 0.17
5/2008 - 0.24
8/2008 - 0.28
9/16/2008 - 0.27

From: Alan Meyer on 19 Sep 2008 01:14
BobS wrote:
> My PSA has increased to a point that I have decided (in conjunction with
> my radiation oncologist) to have salvage radiation. I am going in
> tomorrow for the first of two or three visits to be imaged to prepare
> for the salvage radiation. They are going to use CT guided IMRT for the
> salvage radiation. Is there anything I should ask the oncologist? Are
> there any suggestions about how to minimize side effects from the
> radiation? I have already been told by the oncologist to drink 16 to 24
> ounces of water about an hour before each treatment.
> ...

Some minor suggestions:

Get a good quality skin cream, I think I used Aveno, to spread
on the skin that get radiated. I also used a lot of Preparation
H since the radiation aggravated hemorrhoids.

Also plan on an extra hour of sleep each night if possible.
For reasons I don't understand the radiation seems to make
people a little tired. Maybe it's the energy that the body
puts into healing the non-cancerous parts that are exposed.

Be sure to hold perfectly still once you are positioned on
the gurney each day.

Best of luck with it.

Alan
From: Dave P on 19 Sep 2008 09:40
Drink plenty of water daily
You can go for a walk daily - it helps
Eat a balanced diet
You are going to get tired as the weekend nears.
Take plenty of naps
Its going to burn at some point when you go to the bathroom -
especially #2 then #1 at the end of treatment
After getting measured etc... The 40 or so visits you will have are
like sunning at the beach - easy

Your PCa is growing slow which is great news for you. You are in a
good position at this time. You have a great chance for cure with your
PSA below 0.3 for salvage.This is the most important thing for
Salvage, the second is doubling time. The PCa could be in the bed and
Salvage will take care of that - at least thats what most of the
research states with your numbers growing slowly.

Its a long road. Your numbers are very good - I would put money down
on you hitting 80 years old + and the Salvage eliminating the PCa.

Enjoy your life. Stay positive and believe it will work.
From: Larry Sabo on 19 Sep 2008 09:41
Alan Meyer <ameyer2(a)yahoo.com> wrote:

>Get a good quality skin cream, I think I used Aveno, to spread
>on the skin that get radiated. I also used a lot of Preparation
>H since the radiation aggravated hemorrhoids.

I would suggest checking this with your radiation oncologist before
doing this. Mine recommended NOT applying Proctosydle anti-hemroid
creame before treatments.

Cheers
From: Alan Meyer on 19 Sep 2008 13:35
Larry Sabo wrote:
> Alan Meyer <ameyer2(a)yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>> Get a good quality skin cream, I think I used Aveno, to spread
>> on the skin that get radiated. I also used a lot of Preparation
>> H since the radiation aggravated hemorrhoids.
>
> I would suggest checking this with your radiation oncologist before
> doing this. Mine recommended NOT applying Proctosydle anti-hemroid
> creame before treatments.
>
> Cheers

Good point.

Bob,

Do check with the rad onc about all of these things.

I seem to recall applying the stuff immediately after
each session, not before. But it's been over four years
and I don't remember all the issues regarding it. I
do remember that it was the oncology nurse who gave me
the tube of Aveeno to apply.

Alan
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