TD - A Journey Through Prostate Cancer

Today will be radiation treatment (RT) #18.  Tomorrow (Friday) #19 and the last one #20 will be on Tuesday after our long weekend. So far the side effects have been manageable.  Once the RTs are finished the waiting game will start. I meet with my radiation oncologist tomorrow to find out what happens next in terms of follow-up and testing.

Photo of the hospital campus where I am being treated. The cancer centre is on the right.

Great- on the home stretch now TD

Yardslave wrote:Great- on the home stretch now TD

+1 What did you find out at today's visit?

Great news!

sanderson wrote:

Yardslave wrote:Great- on the home stretch now TD

+1   What did you find out at today's visit?

I met with a resident doctor who works with my radiation oncologist. She told me I will meet with the radiation oncologist in six months to go over the results of a PSA blood test that will be done a few days before the meeting. That will provide an idea as to whether or not the treatment has worked. The resident was very encouraging but there are no guarantees. It's going to be a long wait. I will have to occupy myself with other things to take my mind off it. Exercise is important for men like me on long term hormone therapy, so I am thinking of joining a gym (I currently exercise at home).  As well, maybe I'll take the new version of the SFG Certified Instructor Course.

BTW, at the gym I will be able to show off my big belly and new breasts   that are side effects of hormone therapy. Among the other possible side effects are hot flashes, fatigue, body hair loss, bone loss, muscle loss, weight gain, brain fog, dementia, cardiovascular problems, diabetes, etc. Yikes!!!

trolleydriver wrote:BTW, at the gym I will be able to show off my big belly and new breasts   that are side effects of hormone therapy. Among the other possible side effects are hot flashes, fatigue, body hair loss, bone loss, muscle loss, weight gain, brain fog, dementia, cardiovascular problems, diabetes, etc. Yikes!!!

Fingers crossed you get to pass on all of the above. We like you just the way you are.

countrynaturals wrote:

trolleydriver wrote:BTW, at the gym I will be able to show off my big belly and new breasts   that are side effects of hormone therapy. Among the other possible side effects are hot flashes, fatigue, body hair loss, bone loss, muscle loss, weight gain, brain fog, dementia, cardiovascular problems, diabetes, etc. Yikes!!!

Fingers crossed you get to pass on all of the above. We like you just the way you are.

Thank you

I also hope you can pass on most of those side affects. Walk and exercise!

Gotta love those hormones.... Big thing is to keep moving!

AtlantaMarie wrote:Gotta love those hormones....  Big thing is to keep moving!

Absolutely. Been walking 2 miles in the hallways of the Cancer Centre before each treatment. Taking up strength training as well.

trolleydriver wrote:

AtlantaMarie wrote:Gotta love those hormones....  Big thing is to keep moving!

Absolutely. Been walking 2 miles in the hallways of the Cancer Centre before each treatment. Taking up strength training as well.

Excellent attitude!

TD,
 My father-in-law said that another side affect he experienced was having a strong desire to eat ice cream and watch movies like Beaches, Steel Magnolias, and Thelma and Louise He claims that the meds made him start to cry during the final scene of the Notebook.

Yardslave wrote:TD,
 My father-in-law said that another side affect he experienced was having a strong desire to eat ice cream and watch movies like Beaches, Steel Magnolias, and Thelma and Louise He claims that the meds made him start to cry during the final scene of the Notebook.

Exactly. I forgot to mention the emotional changes. And then there is the loss of libido, etc.(I'll spare the details). Life changing for sure

Yardslave wrote:TD,
 My father-in-law said that another side affect he experienced was having a strong desire to eat ice cream and watch movies like Beaches, Steel Magnolias, and Thelma and Louise He claims that the meds made him start to cry during the final scene of the Notebook.

I couldn't help but laugh.

Finished my radiation treatments yesterday.  Now for the long six month wait for testing to see if things have improved.

This photo was taken by one of the radiation therapists. She said, "I'll take the photo before you pull your pants down.". I am sure we are all thankful for that. 

Way to hang in there, we live in good times- no more cobalt machines!

Congrats, TD!

trolleydriver wrote:Finished my radiation treatments yesterday.  Now for the long six month wait for testing to see if things have improved.

Now, you can relax and enjoy the holidays and next spring's garden plans.

TD, I'm glad you are done with the radiation treatment. I had to laugh at your description of the nurse taking the photo for you.

I love your attitude, TD.  I think with your treatment you are becoming a girl, as we have suffered those effects you listed, so perhaps it is not so bad after all.

When I was little I badly wanted to be a boy, the only reason being that my two foster brothers did not help in the house and seemed to be out to play all the time while I had bed-making and housework to do.

Hope you can keep up with your lovely garden.  Hugs! TD.

It is recommended that prostate cancer patients get aerobic and strengthening exercise to combat fatigue from radiation as well as fatigue, muscle loss, bone loss and weight gain from hormone treatment. So I managed to get a great deal ($300 Canadian) on a Total Gym Titanium. It's unused and still in its unopened packaging. Got it from someone on FB Marketplace who bought it a few months ago for $700 and never even opened it.

trolleydriver wrote:It is recommended that prostate cancer patients get aerobic and strengthening exercise to combat fatigue from radiation as well as fatigue, muscle loss, bone loss and weight gain from hormone treatment. So I managed to get a great deal ($300 Canadian) on a Total Gym Titanium. It's unused and still in its unopened packaging. Got it from someone on FB Marketplace who bought it a few months ago for $700 and never even opened it.

Nice find, TD.

Total Gym helped save our farm. Back at "the turn of the century" we were really struggling financially, until Hubby discovered a marketing niche in used exercise equipment and bicycles. Nobody else wanted to mess with shipping the big, heavy stuff, and it was readily available for pennies on the dollar at yard sales, so we became Power Sellers on eBay, as "Bob's Bikes & More" and were able to hang on until we could sell the farm for top dollar and move on. What an adventure -- 7-day work weeks, 14-hour days -- including Christmas. Thanks for the trip down memory lane, TD.

Nice find.

Today marks two weeks since my radiation treatment (RT) ended. I was told that the short term side effects of RT should peak during this period. 

The following may be too much information so stop reading at this point if you prefer.

Current status:

- Urinary problems - mostly under controi by taking one Flomax pill per day before going to bed. I still get up during the night (about three times last night) but sometimes I can sleep right through.  The weak flow, frequency (every 30 to 60 minutes), pain, etc. have gone.

- Bowel problems - All OK in this department. I had bleeding hemorrhoids for a few days after treatment stopped. The bleeding stopped and hemorrhoids no longer noticeable.

- Fatigue - I still get tired and spaced out. This may be from both the RT and the Androgen Deprivation Therapy (ADT) plus interrupted sleep.

- Dizziness - Getting some slight dizziness that may be a side effect of the Flomax pills.

- Hot Flashes - I have been experiencing some mild, short, hot flashes which are a side effect of the ADT.

The ADT can have horrible side effects including hot flashes, weight gain, muscle loss, weaker bones, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular risk,anemia, fatigue, breast growth, loss of body hair, loss of libido, brain fog, mood changes increased risk of kidney failure, headache, bowel problems, joint aches, risk of lung infections, periodontal disease, etc.  I am scheduled to be on ADT (an injection every 3 months) for two years.  Makes you wonder if it is worth it.

Exercise is recommended for men on ADT to offset many of the side effects.  I am walking outside just about every day for about 3 kilometres or doing cardio indoors (e.g., Wii Fit Plus exercise).  I also do some strength training. I am trying to hire a personal trainer to do a physical assessment, help me set up a proper home exercise program, show me how to exercise properly and occasionally follow-up on progress.

I am still maintaining a Whole Food Plant Based diet with no meats (red meat, chicken, pork, fish), no dairy, no eggs and reduced sugar and salt. I do cheat on the fish with a bit of wild salmon and sardines. I have lost twenty pounds since my diagnosis and my BMI is now in the normal range.

Life has changed dramatically for Mrs TD and me.

YIKES, TD -- that paragraph about ADT is particularly scary. Hang in there, Friend. Fingers crossed the worst is over and all those warnings are just lawyer-speak for CYA (Cover Your A_ _) for the company involved.