Re: Radiation burn to Prostatic Urethra from Brachytherapy Procedure

[Guest guest]

Sorry to hear of your problems, Sy. Your

poor old prostate has certainly had a hammering these last 9 months or so.

I would be very wary about having surgery –

and that’s what a TURP (Trans

Urethral Resection of the Prostate) is so soon after radiation therapy was

initiated, bearing in mind what radiation does to the cells. You say your

urologist is giving you this advice. Is he a qualified radiologist? I’d

be looking for some informed input from someone who deals with radiation as a

speciality rather than a urologist who is most likely a surgeon and whose

response therefore is surgery as a solution.

Good luck

All the best

Terry Herbert

I have no medical

qualifications but I was diagnosed in ‘96: and have learned a bit since

then.

My sites are at www.yananow.net and www.prostatecancerwatchfulwaiting.co.za

Dr

“Snuffy” Myers : " As a physician, I am painfully aware that most of

the decisions we make with regard to prostate cancer are made with inadequate

data "

From: ProstateCancerSupport [mailto:ProstateCancerSupport ] On Behalf Of copanahoy

Sent: Sunday, 28 February 2010

2:29 AM

To: ProstateCancerSupport

Subject:

Radiation " burn " to Prostatic Urethra from Brachytherapy Procedure

I had 70 Palladium 103 radioactive seeds

" installed " in my Brachytherapy procedure on January 12th..

After about the 3rd. week I started developing severe pain , urgency and

enormous amounts of urinary retention requiring being catheterized twice. My

Urologist is surprised by the intensity of this reaction and he is telling me

that unless the swelling in my Prostatic Urethra subsides I may have to undergo

a TURP procedure. I have taken prednisone and high dose naproxen to quell the

swelling

I told him that I am perfectly willing to stay with the catheter for several

weeks as it is helpful and may allow me time to get the swelling down to avoid

having the TURP. I already had a TUNA procedure this past summer.

I am trying to learn more about radiation burns as a result of a Brachytherapy

procedure but can't seem to find much information.

Any information or comments will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Sy

[Guest guest]

Sy --

As usual, you should have been warned!

Urethral obstruction is a fairly common side-effect of brachytherapy. My local

radiation treatment group is very good, and they warn about it.

The good part is that it eventually disappears, as the swelling from radiation

goes down.

Putting in a catheter is a good idea, IMHO. It's a pain (literally and

figuratively), but it's way better than a completely blocked urethra, which can

kill you.

If your urethra is only partially obstructed, ask about " intermittent

self-catheterization " -- that is, _you_ put in a catheter as often as needed,

and then remove it. That avoids the irritation of an " indwelling " (Foley-type)

catheter. It's easy and cheap, and it means you don't have to carry a bag all

the time.

>

> I had 70 Palladium 103 radioactive seeds " installed " in my Brachytherapy

procedure on January 12th..

>

> After about the 3rd. week I started developing severe pain , urgency and

enormous amounts of urinary retention requiring being catheterized twice. My

Urologist is surprised by the intensity of this reaction and he is telling me

that unless the swelling in my Prostatic Urethra subsides I may have to undergo

a TURP procedure. I have taken prednisone and high dose naproxen to quell the

swelling

>

> I told him that I am perfectly willing to stay with the catheter for several

weeks as it is helpful and may allow me time to get the swelling down to avoid

having the TURP. I already had a TUNA procedure this past summer.

>

> I am trying to learn more about radiation burns as a result of a Brachytherapy

procedure but can't seem to find much information.

>

> Any information or comments will be greatly appreciated.

>

>

> Thanks,

>

>

> Sy

>

[Guest guest]

Sy:

For a post-burn urethra wrap-up, read my www.YanaNow.net " Sondeen " . HIFU

is radiation and alters tissue--HIFU, like radiation impacted tissue, does not

heal, perform, or react to surgery like normal tissue. All bets are off. You

can see what occurred with add'l manipulation via laser TURP and the sum total

of damage to my urethra.

I have a near normal life with the exception of CIC (clean intermittent

catheterization) every time I need to void. Makes travel a little dicey and

it's important to have my equipment with me at all times.

I would advise going to one of the very few surgeons who bat clean-up after

untoward finishes of radiation procedures. Surgeon Flynn at CU Med Center

has had a number of sad surgery stories following one procedure or another--he

rebuilds urethras. Jack McAnich UCSF " wrote the book " and there are others. My

choice from Flynn was between what I'm doing now OR a supra-pubic port where I

would catheterize a hole in my abdomen when I need to pee.

Makes a motorcycle saddle bag full of catheters " not-so-bad " when I look at the

options.

Good luck. Let nature follow it's course for a time before meddling again with

abnormal tissue and " do something " anxious care providers. A lot of

one-procedure docs have little left in their trick bag except " more of the same "

or " I don't understand it " . Go to the handful of people who DO UNDERSTAND and

listen to their advice. It CAN GET WORSE.

Boulder CO

>

> Sorry to hear of your problems, Sy. Your poor old prostate has certainly had

> a hammering these last 9 months or so.

>

>

>

> I would be very wary about having surgery - and that's what a TURP (Trans

> Urethral Resection of the Prostate) is so soon after radiation therapy was

> initiated, bearing in mind what radiation does to the cells. You say your

> urologist is giving you this advice. Is he a qualified radiologist? I'd be

> looking for some informed input from someone who deals with radiation as a

> speciality rather than a urologist who is most likely a surgeon and whose

> response therefore is surgery as a solution.

>

>

>

> Good luck

>

>

>

>

>

> All the best

>

>

>

> Terry Herbert

>

> I have no medical qualifications but I was diagnosed in '96: and have

> learned a bit since then.

>

> My sites are at www.yananow.net <http://www.yananow.net/> and

> <http://www.prostatecancerwatchfulwaiting.co.za/>

> www.prostatecancerwatchfulwaiting.co.za

>

> Dr " Snuffy " Myers : " As a physician, I am painfully aware that most

> of the decisions we make with regard to prostate cancer are made with

> inadequate data "

>

>

>

> _____

>

> From: ProstateCancerSupport

> [mailto:ProstateCancerSupport ] On Behalf Of copanahoy

> Sent: Sunday, 28 February 2010 2:29 AM

> To: ProstateCancerSupport

> Subject: Radiation " burn " to Prostatic Urethra from

> Brachytherapy Procedure

>

>

>

>

>

> I had 70 Palladium 103 radioactive seeds " installed " in my Brachytherapy

> procedure on January 12th..

>

> After about the 3rd. week I started developing severe pain , urgency and

> enormous amounts of urinary retention requiring being catheterized twice. My

> Urologist is surprised by the intensity of this reaction and he is telling

> me that unless the swelling in my Prostatic Urethra subsides I may have to

> undergo a TURP procedure. I have taken prednisone and high dose naproxen to

> quell the swelling

>

> I told him that I am perfectly willing to stay with the catheter for several

> weeks as it is helpful and may allow me time to get the swelling down to

> avoid having the TURP. I already had a TUNA procedure this past summer.

>

> I am trying to learn more about radiation burns as a result of a

> Brachytherapy procedure but can't seem to find much information.

>

> Any information or comments will be greatly appreciated.

>

> Thanks,

>

> Sy

>