- Radiation is a bit like Round Up (the grass killer). If you spray grass with it, the grass doesn’t immediately die…it takes days to weeks. And then is some spots, the brownis grass turns green again. So if you have radiation today…some of the deliterious effects of it might not become manifest until years later. In most cases it will be something related to how one voids or the quality of the erection. I put this in my book, and my comments may come across as biased (whatever) but a lot of my patients that I follow who have had radiation and then have problems in these areas down the road are surprised. I am talking about intelligent patients who did their homework. Why are they surprised? Where they not told? Did they not listen? Or did not think there would be any consequence to the radiation?
- When I look into the bladder with cystoscopy of a patient who had radiation, and this can be true for seeds as well, I see blanched mucosa with prominent blood vessels. This is called radiation cystitis. Over the years have had many patients with this and clinically this manifests as hematuria, urgency and other irritative voiding symptoms. I have seen urethra strictures from seeds. I have had to fulgurate bladders for refractory bleeding from radiation cystitis from radiation five years previously.
- Is this a reason not to choose radiation? No, not on this alone. My point is just to know what you are getting into with any of the treatments.
- When it comes to any treatment, but particularly radiation…there is the now, and then there is the later.
- Pay me now…or Pay me later comes to mind.
What about the pain involved…….I am a 55 yr old woman history adnocarcinoma of cervix chemo and rad. The squam. ce,, vag cancer resulting in vaginectomy…severe flank pain.
My diag from urologist
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My prostate was 10 years ago. A few years later I began having hematuria and urgency. Lately, the amount of blood and clots has increased along with incident frequency. I take 81 mg of aspirin qd for AFIB and have a pacemaker. The clots seem to be getting to the point where they are more difficult to pass. I plan to DC the aspirin and note if the condition improves.
Your comments?
Bruce
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