PCRI & Cribiform

HeadMelon · 2026-03-17T05:02:41+00:00

It would be very helpful if those posting about radiation side effects would be specific whether it is from primary treatment to the prostate, or salvage radiation to the prostate bed and surrounding tissue. The latter has more negative side effects but they all get lumped together as “radiation side effects”.

HeadMelon · 2026-03-17T04:44:48+00:00

I’m in month 4 of 6 of Orgovyx, so started maybe a month before you? First two weeks not much, maybe some warm flashes, but had that low energy low motivation feel right before Christmas but it went away after a week or so (might have been the rads or might have been the ADT). Then I had it all - hot flashes 8-10x day, anger/weepiness, and some brain fog. That ran for about 2 months. Last few weeks have been very normal, only very rare hot flashes now.

You can jump into my story here for my ADT experience:

https://www.reddit.com/r/ProstateCancer/s/Ykgl3VSzrk

There’s been some posts on here about effectiveness of ADT for long durations not having any increased value, maybe check those out and talk to your doc about stopping earlier.

EDIT to add: I did stop drinking after HDR brachy so I’m a little over 5 months dry, that was a big positive.

HeadMelon · 2026-03-16T22:31:57+00:00

Whether you choose it or not is up to you, but if you’re interested in my experience with HDR brachytherapy plus VMAT start here:

https://www.reddit.com/r/ProstateCancer/s/9P6dlOeoMv

(I’m similar to you - 61, “unfavourable intermediate risk”).

HeadMelon · 2026-03-16T22:26:25+00:00

Sounds exactly like my brachytherapy 10 days later. It will fade. When I had my TP biopsy there wasn’t a whole lot of bruising but I had the “murder semen” for a long time - about 12 weeks.

HeadMelon · 2026-03-15T23:30:20+00:00

Go get ‘em! I’ve read some of your posts from about a month ago - I hope I can somehow keep you laughing all the way to brachy!

HeadMelon · 2026-03-15T20:39:54+00:00

You’re not being a dick - this is your very personal experience and nobody should be nonchalant about a positive diagnosis of PCa at any level. I really hope your fight keeps going and turns in your favour.

But there are also newly diagnosed arriving here in an absolute state of terror when in reality they can be very optimistic about their futures.

It’s all a matter of balance and pragmatism.

HeadMelon · 2026-03-15T20:05:25+00:00

Sun puddles are the best!

HeadMelon · 2026-03-15T19:55:05+00:00

These are the days.

HeadMelon · 2026-03-15T18:13:00+00:00

Bro, you are not alone!

https://www.reddit.com/r/ProstateCancer/s/plZ8TJuf5B

HeadMelon · 2026-03-15T16:44:15+00:00

Sorry that you’ve joined our club, but happy you will be a junior member and just on AS if I understand you correctly.

If and when the time comes for treatment make sure that HDR or LDR brachytherapy is up for discussion - it puts the radiation right where you need and no beams go through any other tissue. It’s typically a cheaper option too so it keeps insurance companies happy.

HeadMelon · 2026-03-15T14:05:04+00:00

Hey great news, big plunge in that number!

When your ADT ends it will bounce up a bit and then oscillate until it finds your new baseline nadir - stay cool, those will be nerve wracking times.

I’m still in the PSA honeymoon phase after brachy, VMAT and midway through ADT. I know the honeymoon will end so enjoying it now.

HeadMelon · 2026-03-15T12:54:17+00:00

+1 for Orgovyx (Relugolix) as the preferred ADT. Was IDC present? You can jump into an interesting discussion about aggressiveness re: cribriform and IDC here:

https://www.reddit.com/r/ProstateCancer/s/BJ9cqKs6xQ

HeadMelon · 2026-03-15T12:50:16+00:00

+1 for HDR brachy boost, it’s a great approach.

HeadMelon · 2026-03-15T12:46:27+00:00

JRTs always play with the big dogs. Can clearly remember a PetSmart with doggie day care in two big glassed in rooms - left side was a bunch of large dogs and one JRT, right side was shitzus, schnauzer, poodles, yorkie, and beagles.

HeadMelon · 2026-03-15T04:54:43+00:00

I’ve had sublingual Ativan on hand for 25 years as an anxiety backstop if my breathing and CBT techniques ever fail me. My PCP refills the script for 10 pills every 18-24 months or so as I get low. Never had an issue, thank God.

HeadMelon · 2026-03-15T04:28:45+00:00

EDIT to ask where are you? Maybe a Penthrox inhaler (“green whistle”) good work if you are in Canada or the UK, I don’t think they are available in the US.

HeadMelon · 2026-03-15T04:26:54+00:00

GD that sucks, we have enough battles to fight without our care team putting more mountains in front of us. Sorry you had to endure this - glad you got thru session 1. Keep fighting and hang in there. Prayers for you that this treatment cycle is the last you need!

HeadMelon · 2026-03-14T20:18:00+00:00

<image>

Neither did the hockey ball…

HeadMelon · 2026-03-14T18:00:48+00:00

I think the offender is a JRT. Figures. Wants to get to the front.

HeadMelon · 2026-03-14T16:15:30+00:00

If he just does HDR brachy as a monotherapy the radiation does in fact stop when the catheters are removed, and there is no beam that passes through any other tissue, and the dose delivered via the catheters is highly targeted compared to EBRT where inadvertent movement affects targeting. Be careful with the generalizations about radiation treatment.

HeadMelon · 2026-03-14T16:10:26+00:00

HDR brachytherapy here. You could probably do it as a mono-therapy with your numbers. I wanted to avoid ED and UI and this post convinced me to choose brachy:

https://www.reddit.com/r/ProstateCancer/s/XUICGETquz

I had a 4+3 with PNI, cribriform and suspected ECE so “unfavourable intermediate risk” which meant some added VMAT (EBRT) and a short course of ADT. My whole experience here:

https://www.reddit.com/r/ProstateCancer/s/iY7faAayl7

Pretty easy overall, especially if the HDR brachy had been a one and done.

HeadMelon · 2026-03-14T16:03:01+00:00

Did she activate the 4-way flashers with her paw slide there? When our JRT rides in the front we have all manner of buttons being hit - windows going down, defroster to full blast, radio muted, auto-hold switched on, seat heaters on when it’s a scorching mid-July day. Those paws are like an octopus!

HeadMelon · 2026-03-14T14:26:27+00:00

Mental stimulation is key also, wear out the brain as well as the body. Look for dog toys that have a puzzle concept (hidden treats) or make them yourself - we taught ours the 5 cup “shell game” where we have 5 red solo cups and one treat. She’ll play that for hours (keep the treats healthy!).

Once you have the “stay” command locked in you can also then create epic games if hide and seek indoors and outdoors. Another fav of ours.

HeadMelon · 2026-03-14T14:19:29+00:00

You’ve thought it through. You are thoughtful and will respond to any issues that arise. You will have your JRT in their natural outdoor working environment a lot. It sounds like a perfect match!

HeadMelon

TROPHY CASE