Tips and advice for any bladder or bowel side effects of treatment
It was the frequency of my peeing that first encouraged me to seek a PSA check. Throughout treatment, I have remained frequent but have managed it well. I did purchase some padded pants, just for leakage, no longer needed. Immediately post radiotherapy I did need to take a container in the car, so I could pull over and pee. Also knowing where the service stations were on route was useful. No longer needed.
Tips and advice for any sexual side effects of treatment
Once I started hormone treatment my libido dropped immediately. I had no interest in sex throughout. Three months after having my last injection, I can now get an erection again, but not what I’d call back to normal. Getting there.
Tips and advice for any physical side effects of treatment
I had fairly severe hot sweats. Not a lot I could do other than remove cloths, sheets, stand outside. I gained a lot of weight which is now stabilising, but the fatigue doesn’t help with exercise, exacerbating the problem.
Tips and advice for any mental and emotional side effects of treatment
I didn’t feel there was much I could do regarding my emotional responses, not so severe, but certainly heightened, especially when certain side effects were in full swing.
How this treatment impacted my life the most
It changed my life, certainly for the period of treatment, but I can feel my body changing back to the way it was. I’m not there yet, having had my last injection some months ago. I am fairly physical, but have been too fatigued to exercise to any sort of pre-treatment level, and I’m still not there by some way. The weight gain has been frustrating, causing some anxiety. The physical side of my relationship was impacted hugely, but that is slowly coming back. At times, I know I have been short tempered, apathetic, with little energy, again that is slowly changing. My partner has been extremely supportive which has helped hugely. I would certainly advise reading as much material on the side affects and treatments as possible because you don’t always get all the detail during consultations. It’s very important you take as much ownership as possible.
Why did I give this answer?
Because I read around all options and felt this suited me more compared to surgery, even though I got the impression others thought I should have had the prostrate taken out.
