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Bob's Story

Ethnicity
Any other White background
Age
70-79
Work
Retired
Sexual Orientation
Straight
Geography
North West
Relationship status
Married/In a Civil Partnership
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High Dose Rate Brachytherapy

Tips and advice for any sexual side effects of treatment

Not really. I was fortunate that sex wasn't as important to me as it was in my younger days.

Tips and advice for any physical side effects of treatment

Many of these side effects are temporary so it is worth plugging on through some discomfort which will be less in future

How this treatment impacted my life the most

I no longer sleep through the night uninterrupted because I have to get up to pee. The initial fatigue has lessened, but I get tired sooner than I used to when I exercise or have a long day I am more cautious to make sure that I make use of toilets whenever I pass one because I may be caught short on occasions.

If I had to do it all over again, would I choose the same treatment?

Yes

Why did I give this answer?

The alternative offered to me was RP (radical prostatectomy). Many men I have spoken with who had RP still experience uncontrollable urine leakage but I can handle this by being cautious in what I drink and making sure I know I can reach a toilet when I need one.

Hormone Therapy (injections and relugolix tablets)

Tips and advice for any physical side effects of treatment

You might have to buy larger size trousers like I did because of weight gain around the waist.

How this treatment impacted my life the most

I put on weight around the waist. I experienced continual fatigue and had to cut down on exercise activities

If I had to do it all over again, would I choose the same treatment?

Yes

Why did I give this answer?

Because this treatment was recommended as a necessary precursor to my main treatment - high dose rate brachytherapy

Radiotherapy

Tips and advice for any sexual side effects of treatment

My prostate function was effectively destroyed by earlier radiotherapy treatment so many of these side effects are inevitable. Fortunately this did not worry me as much as it would have had I been younger

Tips and advice for any physical side effects of treatment

I only had radiotherapy for three weeks, at the end of which I did experience some loss of bowel control. Fortunately this cleared up fairly soon afterwards,

How this treatment impacted my life the most

Some loss of bowel control for a very short time. Tiredess after returning from treatment. Long-lasting fatigue which still troubles me over ten years after completion of treatment

If I had to do it all over again, would I choose the same treatment?

Yes

Why did I give this answer?

Beam radiotherapy was recommended as a 'mopping-up' exercise to eliminate any cancer remaining after HDR brachytherapy. And it seems to have worked.

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