I had two months of radiotherapy to my prostate and lymph nodes. As I was already retired it was straightforward to fit my daily visits for treatment into my life. I maintained a positive attitude throughout, grateful that the treatment was there for me and willing it to be successful. I suffered hardly any side effects from the radiotherapy - maybe I was just lucky. There was no negative impact on my life. I met a few new people and enjoyed my daily chats with the radiotherapists.
Yes
Well, the treatment was combined with an 18-month prescription for hormone tablets. There were certainly side effects from these. The urology/oncology team convinced me that in my case, these two treatments combined would be better for me than a radical prostatectomy, both in terms of the side effects and my long term prognosis. They were definitely right on the former, and the latter is still to be determined but so far so good.
I chose tablets as opposed to injections because I was advised that the there was some evidence that the recovery - in terms of the these side effects once the treatment had finished - could be better. No tips I'm afraid.
Keeping up with some exercise every day even though sometimes its the last thing you feel like doing was really important - my wife made me do it!
Wear shirts not T-shirts - the latter show up your breasts whereas the former just make you look a bit chunky!
It feels like you are operating on 3 out of 4 cylinders a lot of the time. The combination of some muscle weakness and fatigue means that some physical activities feel different, and it takes a lot of willpower sometimes to keep at it.
Yes
Simply because I think my consultants knew what they were doing.
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