Anyone Have To Have Radiation After Surgery

Anyone out there have to have radiation after surgery? The cancer was found on the edges of the gland. Radiation to ensure all cells are killed. Just wanted more info.

yes having radiation now after my surgery. have 6 more treatments left. surgery 03/15/07,  gleason 9 , cancer in tissue outside organ but seminal vessels, lymph nodes , and bones ok . the idea is to kill the cancer cells with radiation in the prostate bed. then if that doesn't get it all go on hormone treatment (adt). need any more experiences from me just write me back. hope i helped.  john  

I had radiation following surgery without any side effects or problems. It's really no big deal. I chose to use Tomotherapy which in my opinion is the very best radiotherapy technology. What is the patient's PSA post surgery? A recent study showed that it's best to pursue radiation before PSA rises above 0.5. Also ADT has been shown to be synergistic with radiation starting 3 months before radiation treatments. One thing to consider is whether to test to see if the cancer has spread beyond the prostate region. Remember that radiation will only work if the cancer is located in the radiation field.

He just had surgery on 7/23, Gleason scale 6, PSA 3.7. His lymph nodes were clear, margins clear. Only 10% of his prostate was cancerous. Spared both nerves and able to create a large bladder neck. But it was on the outside of the capsule. So, after 8 weeks of healing, then he has 6 weeks of radiation on the prostate bed to ensure a cure.

With a gleason nine, you should probably get ADT for up to 2 years whether you have surgery or surgery plus irradiation due to the likelihood of distant spread.  ADT has been shown, even in people who subsequently recur , to increase the disease free interval.  Make sure they watch for and treat the potential side effects.  Severe side effects are rare but over time minor ones build up ie. Loss of muscle and bone, increased LDL and trig, and the worst is the possibility of anemia that can be life threatening in elderly patients.  Usually hits bottom two to three months after starting therapy.