CancerCompass message board discussion started by Rihco on 10/28/2007 http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,17481,0.htm Wed, 27 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT Wed, 27 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/ Gleason 6,  PSA  5.6 , T2b, 64 years old in excellent health considering HDR Monotherapy at CET Cancer Center in Oakland Ca. . Would appreciate hearing from anyone who has had HDR and what side effects they have expereinced.  thanks - Rob from Oregon Rihco Sun, 28 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT You are a candidate for any treatment from surgery to low dose implant.My decision would be based on side effects , morbidity /mortality etc.In HDR would they treat you in one session or would you have to to be implanted two or more times?If they have to do multiple procedures I would go with Low dose brachy or external beam.  One procedure or No procedure.  The results are good whatever you do but the lowest longterm sequelae is with external beam and salvage of any local recurrence with surgery or implant is possible. Witchdoctor Mon, 29 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT  On 10/29/2007 Witchdoctor wrote:You are a candidate for any treatment from surgery to low dose implant.My decision would be based on side effects , morbidity /mortality etc.In HDR would they treat you in one session or would you have to to be implanted two or more times?If they have to do multiple procedures I would go with Low dose brachy or external beam.  One procedure or No procedure.  The results are good whatever you do but the lowest longterm sequelae is with external beam and salvage of any local recurrence with surgery or implant is possible.The HDR treatments would involve 3 treatments with an overnight stay in the hospital. A week later the proceedure would be repeated. CET is very selective in approving canditates for the HDR Monotherapy,  and their success rate exceeds 95% with few side effects. I do not understand why more more cancer centers do not offer it.  Rihco Mon, 29 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT It involves two nights in the hospital, two procedures, two anesthesias and the results are not any better than other methods.  Probably more expensive as well when all charges are added.  The acute and long term side effects are more frequent due to the procedures and lastly it is more time intensive for the physicians.  You sound more like a seller than someone undergoing the procedure. Witchdoctor Wed, 31 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT Witchdocwould it be fair to say that monotherapy is relatively new while the combination of HDR plus external beam has a proven track record with very high success rates and relatively low side effect rates in certain select patients ? Oncrx Wed, 31 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT