How do you get through your final week of radiation treatment?

Those final days of treatment can feel like both a marathon and a sprint - you're so close to the finish line while managing all the daily logistics that make radiation challenging. The bladder timing struggles are incredibly common, and many in this community will relate to that delicate balance you're describing. Your positive mindset and determination to keep pushing through will serve you well in these last five days, and this community would love to hear how your final week goes.

Well, Matt D, I hope your experience is nothing like mine, because I look back on my 42 EBRT sessions (along with 4 months ADT) as my Age of Innocence in a now 3-year misadventure in PCa treatment. It was all so comparatively easy then, before the bowel and urinary and sexual frustrations and reversals. I’ve read that some men breeze through a speedy recovery and don’t end up spending more waking hours in the bathroom than anywhere else, as I now do. Maybe the key is being in touch with God, which I can’t claim to have been since Diagnosis Day in August 2023. Keep up the good work and good attitude—they’re proven contributors to good outcomes!

Dave S sorry for your experience in your journey through prostate cancer. Yes my closeness with my maker does make things in life more tolerable. In the beginning of my journey I was very negative, toward what I had to prepare for. Actually I'm not proud of it but I can be a very negative person. God is still working with me on that. All I can tell you is if God doesn't change the situation he will change your attitude towards the situation. Dave you still have breath in your lungs so God still has a purpose for you. There are men out their that have it much worse than we do. They may be fighting for their lives. Thank God we are not in that situation. I hope from here God touches you in such away that you become closer to the maker of the universe. One thing is for certain we will all die. The older I get the more I think of my eternity.I believe there is something more after we die. Im willing to trust what the Bible says and spend eternity with God. If I'm wrong so be it. Those who are not believers, if they are wrong, well let's not even go there. Dave I hope and pray for the best of things to come. Love you brother,may God be with you always.

Thanks much for your thoughts, Matt.

Matt, all I can say is hang in there, buddy! Keep focused on ringing that bell after the last treatment! And know that it could be worse, I got Covid the last week of my treatments. You can probably imagine what that was like. You've got the right attitude, keep it up!

Richard, you illustrate Matt’s point to me that there are always others who have it worse than you. I neglected to mention that in my earlier post. But I know the truth of it.

The radiation caused an over active bladder, I was getting up every hour at night. My waking hours were miserable. I mentioned problem to urologist and he gave me some pills, gentesa, problem solved.

Robert, I wonder if your waking would have been miserable without bladder issue, as my average nightly sleep was reduced to 2 hours post-treatment. Following much experimenting with ever stronger sleep meds, I now take max amount of trazodone and pramipexole, which provides 5 hours of sleep—almost as much as my lifetime average.

Hanging in there, I did 28 days treatment and like you said the worst part was the full bladder and empty bowel I was so happy when it was over now being two months after having burning when I urinate other than that, everything is good

Matt, tomorrow's your last day of radiation, ring that bell and celebrate! Afterwards be ready for after effects, ask about radiation therapy and get signed up if you can. I wish I would have started right after my radiation was done. Good luck!

Matt D — Do as Richard M advises, I couldn’t agree more. You’re in good hands with God, and a worthy corps of soldiers who share their experience on O4M.

Richard M so help me out with after affects. Doctor just told me that it will take some time for things to get back to normal. Said maybe weeks or even months. Continue what I'm doing

They say every case is different. In my case, I started experiencing balance problems and loss of strength about a month after my last radiation treatment. My situation was also complicated due to the fact that I was still suffering from the effects of extended general anesthesia from open heart surgery a year before. In any case, get in and get evaluated. I was given a few simple exercises as a test and found that my left leg had lost a lot of strength. That was causing balance problems and I even fell a couple of times. Was using a cane for a few months until Ithe therapy got me back to normal.

3 months ago I completed 39 treatments. It was not easy, as you describe. Slowly everything is returning and I feel good. I continued my exercise program and golf and social activities (I tried not to change anything) during the treatment (post tx I still do) I am a Christian and continue to keep a positive attitude. Hang in there, you can do it.

Louie A ,Wow 39 I'm not sure I could do 39. Why so many? So what is your follow up look like. Nice to hear your a Christian, knowing the Lord definitely helped me get through. Sounds like your well on your way to a full recovery. What is your age if I can ask. Keep up the good work and positive thinking. Keep us all informed and God's grace to you and family.