What's your experience with LDR brachytherapy for Gleason 4+3 prostate cancer?

ADT was extremely brutal for me. My oncologist put me on lupron. Post radiation, i put me in a very challenging head space. I strongly suggest you educate yourself. Cancer is a big business, and there are new break-through every day. Don't be afraid to ask the hard questions and seek the best service.

There is a oral pill now that supposedly has less side effects - Orgovyx. Still don’t want it.

Thomas, I chose “low and slow “ radiation, 35 treatments over 7 weeks. Little to no side effects. My Gleason was a 6, but I chose to move ahead. Get latest research. My treatment was just approved in February of 2024. Had a few weeks of pain three months out but everything seems fine now at 8 months.

I had 7.1 PSA and 4+3 = 7 Gleeson. I opted for 5 weeks IMRT external beam radiation plus one high dose brachytherapy “boost” procedure and 6 months Orgovyx ADT pills. Fairly easy to tolerate everything and only complaint about the ADT was blood sugar increases and occasional fatigue bouts. Overall I would recommend this treatment all day long. 2 months Post treatment PSA now 0.04

Being 88 yrs old, I don’t think it is worth the ADT side effect risk.

Hi Thomas I had a 4:3 Gleason, am 69 and cancer diagnosed as localised. I looked at all options and in the end decided on a clinical trial called HeatWave. It involves a 6 month course of hormone tablets (4 a day taken together) and a course of 5 targeted SBRT treatments delivered in an MRI chamber over 10 days. It also included inserting a gel to protect the bowel from the RT and a couple of 5 minute breast RTs. Mine was performed at UCLA, who I must say were great from enrolment through actual therapy and beyond. I had a few side effects during the SBRT treatment with stinging urination and frequency but they quickly prescribed medication to help with that. I completed the sessions 10 days ago now and I feel almost back to normal and better with each day with no major side effects apart from a little fatigue now and then, more frequent urination during the day (which is getting better each day) and currently just once during the night (I am on Flomax for that). UCLA check in every few weeks as part of the trial and they and I feel very confident that the overall outcome will be as hoped. Hope this is useful feedback for you. Martin

I’m Dave and I was diagnosed with high-risk localized PCa in August 2023. I was treated with 4 months ADT and 42 sessions RT. If I had it to do over I would choose no treatment, owing to the wreckage of my life and my wife’s as well. That’s mostly because I’m age 75 and I read a journal article about a study finding that 94% of non-treatment patients were alive 5 years later. I was also a superbly fit world-ranked marathoner (which treatment completely trashed). Treatment destroyed my sex life and athletic life and is still trying to destroy my married life (of 54 years). Non-treatment is admittedly a huge risk, but I’d take it. I wish I’d done my extensive research PRE-treatment, not post.

LDR brachytherapy is one of several treatment options that prostate cancer patients often consider, and it's natural to want to hear from others who've walked this path. The community here has many members with various treatment experiences who may be able to share insights about their journeys and help you think through the questions to discuss with your medical team.