My LDR Brachytherapy Story

About 12 months post procedure I had a routine bowel cancer screening and blood was found in my sample so I was booked in for a Colonoscopy. The result of this was that they found 'Radiation telangiectasia and pallor of mucosa anterior low rectum due to brachytherapy' it boils down to radiation burns that will heal. There was no bowel cancer.

Around this time I found I had soft stools and generally needed to go to the loo first thing in the morning, but I didn't have to rush to the loo or anything like that. Some time after visiting the loo and cleaning myself with toilet paper I found my bum was irritated. Cleaning my bum again I found there has been some leakage, not enough to mark my underwear but it irritated my skin. I could clean myself with soap and water but a couple of hours later my bum would be irritated again. I would them wash myself again and generally I would be OK until my next movement. I spoke to one of the nurses about this on the routine follow up and she said it was mucus leakage and prescribed Ispaghula Husk granules that you mix with water and take once or twice a day. I can't really say if they did any good as although I took the medication a few times things seemed to have sorted themselves out for the most part now.

I've had no problems with the water works or with 'Percy Filth' (you have to be a certain age to understand that). I used to have to get up at about 4 oc to go for a wee, this was the same before the diagnosis, but very recently I don't need to get up until about 7 oc.

Apologies if I have been too graphic and I hope it is of some benefit to others.

You are welcome. I am pleased my post was of help. It was difficult decision to make initially on what treatment to choose, as one of the nurses said said at the time, normally it is the hospital that is telling you what treatment you are having. One this occasion it is down to the patient to make a decision that they feel comfortable with.

Hi ,

Good to see another Brachytherapy  going so well it will help other members with their choices.

I am coming up to eight years from brachytherapy in September and doing well.

John.

I had LDR Brachytherapy two and a half years ago click on my avatar for details. A development which occurred last September was an acute kidney infection and I was in hospital for five days. I was talking to a retired urologist and he said that I can probably expect more of them.

I was peeing like a horse up until then ( a Shetland pony is a horse is it not 🤔😂 ) when I started feeling very tired and running to the toilet every two mins and not producing any urine. Once the rose coloured pee came out I went straight to A&E.

Apart from that recent incident I found the LDR Brachytherapy procedure and recovery very straight forward.

Rgds

Dave

Paul.

I can't thank you enough for such a detailed and informative reply,  you have restored my faith in humanity. 

Thanks for letting me know about your experience on the procedure and the aftermath,  it really gives me hope for the future. 

The urologist was very keen to to whip it out saying most men your age get it out, but I wasn't keen at all on the post op side effects hence my choice of ldr brachytherapy. 

Fingers crossed I come out on the far side similar to yourself. 

Thanks so much again.

Bryan.

Edited by member 25 Feb 2025 at 20:07  | Reason: Wrong name

Thank you so much John.

I'm at home today with two sachets of picolax to consume, so it should be an interesting day :)

Thanks again for your kind words, they really mean so much at this time.

I'll keep all of ye updated on how I get on .

Kind regards, 

Bryan

Edited by member 25 Feb 2025 at 08:30  | Reason: Not specified