I came within 18 hours of chemical castration (aka ADT, which they euphemistically like to call "hormone therapy") which is typically done in conjunction with external beam radiation. Neither my urologist nor my radiation oncologist ever suggested that avoiding chemical castration via brachytherapy might be an option. Via lots of research, I cancelled the hormone shot and now am scheduled for HDR brachytherapy. Luckily for me, my caner is small enough and localized enough that this has a good chance of being a successful monotherapy. For those out there who have been told they need external beam radiation with hormone suppression, I urge you to investigate the long term effects of chemical castration..... from what I can tell, you will never be the same. Logically, brachytherapy (either low dose permanent seeds which deliver a higher dose in the long run, or high dose which is a quick but very strong 2-session exposure) makes a lot of sense as it delivers radiation most directly to the location of the cancer. There are also side effects to brachytherapy, of course. These include urinary problems (relatively short term) but these side effects PALE in comparison to chemical castration. PLEASE do your own research and do NOT just accept what the first doc says. A doctor is very likely to recommend the thing that they are specialized in, be it surgery, external beam radiation with chemical castration, or brachytherapy. This is not like being treated for a broken leg where the solution is a no-brainer.... YOU MUST DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH.
No. Because if patients learned how little these ADT CHEMICAL CASTRATION TOXINS actually improved cure rates, the sales of these outrageously expensive drugs would be reduced. It's all about the money 8:40
I came within 18 hours of chemical castration (aka ADT, which they euphemistically like to call "hormone therapy") which is typically done in conjunction with external beam radiation. Neither my urologist nor my radiation oncologist ever suggested that avoiding chemical castration via brachytherapy might be an option. Via lots of research, I cancelled the hormone shot and now am scheduled for HDR brachytherapy. Luckily for me, my caner is small enough and localized enough that this has a good chance of being a successful monotherapy. For those out there who have been told they need external beam radiation with hormone suppression, I urge you to investigate the long term effects of chemical castration..... from what I can tell, you will never be the same. Logically, brachytherapy (either low dose permanent seeds which deliver a higher dose in the long run, or high dose which is a quick but very strong 2-session exposure) makes a lot of sense as it delivers radiation most directly to the location of the cancer. There are also side effects to brachytherapy, of course. These include urinary problems (relatively short term) but these side effects PALE in comparison to chemical castration. PLEASE do your own research and do NOT just accept what the first doc says. A doctor is very likely to recommend the thing that they are specialized in, be it surgery, external beam radiation with chemical castration, or brachytherapy. This is not like being treated for a broken leg where the solution is a no-brainer.... YOU MUST DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH.
Is there a follow up to this video re effects of adt on cancer itself
No. Because if patients learned how little these ADT CHEMICAL CASTRATION TOXINS actually improved cure rates, the sales of these outrageously expensive drugs would be reduced.
It's all about the money 8:40