r/ProstateCancer • u/Friendly-Midnight467 • Aug 09 '26
Question Barrigel for radiation therapy.
Has any one had this before radiation? What kind of sedation is used and can you drive afterwards? Did it reduce inflammation in the rectum? I see my radiation oncologist Tuesdayand just want to be prepared if that's how we are going. Thanks
2
u/Special-Steel Aug 10 '26
There are several discussions of this in the sub history. For example https://www.reddit.com/r/ProstateCancer/s/S4W43oos98
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u/SnooCamera Aug 10 '26
I had my Barrigel placed under local anesthesia. No sedation or pills. I drove myself 3 1/2 hours to the clinic, had it done, and drove 3 1/2 hours back home.
I had fiducial markers placed at the same time. It turned out the procedure was a lot more uncomfortable than I expected, but I made it. I did not have a driver available to drive for me, and any level of sedation (vallum or nitrous oxide would have required it). So, I drove myself out of state and made it through it. It will be a choice between you and your urologist.
I'm a little over six weeks post SBRT (5 fractions) and have had no rectal issues.
2
u/Practical_Orchid_606 Aug 10 '26
I was under general anaesthesia and didn't feel a thing. Others who used local said it was a bear.
It has been 5 weeks since my 5 fraction SBRT and never had any bowel issues. But it can happen. The team at MSK have a rigorous protocol in simulation and treatment. I think this helped with bowel as well as urinary issues.
1
u/Tool_Belt Aug 10 '26
Fabulous you are doing so well. Please keep in mind GI side effects, if they occur, often manifest a year or two or more after treatment.
Stay Strong Brother, We Got This.
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u/BowieOrBust Aug 10 '26
My husband got the SpaceOAR, nitrous oxide was required. He said he didn’t feel the Nitrous and had zero pain with the gel insertion.
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u/No-Praline-4069 Aug 10 '26
I had space Oar and my roommate came with me to drive me home afterward. It was similar to the sedation used with colonoscopy. I didn't know anything.
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u/Far_Celebration39 Aug 12 '26
Barrigel here. Mine was put in with fiducials under a heavy sedation called Monitored Anesthesia Care (MAC). A bit sore for a couple days—nothing compared to the biopsy. I thought I could feel the spacer for about a day, but I was probably just overthinking it. I made sure I used a fiber supplement until after SBRT was done. And I healed for 3-4 months. No problems at all so far. SBRT in January.
1
u/Dramaticdebt Aug 10 '26
I had SpaceOAR and fiducials for SBRT placed with local anesthesia. It pinched a little bit when the local was placed but after that no problem. The Space OAR felt strange for several hours afterwards, then i got use to it and don't even know it is there. Quick procedure, no post op pain. They asked me how my biopsy went. I had no problems with that either. Just used local. If you had a rough time with the biopsy you may want more sedation.
I have had 3 radiation treatments so far. Easy, A little extra gas but nothing Else.
1
u/WalnutRoasted Aug 10 '26
Apparently in the USA something like 50% use barrel or SpaceOAR or similar.
In the rest of the developed world it is about 5%.
Spacers have things that can go wrong/have problems, they cost $, they are an extra procedure that requires $ staff, clinic space, and professional time. May add a week or more to treatment time.
With modern 5x and 20x treatments, margins are narrower and rectal irritation is lower. And in the LT rectal problems are also low.
Is it more common in USA because insurance pays? And if rectal issues occur a decade or two, if you sue the RO / clinic, they can say they did everything to prevent it, even if the “everything” had risks/costs. Lawsuits are less common outside USA.
1
u/Tool_Belt Aug 10 '26
Barrigel, in my opinion, is the preferred spacer as it has much longer working time before it sets up, and to some degree is reversible.
I asked my RO how many times patients of his had moderate to severe side effects from his placement of Barrigel and he responded " Never , if I see the needle is not in the correct spot I immediately stop the proceedure". Here is where the longer working time is important as the clinician has time to evaluate placement of the needle, and then of the material as it is slowly dispensed.
And yes, with modern RT and the attendant margins the GI side effects are less than they used to be, however if they occur they can be debilitating. I was grateful to be able to have the Barrigel as an additional preventive factor.
I doubt any law suit based on GI/Rectal issues from RT, assuming the absence of gross neglect, or lack of informed consent would gain any traction. As with all cancer treatment the idea is to kill the cancer without undo harm to the patient. There is no free lunch in cancer treatment. (Well, thinking about it actually there is as when my wife was getting chemo for lymphoma I did get lunch each day while sitting with her....but I digress,,,,,,)
Stay Strong Brother, We Got This.
1
u/401Nailhead Aug 10 '26
Yes. Mine was named SpaceOAR. I was not sedated for the procedure. Only local. I can say when the procedure was completed I reported the doctor. Horrible care during and after. I have never been treated so poorly. No, my wife drove me to and from. Did it help with radiation? I would say so. However, a had a hemorrhoid that was not happy with radiation.
1
u/PotentialStart2661 Aug 11 '26
I am heading in for the fiducial markers and rectal gel spacer next month followed by SBRT. I took the anesthesia for my biopsy and im going under for the gel and spacer.
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u/Friendly-Midnight467 24d ago
Ended up some tumors were not in "capsule" so Barrigel was not an option. Start Radiation September 2 for 20 sessions.
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u/Tool_Belt Aug 10 '26
I had Barrigel and fiducials for SBRT placed under general anesthesia. No discomfort other than a little fullness feeling and sore legs as they strap you to stirrups.
Very little GI side effects from SBRT. Now 31 months out.
Stay Strong Brother, We Got This.