So was diagnosed wit prostate cancer in January, on prostat3 3 monthly injection, about to have 2nd one, was told need bone scan before treatment, that was 3 weeks ago, have heard nothing, do you know how long it normally takes before radiotherapy starts.,
Thank you
Ian
Hello Ruisliphoops
Thank you for getting in touch, welcome to our Online Community, we hope that you find it a supportive environment. My name is Fiona and I’m one of the Cancer Information Nurse Specialists here on the Macmillan Support Line.
Having a bone scan can give your team more information about the stage of your cancer as it can show if there has been any spread of cancer to your bones, or not. It helps them to ensure that they offer you the best plan for you, based on evidence and guidelines. If you don’t yet have a date for your scan it would be worth contacting your Clinical Nurse Specialist (sometimes also called a Macmillan Nurse)
Radiotherapy is often used to treat prostate cancer. It can be used to treat cancer that is still within the prostate, spread locally outside of the capsule as well as cancer that has spread a little more and affected nearby vessels, such as lymph nodes. There are different kinds of radiotherapy, the kind that you’re offered will depend on the information your team have gathered about your disease and whether it has spread, or not.
Hormone therapy is given to people with prostate cancer as it reduces your testosterone levels and slows the growth of any cancer cells. It is often given before radiotherapy to shrink the prostate and reduce the size of your cancer. The length of time that people are given this depends on many factors and your Consultant will give you more details about this.
We do know that most prostate cancer is slow-growing and it is quite common to have further investigations and hormone therapy before starting it.
You might find it helpful to join our Prostate Cancer Forum where you will get great support from others who have the same experiences as yourself.
With best wishes
Fiona S
Ref: FS /KHe
Cancer Information Nurse Specialist
You can also speak with the Macmillan Support Line team of experts. Phone free on 0808 808 0000 (7 days a week, 8am-8pm) or send us an email.
