Hello all. First I want to thank any of the people who've taken time to respond to my posts. I'm very grateful.
My quick intro: 68 year old male, Caucasian, American living in Tokyo, Japan. Diagnosed with Stage 1, localized in the prostrate (after an extremely unpleasant biopsy which you can read about in another post).
I was essentially only offered brachytherapy and surgery, not EBRT. I have done my best to research all. I met again with my doctors. The more experienced of the two said that either brachy or surgery (prostatectomy) would do the trick. And I thought if I have a CHOICE, I'm not going to do the surgery and stay in hospital for 10 days and have a long list of possible risks, longer, I think than brachy. He didn't have a strong feeling one way or the other, which I found odd. He said if you'd rather avoid being cut, then go with brachy. I asked about EBRT. He said there was the risk of the bladder and the rectum being hit with radiation. I couldn't gather my thoughts fast enough to ask him "If that's the case, then why is it even offered?" I will ask that at my next session, next week, where I'm expected to decide what to do.
It SEEMS that EBRT is the LEAST invasive. The hormone therapy sounds troubling, but if the combo of EBRT and hormone therapy "does the trick" then, assuming the radiation doesn't hit my bladder or rectum, it seems the best choice. What has your experience been, for those who have gone through it?
With brachy, as I now understand, because I certainly didn't before, the radiation seeds are planted in the prostate and are active up to six months. But, the doctor felt that this was an effective way to kill the cancer in the prostate. But, as I researched, those seeds stay in the prostate until you die and they can accidentally end up in different parts of the body, although, apparently they are harmless at that point. (But if I had to urinate one out, I don't think it would be "harmless.")
Gents, please, any words of wisdom would be greatly, greatly appreciated. I notice that many men here seem to have gotten the EBRT/Hormone treatment. If you've gone through that completely... does your body return to normal? Do your "breasts" go away? Do your testicles descend again? Do you lose your extra layer of tummy fat? Or am I completely bonkers and not understanding any of this?
My main concern, assuming I survive one of these procedures (and as for brachy, my doctor seemed to feel I'd be fine and survive quite nicely) is urinating without pain. Also, the doctor said I'd have to wear padding for about three months because of leakage. I can handle that I think, but to wear it for the rest of my life would be disheartening.
He also said that, as opposed to surgery, brachy would not harm the nerve that would allow me to have an erection. But he added that I'd most likely be impotent for 3-5 years after the procedure. That was a new piece of information.
I don't know how or why it would take 3-5 years, so that is another thing that goes onto the research list.
Meanwhile, any thoughts/advice/bits of wisdom/and straight on jokes and humor are all greatly appreciated. Thank you kindly!
