MRI results now show T3

Hi G 

Yes , often MRI can show more detail of a cancer.

T3 means probably just broken thru the gland edge, still potentially curable.

Good that no bone mets obviously.

Could be worth checking how much has broken thru because although surgery still possible sometimes in these circumstances HT and RT can work better.

Perhaps u can check with them at your Jan appointment.

Also try and read online about the two treatment options also see what others say 

Best wishes

Steve 

Thanks Steve, yes will see what surgeon says.

I have already been checking on the forum others experiences with surgery and therapies and it's a lot of information to process in order to help me decide my best option.

I wonder if the surgeon needs me to make a decision immediately or I can take a few days to decide which direction to take?

Thanks again Steve, I will update after my consultation.

Hi Grammy, my husband was 75 in July and given his diagnosis in September, like you, otherwise in good health, T3a NOMO. The mri in early August showed 2 prostate tumours with one bulging against the prostate wall.with lack of certainty that it had not seeded outside of the prostate.  Like you, we were faced with months of delays in further diagnostics and the MRI follow up was initially delayed until 16 th December! We complained bitterly and told the hospital we were happy to take short notice cancellations. This meant my husband was able to get through the diagnostic pathway and start hormone therapy at the start of November with radiotherapy to start Jan/ Feb. Everybody is different and the treatment choices are very personal decisions..  the hormone therapy, so far, has not thrown up any insurmountable side effects and although we were told initially this would be for 2-3 years the oncologist told us just 6 months. So, by May/ June we are hoping to be reaching that light at the end of the tunnel!

that said, we know from googling ( so how reliable?)  there is a 30% chance of recurrence! But we also know that 98% of men ( again Google) statistically, treated with RT and HT, will be alive after 10 years. So, we are looking on this as, at very best, complete cure and at worst ,buying time. Where I live, average life expectancy for men is about 81 years so anything beyond is a bonus. Of course, stats don’t mean anything when all you want is for your husband to live for ever in perfect health!

for my husband, he did not want the surgery or the complications and risks - especially given the chance that he would still need RT afterwards as the cancer is classed as locally advanced. That was his decision and I respected that. I told him I would support him whichever decision he made and intend to continue to do so.  

you don’t mention a wife or partner? The one thing I have learned about prostate cancer is that this is an illness that impacts on both partners. Your partner or even other family members or friends might also be able to support you in the decision making? As you might have guessed, I am the ‘researcher’ in this! Finding the facts and presenting them to my husband was an exercise that I like to think helped us both - for me it was distraction therapy and for him it helped him make an informed decision.

We have also been to a couple of meetings of a local prostate cancer support group and both of us have found that very helpful - and the hospital prostate cancer specialist nurse team have been fantastic!

hth and best of luck

One thing that has been mentioned on here before, if you see a surgeon he'll normally push for surgery although I'm sure not always but just be aware, seeing someone that does the RT  could help. 

Steve 

Thank you Worriedwife for you comments, it's much appreciated and always interesting to hear other members views and experiences.

I keep my wife fully aware of everything going on including some posts on this forum and she seems to be coping ok. I haven't made our daughter aware of the T2 to T3 change just yet, she doesn't need to know, especially this side of Christmas.

Thanks again and all the best to you and hubby on your journey together, I'll look out for your future post's.

Grampy

Thanks Steve, yes I had wondered if this could be the case.

I need to prepare a set of questions to ask at my consultation so that I can make what I believe to be the right decision for me.

Cheers ... Grampy

thanks Grammy. I hope the way forward becomes clearer for you

best wishes

Hi, I don't know if I can actually help in anyway, but my partner has been on a whirl wind of diagnosis in the last two months. Read my/his profile for details. His cancer is stage 3b. as it has broken out of the prostrate and into the seminal vesicles. he has started HT because the cancer is too advanced for removal. We have just returned from a private consultation at the Royal Marsden for a second opinion. He now has an appointment for a Pet scan which will determine exactly how far the cancer has spread as it picks up the minutest details. My partner wasn't offered this on his NHS appointment even though I think it is available on the NHS. A private consultation is a reasonable price for a second opinion it is also immediate. You just need to get your GP to refer you and send through your scans or just phone straight through to the Royal Marsden and see what they need.  It could be an option for you for peace of mind. We learnt a lot more about my partners cancer as all the scans were talked through to the minutest detail. My partner also asked about removal, sort of knowing that it wasn't an option and the consultant confirmed that there was no point as it had already broken through and it would just be a lot of side effects of the treatment with no gain. I suppose its obvious really but you have to ask these things.

I would enquire NOW about being prescribed hormone treatment and is there any advantages. I'm not medical in anyway so take my opinion lightly please. 

Hope that helps

L

Thank you "L" for you detailed response, I found it very informative.

Wishing you and partner a Merry Christmas and all the very best for 2023.

Grampy

Same to you Grampy, have a good one.