New Diagnosis

Hi Baz.

Take a look at my profile as it may help you understand why, depending on the nature of your diagnosis, surgery may well be by some distance the best option.

I thought much the same as you when I was diagnosed at 54. I couldn’t get my head round why surgery is very often seen as a first resort rather than last. Trust me, it does make sense.

Any questions just ask.

HH

Bazzzz, sorry to hear your news. I was in your shi##y shoes in January 2017. I elected Hormone treatment and RT. RT was hard but it all seemed to work fine. My PSA plummeted and I was discharged in May 2019. Unfortunately, by June 2021 my PSA was back >10 and I went back on HT implants. PSA back down and I took a break but by December 2022 my PSA was 13.6 and I am back on HT (Decapeptyl) and this week I am also starting on Enzalutamide. I have cancer in my lymph nodes and various ribs, spine and sacrum. I think I’ve been unlucky!! Having said that, I know a few chaps who had the op and have all sorts of issues. It’s a hard choice and I don’t envy you making the decision. My advice: read, read, read! Best of luck. Neil

Nice one HH thanks for your thoughts. Your diary was very helpful to read too.

My urologist seemed very very keen for me to look into HIFU but I'm waiting to see all the different specialists in the next couple of weeks. I think i'm just having a knee-jerk reaction to Surgery as it seems so extreme. I guess for now I need to wait with a big list of questions for the specialists. Huge concerns about ED too!!

Thanks mate.

B

B.

Surgery is tough. But if you are otherwise reasonably fit and healthy it’s very achievable. As you will have read in my diary, incontinence has never really been an issue for me and, as I had nerve sparing surgery, whilst ED is inconvenient it is surmountable with medication. What it means, apart from the dry orgasms, is that spontaneous intercourse becomes a thing of the past because the pill takes a while to work!

But my view on all that is that, if that’s the most of my worries, I’m a very, very lucky fella. Sure, it’s always at the back of my mind that there may be a biochemical recurrence, but if that happens there are other treatment options. I’m not sure it’s quite so straightforward the other way round ie. surgery after RT.

It’s a worrying and stressful time but the help and advice is out there to ensure that you make an informed decision and one which is right for you - remember, we are all different, both in terms of our individual diagnosis and how we choose to deal with it.

Best of luck.

HH