How to choose a treatment plan

• I was exactly in the same situation, I had Gleason 7(4+3) and the cancer was confined to the prostate gland, but there was doubt that it had progressed through the wall, I had to make the same decision but before I did I had a very good talk with my urology nurse specialist who had seen hundreds of men before me, I decided to have surgery in September 2021, all went well but my PSA has slowly risen from 0.02 to 0.18, so at the moment I’m on Zoladex hrt have a scan on Thursday and start radiotherapy on 1st June, my thyroid and bone where all clear also. My decision was made on the fact that if I’d of chosen radiation treatment and it then came back surgery was not an option but to have surgery like I did I have the option of radiotherapy and hormone treatment. I would strongly advise that you talk to your professional, still the decision is yours, hope that helps you a bit 
• regards Pete 

Thank you Pete. I am watching YouTube videos to gather more opinions and responses like yours are very helpful. Hope you treatment is going well.

Cheers Tony 

Hi Tony

What are your stats?

I'm in my seventh year of AS. Over that time my PSA has risen from around 3.5 to just under 6. I have been very close to having treatment a couple of times but did not go through with it.

Best wishes

David 

Hi David. In 2 years my psa had gone from 3.6 to 5.8. I have still got the choice to stay on as but feel, at 72, that the time is right for treatment. As I get older I am only going to get less ableo have a complete recovery. At least that's my current thinking. No an easy decision is it.

Hi Tony. Like Pete I opted for sugery on the basis that I could have RT if it did re-occur (which it looks as though it has), that I thought cutting out the cancer was a more positive approach of getting rid of it and that hormone treatment / RT seemed like a drawn out affair. I was really petrified  of having an op and would have actually preferred HT / RT for that reason however I went forward on my own thoughts. What I would say is that the actual op was a thousand times less traumatic than I envisaged. The after effects I am suffering - incontinence, ED, reduction in the little man's length and the associated mental effects due to these is not good. I am improving with these 7 months post and now feel I can accept where I am at but at the same time hoping things will improve further. Both options seem to run the potential risk of rotten side effects. The catheter for one week post was also absolutely awful - but it was only a week. It is such a difficult decision on which way to go. I am 68 and my cancer was aggressive with a PSA of 9. I wanted to live as long as possible and still do and I am so grateful and feel so privileged to have been given that chance. My understanding is that both active treatment routes have about the same success rate. Hope you come to a conclusion which you are totally happy with, as I feel I was.

I see a lot of my journey is similar to what you’ve been through, I’m 64 and I have recently joined a gym, it has really helped me, take care 

Hi Static. An informative message and it sounds like you have had a pretty tough time. It's all adding to my knowledge base and it will help me make the best (maybe) decision. Thank you 

Hi Tony. No I haven't had a tough time really. My wife and family are the one who have had that, like all the other wives and loved ones. They are the heroes.