New diagnosis

Hi Davek - Welcome to the club!!

I can only give you details of the HT/RT route as I wasn't offered surgery.

* The HT has many side effects, fatigue, loss of sexual feeling and performance, weight gain, I have grown a nice pair of boobs (thanks NHS), hot flushes and I can cry for England.

* The RT is time consuming as it's 20 sessions over a 4 week period and there are various "rules" to follow before each fraction.

HOWEVER - 15 months down the line from diagnosis to now I feel amazing with only the HT side effects to cope with for another 18 months.

It's a personal choice but I am pleased with my outcome as the treatment has been given as "curative".

If you click on my icon of the beach you can read my full story from diagnosis to date - I hope this helps.

Any questions feel free to ask and the best of wishes for which ever route you go with.

Kind Regards - Brian

Hi Brian

Thank you, I will read it now. Regards dave

Hello Davek,

Sorry to hear about your diagnosis.

I was diagnosed in October 2019 aged 64. I had surgery in December 2019, (RALP - Da Vinci robot). The pathology found some cancer in the lymph nodes removed during surgery, so I also had 6 months of hormone therapy and 33 sessions of external beam radiotherapy to the prostate bed.

It took a while to recover physically from the surgery, and I foolishly tried to be too active too soon, despite advice from doctors and nurses. Overall it took me about 3 months to get back to normal. (Though by the time I was ready to face the world, the world said "ooops" and we all went into Covid lockdown!) 

The major side effects of surgery are well known: infertility, impotence, and incontinence. Some of these can be very long term and infertility is always permanent. These can have an impact on your mental health as well, and I was lucky enough to get counselling through a local charity. I also developed lymphoedema in my leg which is now managed with a compression stocking.

The side effects of hormone therapy were more troubling as I found the mood swings, hot flushes, and so on, quite difficult to cope with, and I think my wife found me very difficult to cope with as well.

The good thing about surgery is that it's over and done with, but only if there is no spread of the disease and no recurrence, which you won't know until after the surgery. 

The good thing about HT and radiotherapy is that it's not surgery, but it does go on for several years and the side effects can be difficult and upsetting. 

I suppose a lot depends on the sort of support you have around you from family and friends and local services and charities. Whichever route you choose don't be shy about reaching out for help when you need it.

Wishing you the best of luck,

Angus

Hi Davek

I have just turned 60 and got diagnosed in Feb. psa 8.1, T3a, Gleason 3-4(7). reasonably fit and healthy. My brother has stage four! and no choices.
I am now four weeks post op (RALP), and recovering well. Some hurdles to overcome following a major operation and side effects are similar, but I am glad I chose RALP, but it’s not easy! but have a lovely wife to help, who won’t let me rush recovery.
I have psa and follow up in next couple of weeks and if it does come back I can have radiotherapy option.

Its not a journey anyone wants, but I found talking and being open very cathartic. I am also part of a veterans group and met with some guys that have been through it.

Get as much information as possible to make an informed decision. We are all different, but try and remain as positive as possible. If you chose RALP, get yourself as fit as possible before op. It really helped my recovery and I start a new job in three weeks time, something to look forward to.

I wish you all the best and deal with one day at a time.

Raven 

Hi I just want to let you know that subject to my bone scan being okay I've decided on the surgery option. I know it's going to be as difficult two or three months but I think that I would be better off just getting rid of it and hopefully the side effects don't impact my life too much.

Davek

Hi I just want to let you know that subject to my bone scan being okay I've decided on the surgery option. I know it's going to be as difficult two or three months but I think that I would be better off just getting rid of it and hopefully the side effects don't impact my life too much. I hope I can have the operation very quickly, I'm not sure the time scales. I live in Somerset but the operation would have to be done in Exeter.

Thank you sharing your experience, dr Google isn't particularly helpful with something like this, too much doom and gloom.

Davek

Hi Dave

I respect your choice and fully understand your thought process behind the removal. I hope all goes well with the surgery and the wait isn't too long.

Please keep us updated with your progress and experience.

Best Wishes - Brian.

Hi Davek

I had mine done in Southmeads, Bristol (awesome hospital) and travelled from Cornwall for it.

I felt I turned a corner at three weeks, and set small challenges everyday.

Don’t rush recovery!

Happy to talk about treatment.

Raven (John)

Best of luck with everything, just remember to take things easy after the surgery,

best wishes

Angus