Surgery versus radiotherapy

I was a 4+3 , Psa 10 T2b . 70 years old . had surgery , undetectable after 18 months . But I feel now that if I’d had any extension , or a higher psa , I would have gone for radiotherapy. I haven’t had any hormone therapy yet , and it was to avoid that that I went for surgery . Would you be advised hormones ? Does the thought of them worry you ? 
In terms of survival it probably doesn’t make any difference( you will be fine either way ).. My life has been fine since surgery , and may well have been fine with radiotherapy.Bill

Hi Tony, I was diagnosed 2 years ago, Gleason 7(4+3) PSA 18, I asked my urology nurse specialist for advice as she deals with literally hundreds of men , although the decision was mine, I went for surgery, in Sept 2021, all went well, unfortunately my PSA went from undetectable and slowly started to rise, I’m now on hormone therapy and having radiotherapy which ends on 30th June, I opted for surgery and would do again was basically because I wanted the cancer out of my body knowing if some cells were left I had radiotherapy and hormones to back me up, if I’d of taken the radiotherapy route at first and the cancer returned unfortunately surgery is not an option, my advice to you would be to talk to your specialist, every one is different, at the moment I’m doing really well and looking forward to finish my treatment, stay positive my friend, good luck, Regards Pete (Hull, England)

Hi Tony

As has already been said RT first and surgery near impossible afterwards whereas RT after surgery quite  normal.

Having said that I went for RT, seemed simpler, no ED issues. Took the chance wouldn't come back, so far not.

Good luck

Steve 

Hi Tony

Welcome to the club - It's very difficult and personal choice you have to make and my honest answer is I don't know which is best!!

I do have a very positive story and I have gone down the HT/RT route. I started my journey on 23 December 2021 and there were delays and complications with me - hey-ho - that's life but 18 months on I am amazing with a low PSA and full of life.

My advise is to read as much as you can on both options - ask questions of people in this community - I didn't have a choice but I know in my own mind I would have gone down the H/RT route!

If it helps you can follow my story by clicking on the icon of the beach - if you want to ask anything - please do - I am happy to answer anything.

I can say yes - I have a positive experience of RT.

Best wishes

Brian.

Hi tony1  . I was also diagnosed (in 2018) as T3A N0 M0 with a PSA of 11 (up to 15 by the time treatment started) but a Gleason score of 4+5=9. I was 71 and chose HT/RT over surgery as I am very active and was told that surgery could leave me with stress incontinence when exercising. I will be 76 in August and walk about 100 miles a month, swim a mile twice a week and go coastal rowing as often as the wind and tides allow. I also started rowing in an eight a few weeks ago but I don't think they'll be calling me up for the Boat Race any time soon!

I am now two years post hormone treatment and my last two PSA tests came back as 0.2. I just had another one today but I probably won't get that result until Monday. My Oncology Nurse said that 0.2 is fine as I still have "the remnants of a prostate" as he so nicely put it and they will not be taking any action unless my PSA goes above 2.0.

I hope that helps you with your choice of treatment.

Hi Tony

I was diagnosed in August 2019 and didn't have any choice - it was HT/RT for me. 

My initial thoughts, when diagnosed, were I want this thing out of me. However, as this wasn't possible, I resigned myself to what was offered.

Looking back, I feel that the route I ended up on wasn't too bad. No invasive surgery, no recovery time and an outcome similar to surgery. 

So long as you do exactly what the RT team tell you -  diet was my biggest issue - then you will be fine. The side effects of HT are well documented, but are manageable.

It's a difficult decision for you to make, and as others have said do as much reading as you can so you can make the right decision for you.

Regards

Stuart

Hi Tony I have the same score as you but 6.8 psa. I am on hormone prostrap at the moment with radiotherapy due in Sept after 4 months treatment. I am a little tired after 9 holes of golf struggle to complete the18. I was going down the hormone route but was finally persuaded bu a anesthetist who attends the ops and they said more problems are caused by surgery