Backed out on surgery

Hi Mustardo - I am sure that when we messaged a few weeks ago you were not 100% sure but as my wife always tells me - go with what you think and what your body tells you.

I think I said in the other thread - click on my image of the beach - -it's got my story for the past 18 months - mine's not an easy HT/RT journey as I had a few issues, but 18 months down the line I am winning.

In my view (not everyone) the side effects are better than the alternative.

I respect your choice and I hope it works out well for you - keep us in the loop and if you have any questions - well you know there are plenty of us on your side to answer.

Kind Regards

Brian.

Hello Mustardo, it’s such a very hard decision to make for you men and , as Brian says, you have to do the research and then do what feels right for you. My husband was adamant that he didn’t want the surgery and went down the RT / HT route. I was happy to support him in either route. I was not happy to support him when he suddenly announced one night, with no discussion, that he was going to refuse all treatment when he had a chance at complete cure!!

he went through the RT and is on HT and latest PSA 0.06 

best of luck!

Hi , I have Crohn’s and yesterday was told I cat have Opperation, or seed one, and fingers crossed I can have radio therapy , and only if my Crohn’s isn’t active when I get tests for Crohn’s soon a , so I’m now on the harmone therapy to try to help, don’t know what else there is to cure it 

Hi Jonnymac22

The hormone therapy will keep the PC in check and let's hope your Crohn's clears up for long enough for you to have Radiotherapy. Stay positive and keep us in the loop.

Kind Regards

Brian.

Hi Mustardo. My husband came to the same decision. At first he was adamant he would want surgery, just to get all the cancer out of his body as soon as possible but after meeting with the urologist, then oncologist, doing a lot of research, plus listening to me giving him snippets from this forum almost daily, he changed his mind.

He’s had his first week of hormones now, only another six months to go, with 20 sessions of radiotherapy booked for November. It’s a longer process,  but with hopefully less side effects. The relief we both felt once the decision was made and treatment started was amazing. Both treatment options were with an aim to cure. 

Stay strong x

Hi there from one worried wife to another, so your husband had hormone therapy in the end but no surgery, after he announced he was going to have no treatment what changed his mind? If you don't mind me asking?

I think my husband feels a little railroaded at the moment that surgery is his best chance but he is relatively young as docs keep telling him so he also made a comment similar today and it really threw me, this is all very recent for us and we have another meeting tomorrow but am trying to get actual real life stories as well.

They gave him some horror stories about hormone therapy so would be interested to hear how your husband has responded to it.

Thx 

Hi GC01

I see you have another thread, but I can't comment on that one, as I didn't have the choice, so it was HT/RT for me - 37 RT sessions plus 2 years of HT.

What I will say, and we are all different so others experience may be not the same, HT/RT has been relatively easy to manage. Not adhering to the diet recommended was my biggest problem with RT - with the HT it was the fatigue. It was a case of getting things done when I felt up for it I guess. 

Interesting to note that the hospital gave horror stories about HT/RT - was the consultant a surgeon I wonder? Could you get hold of a RT consultant to discuss with them?

Anyway, I hope the above is of use,and your OH makes the right decision for him.

Regards

Stuart

Hi GC01

I have followed Worriedwife's story from the start and it's had it's ups and downs to be sure - I am sure she will get back to you later. I do respect her views as a wife and it's important for the husband/partner to listen as this cancer affects the partnership more than you realise!!

I am an HT/RT man - I had no choice as they thought the little sods had escaped the prostrate, it later turned out the had not - but I would have gone down the HT/RT route instead of surgery if I had the choice!

Surgery v HT/RT is a very personal choice and you should research both as they both have advantages and disadvantages. No treatment isn't an option  What is your husbands diagnosis, Gleason score etc?

If you click on the icon of the beach you can read my HT/RT journey - it's not over but all is well.

If you want to know more, just ask.

Best wishes.

Brian.

Thanks for replying Stuart, oddly enough it was the RT consultant telling him this, they said he was too young really to lose his testosterone and he would find it very difficult, of course said if thats the route they would honour it but strongly advised he should have surgery.

also was the fatigue really debilitating?

THX

Hi again Brian

Thanks again for commenting, I'm trying to gather as much info as possible as he was told yesterday they would need an answer by the end of the week for surgery due to the waiting list! We have an appt with the surgeon today, he has a very demanding role, lots of bending and lifting so naturally worried more from the side effects of the surgery and the recovery time, I've heard lots about fatigue from RT/HT but assume that would give him more chance of getting back to normal at work.  Doesn't give much time for an informed decision does it.