Surgery or Radiotherapy? Decision made!

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Decision made.  I’m pT3a, N0 M0 (see my profile for details ).  My extensive research points to a combo treatment of HT / RT / Brachy (NHS and NICE approved).  MDT met again a couple of days ago and their recommendation (without my input) was the same.  I had a consultation at Addenbrookes yesterday with a top prostatectomy surgeon and he agreed with me that my decision was the best one, as surgery would carry at least a 30% chance of recurrence.  So I collected my prescription on way out!   I took my first bicalutamide tablet taken this morning…..so the treatment is underway. Just over 62 days (NHS target) since GP referral so well done to them after a thorough diagnosis.  I feel like a weight has been lifted from my shoulders with regards to timelines (chasing the NHS, politely!), but I’m under no illusion that the next few months of treatment will present challenges.  My wife and I are a strong team and we intend to take everything in our stride and, hopefully, this curative pathway will prevail.  Here we go…..wish us luck! 

  • and asked us it always as quiet as this, yes she relied , no one wants to talk, I changed that, within a week everyone was talking to each other.

    That’s exactly what happened to me!  Quiet on day one, then they used to watch for me coming down the long corridor and I would breeze in with a “morning everyone!  How are you all doing?!”   AW

  • Excellent news certainly on the home straight now, hope I won’t be far behind!

  • Well, it’s well over a month since I updated my thread, and, with over 35, 000 views, I think a few of you “brothers and sisters in arms” may be interested in how things are going.  Mrs AW and I are in Austria and are climbing another 2,000m mountain today with clients in tow. Life more or less back to normal, as hot sweats greatly diminished (last HT jab was mid Dec 24) and very rare whilst out hiking.  I’m getting night time erections (and associated dreams) as testosterone is definitely returning, although no strong libido (yet). Fitness level pretty much back to before treatment and no fatigue (although this hasn’t been a feature of my experience throughout treatment). I guess I have a bit of “guilt syndrome” bearing in mind recent news - including  and  updates - but I think it’s important to spread hope that treatment can work (so far so good). I hasten to add, of course, that  is an inspirational fighter (his daily blog is such an honest account), and also that once our  champion is back on the HT jabs, I expect his “little buggers” will go back to sleep!   AW

  • What a good read so pleased for you I hope to keep following along in that path HT now stopped just had third PSA jut taken libido still with me but awaiting return of all else! Rather envious of the thought of being in lovely Austria, keep going pal!

  • Thanks to Al (AW) and his support I followed a similar path to his. We all have different variations of treatment to some degree. I am just 6 days post ending HT after 1 year having also had HDR and EBRT. I too am immensely grateful that, despite the side effects, I’m on a curative pathway fingers crossed. I’m battling ongoing proctitis and some fatigue but here we are. I too feel a little guilt when I see and hear people tackling greater challenges. Those people are an inspiration to all (Millibob and Mr U) are just two of many not forgetting fellow warriors that have lost their fight. Love to all x

  • We got a bit of help: now an 800m climb from here!   AW

  • Just about identical to me, certainly each all these comments 

  • Should read Echo!! Auto correction!