HT drug questions.

eddiel said:

Regarding tests the standard ones are CT +  MRI scan plus a prostate biopsy your PSA usually has to fall below 1 "not always"  before RT can begin.

So this is to check / ensure the HT has shrunk the cancer (or whatever)?

Able said:

Millibob said:

waiting lists are on the up and it's common to wait for over 6 months now

How does that impact the outcome OOI Brian?

For got to add, I have a telephone consultation with Oncology in a couple of days so I can ask then.

Waiting for a few extra months for RT shouldn't affect the outcome as the HT will have stopped the cancer growing.

Hi able, HT is given to stop your production of testosterone which is what cancer needs to feed on, your PSA number indicates how well the HT is working. your oncology team will give your HT time to have maximum. effect. The better HT works, the lower your PSA  the better it is for the radiographers and you. I do not know any of your stats but most people wait at least 6 months for RT.  I am pleased you have joined a prosttate support group, the macmillan community is wonderful but there is nothing like being with people  face to face who are on the same journey, I have been on mine for 18 months, i do 2 groups. have counciing, do a little fundraising, help out at the hospice and am starting 2 alternative therapy groups soon. I can guess it is all new, overwhelming and frightening but if you have anything you want to talk about you know where we are, please take care.

eddiel said:

I am pleased you have joined a prosttate support group

As am I. It was actually quite interesting (well, and sad also) to not be the 'new boy', even only on the second meeting and to be better positioned myself to be able to add some bits here and there in support of the others.

I think the issue for me is / was more the thought of the surgery than having the PC!

Hi. have you ben told you are having surgery 

No, I was offered both with the exact same predicted outcome after 5 years (95% survival rate or some such), initially went for surgery based only on the idea that you could have RT after surgery easier than the other way round, but bottled it the day before my surgery and so rather than the rock, took the only other sensible option, the hard place.

So wouldn't say I've chosen RT, it's just that I didn't choose surgery and was encouraged to choose something (positive). ;-)

I'm now just in 'the machine' and will have to wait and see what comes out at the other end (if there can ever be 'an end' with this disease etc).

Morning Able  You can always start a journal of your personal journey through Prostate Cancer - it helps others understand where you have been and where you are going. (You can read my 22 months by clicking on the image of the beach next to my name).

To do this just follow the first 3 instructions on "how to upload a profile picture", It just saves answering the same questions sometimes and gives new Community members an idea of what to expect.

Oh - I've had a few "issues" on the way but don't expect all those on your HT/RT journey - it will be like a walk in the park!

Best wishes - Brian.

Hi Able, Sadly i am unable to offer any advice on surgery as my heart and anaesthetic do not get along, As for RT I think most of the guys on here have been down that route in combination with HT. As millibob suggests a personal journal  will help others to support you, and later on your journal will almost certainly help others. RT+HT can bring side effects so other peoples experiences will help you prepare and manage any you may get. take care.

Hi Brian,

I took the telephone appointment call from the RT Dr earlier and it looks like I am due to have a PSA test at a week short of 3 months (from my next RT injection?) and subject to that result, start the RT.

I also got more explanation re the initial smaller dose of HT. I though it was a lower dose as a test to check if I reacted badly and I was sort of right. Apparently it was only a one_month_dose, the idea being if there were bad side effects, they would only last a month, not the 3 of the 'std' dose?

I really think I would like to have sat down with someone one_to_one and had them go through it all from initial diagnosis (raised PSA) to the rehab so that I had a clearer picture of it all.

I'm not someone who would absorb such information reading it, not only because I know I wouldn't bother to, but the chances are it wouldn't be interactive enough as I couldn't further question anything along the way.

I can still re-iterate word for word the explanation of the whole PSA <> Prostate <> reproduction system given to me by the first consultant I met in this process. He put it across in a form that was perfect for me, so it's not just a matter of remembering, but understanding (at least understanding that particular version of the facts). ;-)

Hello Able 

Well that's happy days RT is on the way. Before you get your dates for the 20 fractions you will attend a "planning scan" where they will check you over, tell you how it works and give you your tattoo's.

It's a good job my first dose of Hormones didn't give me any reaction as the banged a full 6 months worth of hormones into my backside in one go!!

Best wishes - Brian.