Salvage radiotherapy

Hello Goggie (Christine) A warm welcome to the online Prostate Cancer Community.

I can only answer half of your question - I think - I am a Gleason 9 T3a N0M0. My initial PSA was 182 so the thoughts were the cancer had gone "walkabout". My MRI had a "shadow" but oncology offered RT to the Prostate and Lymph Nodes to ensure they got everything. (I never had the choice of surgery!!)

My side effects of RT were during say fractions 15/17 I had a few issues with my Number 1's and 2's but this cleared itself up. I did have fatigue through the entire 20 fractions and for perhaps 3/4 months afterwards.

I am 68 - not a gym bunny (more a Pub bunny) and on a 3 year HT journey - BUT my RT was 12 months ago and I don't have any side effects from it now. I am living the dream on HT.

Personal choice - I would take the RT offered - if you don't take it and the little buggers are still around and growing you are looking at Chemotherapy. This is not a medical choice it's a personal choice and I hope it helps.

You can read my entire journey by  clicking on the icon of the beach or my name - if you want to know more  - just ask.

I hope this helps .I have said that twice now!!

Best wishes - Brian.

Thank you so much for such a quick response Brian I will let my Husband know  you have been very helpful 

Hi Christine

I would probably take the gamble with the RT because it may just cure it although I realise it's high risk with Gleeson 9.

At least the HT is holding it back for now while waiting for the RT, so , fingers crossed.

good luck

Steve

Hi Christine,

My husband diagnosed over 2 months ago. Currently under HT injection and Enzalutamide . He is gleason 8 T3 with nodes and bones in the pelvis. We are seeing this week the oncologist again and we are actually asking for RT. My husband PC is not curable but we will do everything to knock it down. It is a personal choice but you have to fight this ba...rd with all the tools you have. RT has been used for many years for many different cancers. It is a personal choice of course.

I know you are so worried and I wish you good luck and best with whatever choice you made.

Please keep us updated.

Lots of love

Dafna from Brighton

Hi Goggie.

My partner had full pelvic RT in a bid to get everything, he did have a "SpaceOar" to protect his rectum (see if you can get) The RT did knock him back a bit from his fitness and he was extremely tired immediately after, but was able to recover to where he was after 2 to 3 months. No other problems.   Our consultant said after that there was no evidence of any cancer left in the Prostate or area or the Seminal Vesicles. He had originally 80% cancer in the Prostate and it had broken through to both Seminal vesicles, he also had suspected spread to the immediate soft tissues and that  seems to be clear. RT is very precise now and it can target the cancer very accurately, it's not the hit and miss of the past. Hope that is of help. 

L

Hi Jacobanddafna,

Totally agree with your attitude, knock that mothership of cells for six  Keep strong and best wishes x

Hi Grundo and everyone else. Is your point 'I realsie it's a high risk with Gleeson 9' a fact?  It is just I was  T3a, Gleason 4+5. PSA 9 before surgery and am now facing the prospect of salvage radiotherapy as my PSA has risen post surgery to 0.2. I have not heard before of any greater risk with pre-op 9 but then thinking about it now, the 'Mothership of cells' which BarryW mentioned would obviously have been spread out more  than with a lower PSA.

Hi Static

Always my understanding that a Gleeson 9/10 are aggressive types and more likely to spread and more quickly.

I see that your initial diagnosis u were a T3 so outside the gland.

Suppose the possibility of surgery not being enough was always there.

However hopefully a quick blast with the RT will see you ok.

Good luck

Steve 

Definitely go for RT to prostate bed and whole pelvis. Check out my bio : your husbands prostatectomy is the equivalent of my brachytherapy, so he will be mimicking the “triple therapy” that I am currently pursuing.  The triple means “hormone therapy, gland therapy and pelvis therapy “   Basically, throw the kitchen sink at it whilst there is still chance of a cure!!  In addition , I note that the bicalutamide tablets knocked PSA down from 0.6 to undetectable- that should mean that there are only traces left.  Once you hit them with hormone jab and RT, it is likely that you can kill them all (as long as they’re all still in the pelvis). With the original low PSA of 7.4, I would be hopeful that this is the case.     AW

Hello Static 

On your initial diagnosis T3a - is the cancer has broken through the outer layer of the Prostate but hasn't spread.

Gleason 9 (4+5) - most cancer cells are growing at a moderate rate, some quickly.

So your prostate has been removed, it would appear there are some cancer cells left, and as you had the more aggressive type on diagnosis it's a good idea to throw the book at it before it goes "walkabout".

I hope this helps.

Best wishes - Brian.