Side effects risks-surgery versus radiotherapy

Hi Greenbird

Surgery v RT, always been an issue.

The way I looked at it RT is simpler, no major surgery and it Def looks like less issues IE ,ED and urinary problem.

Only downside with RT u can have issues with the HT but hopefully with your low stats probably wouldn't be on HT for long.

Also if cancer comes back after RT then surgery Def not as easy as the other way round, RT after surgery.

Has active surveillance been offered as could be with your low figures.

By the way not everyone has major issues with surgery.

See what others say

All the best

Steve 

Hello GreenBird  A warm welcome to the Prostate Community - I am so sorry to find you here for your husband after what you have been through yourself.

I am afraid it's a personal choice Surgery or HT/RT. there are plenty of threads here on that very subject. I can only advise you to read trusted sources Macmillan and Prostate Cancer UK, read threads on here and ask questions to be answered by those who have "been there, got the T-Shirt".

I would make a list of the "pros and cons" for each treatment as they are for you. read people's personal journey through their treatment and after you have met the oncologist then decide. For a started I am on a 3 year HT/RT journey and you can read the first two years of this by clicking on my avatar - I have had other issues and it's 3 years because of my high PSA.

In answer to your question about a "whole new language" full details are in the link below

https://shop.prostatecanceruk.org/our-publications/all-publications/how-prostate-cancer-is-diagnosed

If I can help any further, let me know. Good luck with your choice.

Best wishes - Brian.

Hi GreenBird

I was 20 years older than your OH when I was diagnosed and chose HT/RT rather than surgery. I wasn't offered Brachytherapy as my PCa was Gleason 9 and T3A N0 M0 although my PSA was only 11 (risen to 15 by the time treatment started).

As others have said it's a personal choice but I was advised that there could be a long term risk of further complications from the RT. As I was then 71 I felt that wasn't a problem for me but at 50 that might be something to consider. HT does have side effects (Hot flushes and ED being the worst)  which can last well beyond the ending of the treatment but don't persist forever. Mine subsided about six months after HT stopped and disappeared completely within a year.

Everyone is different and some don't get the side effects of any treatment as badly as others.

Please keep in touch and ask any questions you may have as someone here will have "Been There and Done That".

Thank you,  that's really helpful,  no mention of HT at initial consultation which was interesting,  will be asking about it this week with oncologist.

Thank you Brian, I'll do that, I've read quite a few of the posts and every case is different as I'd expect. Thanks for the links and advice, appreciated.

Many thanks Seamus, very helpful to know. Its a lot to consider and nothing guaranteed. I'll keep reading, thank you.

BTW, great profile of info, thank you. I think because I've had rads and it was straight forward with practically no side effects, we thought it would be similar.  ( chemo side effects a whole other story). RT for prostate cancer seems a lot more risky, not straightforward at all. Thanks for info....I have more questions for oncologist at least.

If everything is really low including tumour size then HT may not be needed, I just had the RT

Steve