Operation or Radiotherapy?

Hello Pauly56 

A warm welcome to the Macmillan Online Community - although I am so sorry to find you here.

Your question surgery or Radiotherapy is the $64,000 question and is always being asked and my standard answer is, grab a paper and pencil and jot down the pros and cons of each treatment as they affect YOU. Do your research on Macmillan and Prostate Cancer UK (not Dr Google) and ask questions on this forum. We have plenty of members who have been down each route and are happy to answer you.

To help us to help you and save us asking the same questions over and over can you put your diagnosis on your profile (TNM Stage, Gleason Score and PSA) To do this on your home page click on the chair, top right, then Profile then edit. Once you have written something don't forget to save it. You can read my journey by clicking on my name or avatar but you don't need to write a book!!.

I hope this helps.

Best wishes - Brian.

Hi Pauly

I think that arguably RT is a bit easier, well that's my view anyway, no major op and hopefully no ED or urinary issues to contend with although I should add that not everyone has them.

Read up as much as u can before making a decision.

U don't give any figures but I presume all lowish.

One downside to having RT, if the cancer returns surgery very difficult but not the other way round , RT after surgery. But that didn't put me off the RT

Good luck

Steve 

Pauly56,

Another welcome to the Prostate Forum.  Brian (Milibob) has a good point, writing down the pro's and cons of each treatment is a good start.

What does your Oncologist recommend?  In my case, I wasn't suitable for surgery, so I didn't have much choice.  Mine was caught at T2, Gleason 3+4, contained in the Prostate.

My Oncologist was positive Hormone and Radiotherapy treatments were my best choice.

So that's what I went for.  Now exactly 3 years since my Radiotherapy ended, I'm off the hormones and 2 and a half years into remission!

How are you coping???  This forum helps immensely!  Any questions, there's always someone who knows something, and if you just want to vent!!

You do have to be careful with your language though, I've been caught out a few times (allegedly).

Let us know what you choose.

If you live near a Maggie's, they should run a Prostate Cancer Support Group.  I attend the one at Maggie's in Newcastle every 4th Tuesday of the month.

Hello Pauly56 

Welcome to the club no one wants to belong to.

Whilst I cannot give you any advice on the surgery option I can point you to my profile (click on my avatar to the left of this message) where you will find a diary of my journey through PC up to now.

During the last almost two years life has had its ups and downs, the main 'down' has been, and still, is the side effects of the hormone therapy. The hot flushes remain frustrating, I've only gained half a stone but the muscle weakening is becoming quite noticeable so I must work on it! However having celebrated my 76th birthday yesterday I guess I'm doing reasonably well.

As others have said, you are the only one who can make the decision on which route to take. I would advise that you do as much research as you possibly can and don't be afraid to ask as many questions as you like. I was lucky, I had friends who had been in the same situation plus a recently retired GP to talk it through with.

Rod