Treatments

Cheers Brian,

Sorry to hear about the upgrade you never wanted, will take onboard.

Edz

Hi Edz

My Aquablation was done privately (self-paid), as a one-off exercise.  

I selected this procedure, in preference to TURP, due to its (apparent?) lower risk profile.  I was indeed concerned about the possible aftercare implications, but thankfully my procedure went well, and there were no complications.

Aquablation is available on the NHS but, as far as I am aware, only at one location - Frimley, Surrey.      

Re your BPH issue, depending on severity, there are a number of options. If your issue is at the upper end of the severity range, the most likely solution is a TURP.  However given the known presence of cancer, and with DSD being a possible complicating factor, I don't know if TURP would be the right way forward. 

The full recovery period for TURP is probably about 3+ months, so there is limited point in going through that and then finding that there has been some near-term progression from Gleason 3+4 to 4+3, and that prostatectomy is your preferred treatment option. 

In my view, you should probably have a wholistic discussion, covering both the cancer and other aspects with your urologist at the next available opportunity.

In my particular case, the procedure to address BPH resulted in my initial cancer diagnosis; if I had known about the cancer beforehand, I don't know what my course of action would have been, but that's water under the bridge.  

Sorry to hear about the problem with your medical records. I reckon that you may have to write-off the first 24 years (army), but I suggest keep pressing for the other 24 years (civilian). 

Your most recent NHS activities - MRI and biopsy - should certainly be reflected, perhaps in summarised form, in your current GP's records.  Additionally, your hospital may have a patient access system, which may yield detailed info which is not in the NHS App.  That's the case for me (St Georges Hospital, South London)

Best regards, Peroni.

Hi Dave,

May I ask your age if you don’t mind? I am considering prostatectomy and what you shared is encouraging for me.

Best regards,

Cip

Hello edz It's aĺl so overwhelming i was diagnosed last Friday 17/1 and my stats were virtually the same as yours the doctor advised me that removel of the prostrate was the way forward,he also said that if I had radiotherapy first  and the cancer returned then I wouldn't be able to have the prostrate out I have to see 2 doctors in the next 4 weeks to decide which treatment I'm going for 

Hi Peron,

Thanks for all the advice, regarding procedures to improve urine flow, I have looked at Aquablation (private), but unsure how the hospital will view this, I don’t want to fall out of the NHS system. My brother a couple of years ago had laser treatment for a BPH issue, but he said he wished he had chosen a different route.

I will try and find out if my hospital has a patient access system, there doesn’t seem to be a lot on the NHS app with regards the last few months. I have been chasing my NHS Scotland records for 1 months now, and will keep trying.

Regards

Edz

Hi Tezza317

Sorry to hear you are joining the club, not the best club I’ve been in.

I wish I could offer you some advice, I got myself so wound up about the appointment and did so much reading on the internet, I didn’t have a clue what I wanted, and still don’t. The doctor who told me that I had cancer and the nurse who phoned told me I needed active treatment and gave me the same advice/way forward as you ( as I have learnt on this site probably innfluenced by my past waterworks problems). I know I need to do something, but when he told me in my meeting that AS was a reasonable choice, and that he wouldn’t have offered it to me if he didn’t think so, I kind of grabbed it, just to let me think more.

I have another blood test in a couple of months and if it has risen, I will need to choose, but I will ask to see a radiologist before I make that choice, it will be interesting to see what they say to you and how different opinions influence your choices.

I found out a few days ago two old friends had similar results, one chose removal and the other is about to start radiotherapy in Glasgow. But when I told him what the doctor had told me regarding having radiotherapy first and the possible difficulties of surgery later, he said they hadn’t told him that.

Good luck with your appointments, keep in touch, it will be interesting to find out your reasoning and why you chose your treatment path. Good Luck

Edz

Hi Cip8910

I am about to be 70. If you are considering surgery I would ask your surgeon about the extent to which nerve sparing can be achieved and whether waiting longer is likely to affect that.  It would also be useful to ask whether Retzius sparing surgery is a possibility.  I was lucky being in London that I had that option and I think that has helped my recovery, although being fit and healthy to start with has also played a significant part.  Two weeks post surgery, no incontinence and some encouraging signs on the ED front. The best feeling though is the feeling that the cancer has hopefully gone for good.

Best of luck

Dave

Dave,

Thank you for your advice and I am happy to know there is high a chance of getting back to normal after surgery. I have already informed the Doc that I opt for surgery. I’m waiting for my psa results and Doc says will do a biopsy depending on the psa, then refer me to a surgeon.

All the best,

Cip

Hi Dave,

I hope your doing well and your recovery is quick, one quick question if you don't mind, I note in your profile that you had Retzius Sparing RARP at the UCLH. Do you mind me asking, did you pay privately or were you NHS?

The reason I ask, is that when I had my decision making meeting with the urologist, he said that if I were to have a private treatment, I would fall out of the NHS system for my diagnosis.

Not even sure what costs are, or if affordable, but I expected him to say that I would stay with my local hospital for monitoring of PSA, etc following any private treatment.

Regards Edz

Hi edz

Have you decided or have you seen the radiologist yet.i saw the oncologist today and because I still have problems with my water works he said that radiotherapy wouldn't be the way forward,I'm also on blood thinners for life so he said to me that this maybe a problem for surgery,but he also said that if I got refused surgery then I would have to go through the turp procedure again then they would do radiotherapy such a pain,as just more stuff to worry about.hooe you get everything sorted edz,keep in touch please