Starting a Journey

Welcome to this club.

At first, no one wants to be here but, soon enough, you will find people more knowledgeable than me turning up.

You might find it helpful to work through this:

https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/prostate-cancer

And then there's this:

https://prostatecanceruk.org/prostate-information-and-support/treatments?category=Localised+prostate+cancer

As far as I can tell you have all the possibilities. What's more, at stage T2, there is a very strong likelihood that any one of the possible treatments will lead to a cure.

That would mean that the decision is probably going to be made on the basis of the side effects. It might be good to list them all side by side and see what you get.

Take care to ask on here.

For example, am on HT and RT, and have just finished the RT portion. HT for 2 more years.

So far, the treatment has been a doddle.

My main problem has been suffering a herniated disk at the end of the RT treatment. Completely unrelated to the treatment.

Hello Inform5 

A warm welcome to the Macmillan Online Prostate Community, although I am so sorry to find you here - I am Brian one of the Community Champions here and am in the fourth year of my personal Prostate Cancer journey.

I agree with Steve (mstev2) above - you should be on a curative pathway whichever treatment you have so the choice is yours. On the NHS this would be surgery/Radiotherapy/Hormone Therapy & Radiotherapy or Brachytherapy.

I would be making a list of how each treatment would impact YOU and your family using trusted sources for your information - Macmillan, Prostate Cancer UK and Cancer Research UK (not Dr Google). Feel free to ask any questions here, however trivial. With many Community members - me included - you can click on our name or avatar to read our personal journey if this will help.

Be aware, not every NHS trust will offer each treatment but you are entitled to your choice.

I hope this helps.

Best wishes - Brian.

Inform5 said:

At this stage although undecided I am keen for the cancer to be removed from the body. 

I felt the same way earlier in my diagnosis. Take your time to consider ALL factors (chances of success, side effects, etc). I eventually went for brachytherapy boost.  My bio is next to my name Alpine Wanderer . There are plenty of great people on here - read all their bios and add this to your knowledge.   AW

The flood of information is extreme isn’t it. I was in the same place a couple of months ago. Luckily I had very informative and open discussions with both urology and oncology consultants and (very important) my wife was with me taking copious notes which helped considerably as my brain kept getting foggy with the barrage of statistics for potential side effects. I also have two family members (brother and brother in law) who went through similar just a year ago who told me their stories (one RT, one RALP).

As everyone has said so far, get as much information as you can and weigh up the pros and cons for your personal situation. It’s daunting, but only you know what will be best for you. 

I went the surgery route - my wife and I discussed everything in minute detail for hours and hours - and am very happy I did (my bio is growing with details). But everyone needs to find their own path. 

Hope you find the best for you and everything goes well. Wishing you all the best!

Thanks for this - I will look to read your bio 

Hi, I just had LDR Brachytherapy and nothing else, the detail is on my profile. I am due for a check up in April.