We, as I realise this is a 'couples' disease, are reeling from our diagnosis.
My husband's diagnosis is Grade group 5 Gleason 9 (4+5) Scans indicate T3b, N1, ?M0/M1a, latest PSA 9.6 and a PSMA pet scan is being booked to complete investigations.
Treatment is to be hormone by tablets and then injections, followed by radiotherapy.
He is so well and fit, with no symptoms, and only went for PSA because of family history of prostate cancer.
The post this morning brought an envelope with lots of info and how real this has suddenly become........he/we are now in total fear regarding the side effects of the treatments.
He sees a choice between living longer with a poor quality of life, with side effects of the treatments, particularly worried by radiotherapy regarding damage to bowel and urine function, or NO treatment surviving for a shorter while in his present state of health. I just want him for as long as possible!
I have been dipping in and out of the forum for a while now since tests began, and seen lots of advice and positivity in members' posts. I think we now need help and have joined us up. We are at the start of this life changing nightmare, and I do not want us to feel so alone.
Thank you so much
Hello Wayfarer
The PSA is not anything to do with how aggressive the cancer is - this is shown in the Gleason Score. The PSA just an indicator of how well your Prostate is. The higher the PSA number the more likely your team are to find cancer.
Here's a link to the Staging and Grading of Prostate Cancer:
Prostate-cancer/staging-and-grading-of-prostate-cancer
I hope this helps.
Best wishes - Brian.
Macmillan Support Line - 0808 808 00 00, 7 days a week between 8am-8pm
Strength, Courage, Faith, Hope, Defiance, VICTORY.
I am a Macmillan volunteer.
