Confused

I’m not sure I’m qualified to comment on Active Surveillance but that sounds great to me.

I would wait for the letters explaining the diagnosis and Gleason facts. To be honest you age is a big help but don’t wish for treatments before they’re necessary; I’ve been there and it’s a slippery slope into even more confusion.

I’m certainly there are netizens with more to say on the matter as time goes on but for the moment try not to jump from a totally healthy guy before the diagnosis to a cancer ridden patient afterwards. This adjustment in your perception of your condition and future will fill out in time so be patient and wait for the data to steer the pathway.

You are in great company here with so much experience to help you every time you ask for help. So ask away, but try to keep calm until you know the full facts.

Take care

I think ‘not knowing’ is sometimes harder than ‘knowing’.  Can I suggest you make a list of the questions you want answers for? Perhaps even send in advance to your specialist nurse? 

you also ask about AS. My husband had been having a steadily rising PSA for years. He was twice seen in urology and both times the decision was made not to do anything but keep monitoring. That was in the days when it was a TRUSS biopsy which were far less reliable than the template biopsy and could not reach all parts of the prostate and carried a real risk of sepsis. They also did not do MRI scans before biopsy. Anyway, 3 years ago they decided to scan and one thing led to another and he was diagnosed with T3a N0M0.p and treated with the intention to cure.

so, would cure have been more guaranteed if he had been treated earlier? Would he have coped better with the treatment and would the hormone therapy have been for a shorter time when he was 8 years or so younger? But, Would he now be suffering the longer term effects of treatment?

or did we gain from having those carefree times when your kids have spread their wings, happy holidays, the joy of seeing our family grow as grandchildren came along by leaving things until  later? 

some men here say they choose surgery because they just want the cancer to be hot out - they can’t live with the thought of it in their body.

basically, what I’m saying is that there is no right or wrong answer about what decision you eventually make. We are all different and have different emotions and reactions to this diagnosis.

But - the most important thing is that when you make the decision you make it armed with the best possible information..

hth

For your meeting on 25th you might want to ask some questions based on this page from Macmillan: 

https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/treatment/your-treatment-options/questions-to-ask-your-healthcare-team

You might also find this, from Prostate Cancer UK, useful in understanding AS which might lead you to be informed enough to ask the necessary questions: 

https://prostatecanceruk.org/for-health-professionals/for-my-role/common-questions-on-active-surveillance-in-prostate-cancer

The point about your age is well made. Ask the question. Keep putting it to them as if you were  questioning a politician on the television. Sooner or later you get what you need.

Mr U said:

for the moment try not to jump from a totally healthy guy before the diagnosis to a cancer ridden patient afterwards.

A fantastic statement.

Something we should all remember. 

Thanks , I have that printed out.

I have emailed this morning asking for the biopsy results and staging ? As I haven't been told this.

I was also wondering if I could speak to a specialist regarding the age and radiotherapy side of things.

One thing that did pop into my head early hours was my dad,  I know he has been seen regarding passing urine but have o details. He is late stage vascula dementia and has some levels of incontinence now. Whether this is prostate or dementia related I don't know and given his age, condition,  Great health bad dementia it wouldn't be something to pursue I wouldn't have thought.

Hi Steve

I can't see any PSA figures, do u have the past few.

Probably the most important thing is to find out the tumour size in mm and location in the gland just to be sure that AS ok.

I was on AS for 4:years before treatment.

Best wishes 

Steve