Hi all
LH had his face to face oncologist appointment yesterday. He was officially given his TNM stage as T2c N0 M0 with a Gleeson score of 9 and with cribriform present, so an aggressive cancer but contained in the prostate. Because of this the MDT decided that he should be treated with HT/EBRT with 6 months of HT prior to RT and then for a further 2 years afterwards. They also intend to treat the pelvic lymph nodes due the aggressive nature of his cancer, although it was stressed that there was no sign of spread to the lymph nodes at this time and it was just a precaution. He will have 20 fractions over 4 weeks.
There is just one problem and that is tha he has a hernia which has to be repaired prior to radiotherapy and he has been referred to the surgeons for this to be arranged. The oncologist seems to think that this will not delay things but I thought waiting lists for this sort of operation were long. Hopefully with the link to his cancer treatment things will be prioritised.
One thing I forgot to ask about was calcium and vitamin D supplements with the HT. Is this something the GP could prescribe? If we need to purchase them what strength would we need to get?
Many thanks
D4Me
Hello Dogs4me
I hope the meeting has brought some relief and that you now have a treatment plan. I am sure that with a little pressure from your team the hernia operation can be brought forward.
As for the Calcium and Vitamin D Tablets your GP should be able to add these to any medication LH is already on.
It's all coming together and i wish you both well going forward.
(edit Lorraine and I adopted a 6 year old ex racing greyhound yesterday who had been in the dogs home for over 500 days!!).
Best wishes - Brian.

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Hello Dogs4me,
It's surprising how once a treatment plan is in place life can settle into a more settled routine especially knowing the HT is intended to put the cancer to sleep before being finished off with the RT. Hopefully the hernia operation will come along fairly quickly to ensure everything is in place for the RT to start as planned.
Best Wishes
Brian
Hi Dogs4me - I had HT for 18 months and had calcium and vitamin D3 tablets prescribed (called iCal). I had my last HT jab Dec 2024, but I'm still on the tablets (plus Tadalafil to help prevent ED). Review of prescription is July 2026! AW
Like others have said once the treatment plans are sorted
, it definitely helps . I didn't have any tablets for vitamin D and calcium. didn't like the HT injections, thankfully mine got stopped once the RT was finished. My cancer took priority over my spine stenosis which was understandable. So now since the treatment finished May 2nd this year the spine stenosis is full on now, waiting for surgens appointment to sort out the surgery plan. Should have being seeing him this Monday evening but messaged me yesterday informing me they have had to cancel and will rearrange appointment.
Hope you have successful outcome. Best wishes baggie boy
Thank you Brian
Fingers crossed regarding the hernia! LH will ask about the vitamins when he goes for his first injection. It is true what everyone says, it is so much easier once a plan is in place!
Congrats on the new member of your family. Dogs bring such joy! We have 4, 2 of which we rescued fairly recently and they were rescued from a puppy farm by the rescue centre. Poor little mites.
Thanks again
D4Me
Mine is similar, with similar timescales, although mine had also reached the pelvic lymph nodes, but scans showed no further, started having, HT jab pedactyl, and will receive abitaterone/prednisolone. In the coming weeks, no firm date for RT yet, good look, it took aost 2 months between seeing the urologist and oncologist, this was a difficult time, in that time I read the internet a lot, human nature, but internet AI is very generalistic, fmy prognosis appears slightly better than first feared, my mind has eased quite a bit, wish you well
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