Clinical oncologist appointment and update

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29th September 2025: clinical oncologist video call. MDT have downgraded it to T2c, which downgraded the CPG4 to a CPG2. The tumour is on the anterior of the prostate. No mention of ADT and I forgot to ask why he hasn’t been given it. Maybe it’s because the tumour is still in the capsule.

We asked about brachytherapy and was told there is a long waiting list, she was a bit vague, but I went back to it a couple of times. They don’t do LDR, but do HDR. I asked about going to other hospitals because of waiting lists and I was told that only Velindre in Cardiff does brachytherapy, there’s only two surgeons who do it, I’m not sure if she meant in wales or that hospital or maybe both, and I would have to pay privately if I go outside of wales. She said that they don’t like doing brachytherapy on anterior tumours, but will ask in the meeting today. The mention of secondary cancers in rectum and bladder in 5-10 years after radiotherapy worries me a lot. We asked about the spaceoar and was quoted £5000 and it would be done with 5 higher fractions instead of 20.

We are still confused, maybe more than before. She did say Greg is on a curative pathway. He is thinking about surgery or brachytherapy at the moment. The consultant said she will arrange another phone call in a couple of weeks. I asked if she could get back to us asap over the brachytherapy waiting times and whether he would be eligible. She mumbled something about being flat out, but will try to email this week.

We haven’t spoken to the same person twice, every consultant seems shattered and rushed and they seem to say something different and the wait from one appointment to the next seems a bit much. I am hoping that once a decision is made, my faith and trust in the NHS will be restored.

David2017 2 hours ago

Hi worried wife 78 , that is great news to be T2 rather than T3 but the handling of your journey doesn’t sound great. Remember with T2 and G6 you really don’t have any rush, so next meeting just try and nail a plan.

Best wishes, David

Please remember that I am not medically trained and the above are my personal views.

Millibob 2 hours ago

Hello worried wife 78

Well there's some good news there and as it stands it looks like Greg still has the choice of 3 treatments - RT, Surgery or Brachytherapy. He's got a slow growing cancer so time isn't that important - however for both of you the wait is causing worry and anxiety.

Personally between Surgery and Brachytherapy I would opt for the latter as it's much less invasive and with surgery it's not always possible to guarantee continence or sexual function.

As an aside I did read the NHS guidance on cross border treatment and unless you live on or near the Wales/England border the only way you can have treatment in England is to register with an English GP! And it's called the NATIONAL Health Service.

It will be interesting to see what the Consultants e-mail says.

Best wishes - Brian.

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Grundo 1 hour ago

Excellent news WW although there always was a question mark over the T3.

Now just about deciding the treatment, check out side effects for each treatment and see which ones he can put up with the easiest.

Looks curable anyway

Good luck

Steve

Alpine Wanderer 38 minutes ago

“He is thinking about surgery or brachytherapy at the moment.” Hi worried wife 78 - bear in mind that the NHS may push for surgery (the nuclear option) which will almost certainly cure T2 cancer but may have lifelong side effects. Brachytherapy as a mono therapy, as Millibob says is less intrusive. It can also be done without hormone therapy and its follow up treatment (if it fails) is the same as surgery: external beam radiotherapy. Please note, too, that I think you can be referred to an NHS hospital in England for the brachytherapy- I would want a hospital “centre of excellence “ with a regular throughput with brachytherapy surgeons who are experienced. AW

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