Gleason 3+4 T3aN0M0, What Next?

Well your 3+4 is the lowest grade that would need treatment so only your T3a adds to your overall risk and the need to stay on HT beyond  a year . If you're worried about muscle and bone health perhaps ask them about any tests eg a dexa scan, they can do to see how you are holding up there currently if you continue further on the HT.

Thanks, yes I guess that would make sense. 

You have an enviable report there and as for your bone and muscle health you’ll have to be realistic about the possibility of exercise keeping your tone and strength.

If you stay in your feet and continue with your exercise where and when you can you will be ok, but while your on your back or bum you will loose tone, strength and it will be hard to do anything but keep what you’ve got.

so keep up the exercise if you can.

Good luck

Hello Mike  (Argonarc ) 

Welcome to the group, although I am so sorry to find you joining us. 

Like you I am a T3aN0M0 Gleason 9 (5+4) with an initial PSA of 182 and am 70 years of age. Because of my PSA and Gleason I was originally HT for life then reduced to 3 years and now I am on "intermittent" HT. So when my PSA gets down to an acceptable level I come off the HT and go back on it when it rises (you can read my journey by clicking on my avatar).

Personally (and don't forget I am not medically trained) I would have though another 12 months on HT to ensure the Radiotherapy has done it's job and to bring the PSA down even more - you don't get to your nadir or lowest PSA reading until 18 months after Radiotherapy, and you are a T3a!

Hormone Therapy can cause wastage or weakening of the bones and I am on prescribed Calcium and Vitamin D tablets to try and contra this effect - Muscle health needs regular exercise to keep it up. Don't forget to we are both getting older and there is nature taking it's course too.

I hope the above helps.

Best wishes - Brian.

Hi again all, thanks for the replies. I guess my main thinking is it is actually confusing trying to establish the guidlines for how long people either are , or should be on hormones. All the different clinical teams seem to vary. I am just coming up shortly to a telephone follow up two months on from radiotherapy. Hence me trying to get to grips with what I think about it. I have not found hormones an easy path but am willing to stick with it for a sensible agreed time, but being in the post 70 bracket there is a health trade-off too, and there seems to be no general consensus. Obviously first things first, waiting for a fresh PSA reading.  Bit more info  on my original diagnosis, I had cancerous cells in 8 out of 20 cores 3+4, with a right posteromedial peripheral zone Pi-RADS 4 11mm lesion towards the apex. Suspicious of Early T3aN0M0. Anyway I wish everyone well. It is quite a learning process and it is a great community here.