Happy day

Hi Folks

I'm just over a year post surgery and just had my latest PSA result -still undetectable!  Very happy that I am currently free of PC and, having had good histology results, increasingly optimistic that I may be permanently cured (I am typing this with crossed fingers). I think now is a good time to reflect on my experience in the hope that it may prove helpful to others.

I was diagnosed in Jan 2023 with a PSA of 7 and a Gleeson score of 6 (largely due to having a GP who saw the benefit of including PSA in a bank of routine blood tests I was having).  Following everyones advice at the time I opted for AS and settled down to what I hoped would be a long period of living with my slowly growing cancer.  Within 18 months my PSA had more than doubled, my Gleeson had increased to 7 and I now had 2 suspicious areas in my prostate.  I was referred for HIFU treatment but that proved to be a non-starter as  my PC was too widely spread.  I decided after much turmoil, discussions with my MDT and a great deal of help and support from others on this site to opt for surgery.  Main reasons - I preferred a quick option and also was concerned that with 2 suspect areas already in my prostate there was a reasonable chance of it reappearing in any prostate left behind following radiotherapy. I also have a friend who was on hormone therapy at the time and experiencing a range of unpleasant side effects. I have been lucky in being very well supported and informed by my GPs, my local hospital and Barts /UCLH which was where I had my surgery.

So one year on what have been the positives 

First and foremost of course I am free of the cancer and back to living a fairly normal, active life.  The surgery itself was not particularly painful, more uncomfortable for a few days and I recovered very quickly.  I haven't suffered with incontinence, no longer need to get up to pee in the night and visits to the loo are now much quicker.  I haven't noticed any significant shrinkage down below which some others mention. I am also free of the need to plan my life around hospital appointments.

and the negatives

Just the obvious one, I have issues with ED which are improving but very slowly.  I have a supportive wife and my GPs have been excellent in providing support, vacuum pump and Tadalafil all of which help, so I remain optimistic. If it doesn't fully recover so be it, I can still enjoy life and the love of my family.

Overall I have no regrets in choosing this route. If you are currently on AS and thinking about surgery as an option my advice would be don't put it off too long as there is more risk of the PC escaping containment - my trigger was the increase in Gleeson score.  Be aware and prepared for any possible side effects but try to go into it with a positive attitude. Also use your time on AS to improve your fitness and pelvic floor muscles which will greatly help with your recovery whichever treatment you opt for.  My surgeon attributed my lack of incontinence in part to the fact that I cycle regularly in the gym.

For anyone interested there are more details in my profile

Wishing you all the best

Dave