49 years old, diagnosed with prostate cancer. Anyone in similar situation? All replies helpful.

If you’re not on HT and you have ED then I would definitely as your doctor. Although you are young you shouldn’t dismiss it as something to do with age. We all suffer circulation issues and there are plenty of things that are available for ED even a MacMillan guide for advice somewhere. Someone will help in the morning I’m sure.

if you’re anxious, and why shouldn’t you be, there’s plenty of advice for that including phone lines set up as talking therapies.

Finding out your rights and available help is useful and best if you tale notes for later, not everything applies now.

Active Surveillance is great but your anxieties could change all that. It’s best you know your choices but everything is at your feet, and depending what the future brings means you will be well prepared for everything.

Take care

Hi Leroy50 , sorry to find you here.

I was also diagnosed at the age of 49, 3 years ago, but with much worse stats than you, so AS was never an option. Your numbers are very low so I fully understand your AS choice. As Mr U said, you haven't started active treatment, so best consult your doctor about the ED, the stress of cancer diagnosis doesn't really help that either.

Happy to answer any questions I can help with, click on my profile for full details of my situation.

G

Good morning Leroy50 (11e60717c47641a4a6e7fb44b2572756). 

It sounds as if you have an embarrassment of riches in the treatment department and time to plan.

This is a good page to look at - https://prostatecanceruk.org/prostate-information-and-support/treatments?category= - because  it allows you to select the stage of cancer  you have and which treatments might be appropriate for that.

You have plenty of time to do your homework and then select the next stage.

Good Morning Leroy (Leroy50 ) 

A warm welcome to the club you didn't wish to join, I am sorry to find you here.

Your profile (Low PSA and Low Gleason 7 (3+4)) is ideal for AS. If this is your path of choice and you are happy with it, and don't suffer from anxiety I wish you well moving forward. Here's a link to our advice:

Aactive-surveillance-and-watchful-waiting-for-prostate-cancer.

Three points I would make are:

* Yes, do contact your GP or Cancer Team about the ED - As you are not on any treatment this isn't normal.

* As you have a cancer diagnosis make sure you have your regular PSA Tests and check the results.

* As you are a young 49 (and if you live in England) ask you GP for a form FP92A - As you have a cancer diagnosis you are entitled to free prescriptions.

Do feel free to ask us any questions, there's a wealth os knowledge on the Community.

Best wishes - Brian.

I had similar PSA age 50 (3.5) when I went for a test, and would have been diagnosed, but the MRI was borderline, and the transrectal biopsy that they did missed the tumour. It didn't officially get picked up until I was 52 with a transpernieal biopsy. I was then Gleason 6, PSA 5.5.

I followed active surveillance until this year, age 55 (so essentially 5 years overall), when focal therapy was recommended as the tumour was growing somewhat (12 mm).

The advantage of AS is that new treatment methods (or improved versions of existing methods) may be available when it is time to act, so for me, Nanoknife had come available on the NHS, and was the way I opted to treat my lesion. Just keep up with your blood tests, and MRIs if needed and ask your clinicians if you are at all unsure. I also found my local MacMillan nurse a great source of information.

Hello McLaren71 

Another informative post - i have just replied to your earlier journey notes (I missed this on holiday) so thank you for posting details of your personal journey. I hope they will help and support others.

Best wishes - Brian.

I'm a wee bit older than you at 55, I was diagnosed with T3a, Gleason 7 (4+3) last June, my PSA was 5.3. I opted for surgery and had a radical prostatectomy in September last year. Everyone has a different perspective but mine was that I'm young enough to sail through surgery, and at this age my body should be in a decent enough state to make a quick and full recovery. I'm almost 9 months in and physically in better shape than i was pre-diagnosis, only issues are with ED (getting slowly better) and recently a small increase in PSA (0.03 to 0.06, hopefully a blip). I've no regrets, with a bit of luck prostate cancer will be a distant memory and I'll die an old man of something really interesting involving sex, drugs or fast cars   

What about sex, drugs AND fast cars?

Simultaneously?

It's the only way isn't it?

ED is no fun !

After radical cystoprostatectomy this became a problem -- was prescribed injections, pellets, Viagra - each had limited effect and side issues,

Finally prescribed  a vacuum pump with maintenance rings - works very well but obviously has a lack of spontinaiety associated with it. -- if it's the only game in town I can accept that !