57 Year Old diagnosed with Prostate Cancer Gleason Group Level 2 - looking for advice

Hi Gaz 

I was similar, 60 when diagnosed 2013.

Was thinking of going for surgery but went for RT in the end, thoughts of potential ED and urinary issues put me off the surgery but obviously not every has them.

You don't mention your PSA or Gleeson, I presume low as stage 2.

Possibly if low you could consider active surveillance, has this been mentioned.

Any other questions please ask 

Regards

Steve 

Still getting my head around all of the terminology! My levels are Gleeson score 3+4=7 / Gleason Grade Group 2 / PSA 5.3 / T2 N0 M0

I've been offered surgery or external beam radiotherapy, 5 treatments over one week (apparently stronger dosage) without any hormone treatment - active surveillance has not been offered

No idea what route to take, I know I've caught it early and am very lucky compared to some but obviously at my age the side effects are a major factor, not just the ED but also the incontience as I am a self employed dog walker so can be out for up to 3 hours at a time!

Was your RT successful? 

So far yes, RT successful, no lasting side effects.

RT 5 sessions, must be a new kind of RT, see what u can find out about that just for ref.

Good that there's no HT, I also had no HT , just 20 days of RT.   U could mention active surveillance but if on the other hand u  just want to get treatment then go with the RT, sounds good 5 days only.

I was on AS for 4 years by the way.

Steve 

Yes, I believe it's quite new the RT but I'm waiting for an appointment to discuss further so yes, I will post and keep you updated when I find out - thanks for your response, appreciate it 

Looking online looks like it's called SABR, yes 5 doses only,   Looks like available in the US for some time. Perhaps new in the UK , I presume u  are in the UK 

Looks good  anyway 

Steve 

yep in the UK 

Gaz, Grundo,

The intensive Radiation is available at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle but only if you meet certain criteria.  A work colleague who was just diagnosed was told that he might be suitable, but in the end they offered him the 20 fractions of VMAT Radiation, no Hormones.

May last year when I was diagnosed (by the way Gaz, I was 57, Gleason 3+4(7) intermediate risk, confined to Prostate), I was unsuitable for surgery and offered Hormones and Radiotherapy.

In a way I'm glad I never had the choice.

To cut a long story short (I lost my mind) (bit of a Spandau Ballet moment there), I'm now in Remission.  So it does work, all depends on the severity of the Cancer.

No lasting side effects, although I have never really got my energy back, but that could be from something else, still getting up to pee, on average 2 times a night.

I don't regret anything.

Please let us know which treatment you choose.

Best of luck.

Hi Gaz

I am 56

I was diagnosed 9 months ago. Confined to the prostate. Gleeson 3+4 (7). PSA was 3.6 at that time.

7 samples cancerous out of 28 samples.

I was othered same solutions as you. You{re head gets whirled, I agree.

My consultant asked me my opinion. I said I felt the options where extreme for my level. He agreed.

The cancer was highly unlikely to break out of the prostate.

So decided to go with Active Surveillance. PSA test every six months and I think an MRI scan every two years.

My last PSA was 2.2. This can bounce around apparently, but they don't know why this happens.

Next PSA due in December.

I've read there are others on Active Surveillance and have been doing so for several years.

I would guess there maybe some gentlemen in same situation that haven't even been diagnosed 

Good luck with whatever you pursue. I hope I've been of some help 

Hi

I  was, in some ways, fortunate that I had no option - RT/HT or nothing. I totally get why you feel having a choice isn't necessarily a good thing.

So as I see it, the options you have are AS, 5 sessions of RT without HT or surgery.

When first diagnosed I just wanted it out of me, and may have gone down the surgical route.I had no choice so 37 sessions of RT for me. I don't regret it.

As others have said, it good you havnt been offered HT alongside RT as, for me, it's the worst part of my journey. The RT will make you tired but the fatigue and weakness will last much longer if you have HT as well. The HT shuts down your testosterone production and a lot of your strength and stamina disappear. I am 10 months hormone free and had my 6 month review on Monday and my testosterone level is less than a womans by a long way!

Hope this helps

Regards

Stuart

Stuart, you've got the word I couldn't think of when describing what I don't have... Stamina!!!  I think it has gone to the same place as my libido.  Far,far away...

I finished my Radiation sessions at the start of November last year, thought I had made it through the other side, fatigue-wise.

I'm okay if I am not doing anything physical, working (admin job), walking to and from work but when I try to do anything manual, my body screams for me to stop.

Last Sunday I tried mowing the lawn, I managed about half an hour, then I had to go for a nap, totally shattered.  It's not as if I was trying to do too much.

That word Stamina describes everything.

Thanks Stuart for jogging my memory.