Prostate cancer diagnosed

Hi Alan9,

First of all - Don't Panic!

There are some brilliant people here who will give you loads of very good information and advice. Way better than me.

My own situation was the same as yours, back in 2013. Because my cancer was not far advanced, I was offered surgery. My brother, with more advanced prostate cancer, could only go down the radiotherapy route. Luckily, I was able to go private at the Marsden for da Vinci robotic surgery. Living in Scotland, at that time there was no robotic surgery available.

Good news is that both I and my brother are ok.

My advice is that if you decide on surgery, go for robotic.

You won't be able to process all the information you need to make a decision, yet. But when you do, you will make the right decision. That's really important to bear in mind.

Not everybody has the same experience - especially on side effects. So, frightening though it may seem at the moment, it really won't be as bad as you think.

Remember that PCa is slow growing so you have time to make your treatment choices.

The first thing to do is download the Prostate Cancer Toolkit from the PCUK website.

https://prostatecanceruk.org/media/2499098/how_prostate_cancer_is_diagnosed-ifm.pdf

You can also get it posted to you but that takes a bit longer.

When you have had a read come back here and ask us any questions. We'll be glad to help.

Hi Alan I was diagnosed with the same condition back in March a d had surgery on may 7th. Now the reason I elected for surgery was the consultant said if all cancer wasn't removed then radiotherapy was possible but if i had radiotherapy first then surgery more difficult to do. I had it removed at Bath RUH which has one of the highest success rates in the country. Having said that i do still wonder whether radiotherapy would have been better but the length of treatment put me off too.

Now 2 months after I have mild incontinence which will improve over the coming year with pelvic exercises and the erection is the main problem though I am assured this will probably improve over time. Plus side is PSA test was undetectable so looks like all cancer is gone. The choice is so personal and dependent on the person it pays to keep reading on the effects of all choices available on here there's plenty. Good luck going forward. Graeme. 

Hi Alan, I've recently been diagnosed with locally advanced PC and have my biopsy results;

T Stage T3a Gleason score of 7 (3+4=7)

Grade Group 2

N Stage N0

M Stage MX (awaiting results of bone scan)

I've looked at all the available treatment options, ruling out many including surgery which has the worst results and the most serious long term side effects!

You may want to ask questions regarding your treatment options by asking your medical professionals or phone the prostate cancer specialist Nurse at 'Prostate Cancer UK" Monday to Friday 09:00 - 18:00

Hope this helps, chuckles60

Hi Alan,

My story is very similar to Prostrateofshock, Gleeson score 3+4 T2. I went for the operation option, which was ten weeks ago. I heard this week my PSA test revealed less than 0.01 which means they got it all. What you need to do is compare all the side effects and decide what you can tolerate and what you cannot. 

My operation (robotic-assisted) was undertaken in Plymouth, I went in on Thursday afternoon and came out Friday teatime. There was no pain at all, I was very surprised I thought at the very least I would be sore.

The operation has left me with incontinence and impotence which will hopefully get better overtime.