Hi. Recently diagnosed with intermediate Gleason 3-4 and offered Radical Prostatectomy (sounds rather radical), External Beam Radiography (side effects seem awful and require 20 hospital visits), or Permanent Seed Brachytherapy (marginally better than EBR). Have seen ProstateCancerUK booklets on each and seem to be coming round to Brachytherapy but not yet sure of the details and how to cope with side effects. Treatment offered in about 6 weeks. Have a cancer clinic being arranged to discuss.
Such a shame it is like this. The only specialist nurses I had access to were a MacMillan nurse on the telephone (very helpful) and specialist nurses from Prostate Cancer UK (twice) also on the telephone. PCUK have a number you can ring anytime in the usual office hours. Otherwise, it is do your own research and establish your own contacts. PCUK has a facebook group where people share their experiences and ask for advice. It seems to me that every hospital is different in the help they provide, some much better than others. I was given the telephone number /email address of my surgeons' medical secretary by a young temporary receptionist (not sure if should have given this out) and I have used this a couple of times.
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