Active Treatment Recommended but which one?

Hi Richard

I was going to go for surgery but changed my mind.

Surgery can have ED and urinary issues plus major op.

Radiotherapy seemed a lot simpler with any side effects disappearing after treatment hormone therapy can last a bit longer if u r having that as well as the RT

Should say that obviously not everyone has these surgery side effects or they might go away over time.

Only  downside to having RT is that if cancer returns surgy very difficult after wheras RT after surgery ok.

Having said that with your low stats hopefully one treatment will do it 

Steve 

Hi Steve, thanks for your response.

ED and urinary issues seem to be the cons for surgery, but the whole process, if it goes to plan, (surgery and then recovery) seems done in a short period. Whereas HT and RT can go on for months, and years for some.
That said the cons for surgery can go on for months as well.

For me at the moment the side effects of HT, gaining weight, breasts and the posibillity of Type 2 diabetes varies from person to person.

Stillevery bit of information is useful and will assist me with my eventual decision.

Thanks again

Richard

I agree Richard. So much to take in, u do have time on your side though 

I had RT without the HT which made it a bit easier, without the HT does seem a rarity though 

Steve 

Hi Richard.

One important point in the decision is your age. I was 71 when diagnosed and very active so I opted for HT/RT combination. If I had been 15 or 20 years younger I would probably have gone for surgery. The main reason for my choice was the possibility of stress incontinence when exercising as I do a lot of walking and coastal rowing. Also there is the possibility of long-term tissue damage from the RT which in a younger man might be more of a concern. I think ED and loss of libido are both problems whichever path you choose, although they frequently go away some time after HT finishes. For me, the side effects of HT were well controlled with Sage Leaf & Evening Primrose capsules but can be difficult for many.

I'm not sure any of that will help you decide, but good luck with your chosen treatment path.

Richard, I was unsuitable for surgery so the choice was really taken out of my hands.

I was a Gleason 3+4(7) T2, Intermediate Risk and opted for the Hormones and 20 fractions of VMAT Radiation treatment.

I was diagnosed in May 2021, and now some 18 months later I am in Remission.  Yes I did get some side effects from both the Hormones and Radiotherapy.

Looking back at the whole experience, I don't regret that decision even for a minute.

I have ED, but also my libido is zero so it doesn't bother me.  In the past few weeks there has been signs of life down there.

Hot Flushes from the Hormones have been quite regular.  You get used to them.  I didn't put on weight but my waistline grew quite a bit.

I finish a course of 6 Acupuncture sessions next week to try and control the Hot Flushes.  It took me 4 sessions and the intensity has gone right down, some nights I don't get any, sometimes it's just nice and warm.

Counselling did make a difference, being able to offload onto a counselor was great.  Participating in a monthly Prostate Cancer Support Group at my local Maggie's in Newcastle is very good.

Using this forum is really good.  Any questions or worries, there's always someone who has been through it.  Great bunch of people here.

Best of luck with your choice.

Morning Steve. Thanks for taking the time to share your story, which makes interesting reading and I will add to my decison making spreadsheet.
As many others have said in this forum, each one of us is different ,and whilst we have the same cancer it is different for each of us.

It is reassuring that we have this forum and I will almost certainly be popping along to Maggie's at the Freeman in the next week or so.

Thnaks again,

Richard

Richard, the monthly Prostate Cancer Support Group is held on the 4th Tuesday of the month.  Next one is in January.

Great stuff many thanks Steve

Richard

There's about 10 or 11 each month, all at different levels, some on A.S., some had the surgery, some Hormones and Radiotherapy.  It's great to swap experiences and gain more knowledge of P.C.

Good morning all,

I sort of dropped off the radar as I made my mind up as to surgery or therapy and I came to the decision that, for me, Hormones and Radiotherapy was the best option..

I started my journey thinking the best option was take it out and get rid. Funnily enough female friends and workmates all agreed. However my male friends and workmates were on the side of Hormone Therapy and Radiotherapy.

I had my appointment on Friday and am into day 3 of treatment. I now feel quite positive that a decision has been made and my cancer will be sorted out.

Obviously these are early days, and I still have most of the journey to go but I'm heading in the right direction now.
Good luck to all who have made this difficult decision recently.

I finally decided against surgery as I felt the cancer could be dealt with inside my prostate, and I would not have to worry about incontinence pants, a catheter, ED or a shortened penis, as well as having surgery under general anaesthetic.

Thanks to all who have contributed and will be visiting Maggies in January.

Richard