Just diagnosed from Suffolk

It’s good to reach out .. this is a good community I recently joined because my husband is in the same position..

good luck 

Thanks so much. Wish your husband all the best from me too. 

Hello Kev - Welcome to our club - I know you didn't want to join but in honesty it's a good place for help, advice and a bit of banter!

If you stick up some further statistics, Gleason Score, PSA etc and what stage of treatment you are at I am sure the good people of the Community will give you some help, support and general advice.

Just to say some of us - me included - have our Prostate Journey - online so you can see where we have been and what has happened to us so far - this often helps people to understand what goes on in an individual journey - although we are all different. You can see mine by clicking on the icon of the beach.

Keep us posted as to how things are going and don't be afraid to ask anything.

Kind Regards - Brian.

Hi Brian 

I was diagnosed 4 weeks ago this coming Thursday. My stats are:

Gleason score is 5. My PSA was 24 and is now 18. I am at stage T3 and have my next consultation on Thursday where I will be told treatment dates etc. I am having a radical prostatectomy. I had a radioactive bone scan 3 weeks ago and it has not spread. Treatment mentioned is external beam radiotherapy, hormone therapy and chemotherapy.

Any words of wisdom or advice will be great. I have a small support group of close friends as well as Mum.

Thanks so much

Kev

Hi Kev

Thanks for the reply - it's a little confusing to me - but I am not a medical lad - but Gleason Scores start at 6 and are made up of two numbers - Gleason Groups which I thought were American run 1- 5.

However a PSA of 24 reducing to 18 and a T3 is good news - if there can be good news with Prostate Cancer as it's very treatable.

If you have a meeting on Thursday to discuss the two main options - Prostatectomy or HT/RT my advice to you is to do as much research as you can before the meeting and to list the "pros and cons" of each treatment.  On a personal note I was only offered HT/RT as it was thought the little bug*ers had left the prostate and gone walkabout - as it happened they hadn't.

I have very mixed feeling about which treatment to suggest and it's a very personal thing - you need to explore the side effects - list them and work out the best course of action for you.

Do as much reading as you can and see what people on here say - you can read my story - I am 18 months down the line and there have been issues - but I feel great now - ask any questions you have - I will do my best to answer them on the HT/RT route.

Kind Regards

Brian.

My mistake. My Gleason is 4+5=9. Grade group is 5.

T3 Prostate Cancer. My cancer has broken through the Prostate. 

Hi Kev

As Brian has said Gleeson 5 not a normal figure, probably should check that.

Stage 3 would indicate just broken through the gland edge but not anywhere else, possible worth checking that as well.

MRI report should give u more info relating to that

There is an argument that with the cancer broken thru could be better off with RT 

But think the jury is still out on that one, do much research to help u understand possible side effects of both treatments.

Steve 

Hi Kev and welcome, just been reading through.

Like everyone here says, research every option available to you. My initial reaction was for a prostatectomy ... get it gone..., however I was advised to go on HT/RT because of other underlying conditions. You can read my journey by clicking on the picture of my cat.

I wish you well on your journey and as others have said, ask anything you want to know, someone will offer help and/or advice

Regards

Peter 

Hi Kev

Gleason 9 - Welcome to the Gleason 9 club - it's treatable - I am a 9. However if as Steve and Peter say - as much research as possible, but if it's escaped the gland it's going to be more a case of HT/RT or possibly chemotherapy (which is out of my league). I wish you well - ask anything and we will try and help.

On Thursday be sure to take someone with you because it's important to have a list of questions and to have some one with you as information will come at you thick and fast.

Good luck pal - keep us posted and ask away.

Kind regards

Brian.

Thanks Peter