Radiation alone or with Hormone treatment decisions

Hello Youie,

My stats were similar to your husbands, namely PSA 7.6, prostate volume 55, T2a NO, MO, Gleason 4 + 3 & have recently finished my RT.  I was given HT, namely Bicalutamide tablets & 3 monthly Decapeptyl injections which started 14 days after starting the tablets.  The tablets stopped after the last RT fraction, & I have one more injection due in December & so in my case will only have been on HT for 9 months.  A PSA test after approx 7 fractions came back as 0.2 which I was told had dropped mainly because of the HT.

I may have been lucky & not had too many side effects from the HT & those haven't been too bad considering.  When you see the Oncologist, take the opportunity to ask any questions you may have (I had 3 pages of questions written down although most were covered in their review of treatment options) & then you will both have a much clearer picture of a way forward.

Best Wishes

Brian

Hi Brian

Do you think your Gleason went from 7 to 9 because of the time lapse to full treatment or did the prostate chips provide more material over a wider area for analysis, and therefore more accuracy?

I worry about this possibility because I have to wait 4 weeks for the biopsy and then 5 to 6 weeks for the pathology report, with probably another delay before treatment.

I take your point about sources of information but only look at highly credible sources.  One of the best ones concerning HT and intermediate PCa, is the highly respected Cochrane Organisation.  I could have provided links, but leave it to individual research.

D

Hello Dedalus  I think the Gleason 9 was the true score all along. When I spoke to the oncologist she conformed the "chips" from the TURP were bigger than the original biopsy samples and provided more "slices" for examination.

With a PSA of 182 on diagnosis she says I am very lucky not to be a T4 and if you read my journey (click on the icon of the beach) you can see I was started on HT from being in hospital with other issues (caused by the enlarged prostate).

In most people it's a slow growing cancer but..........until you have a diagnosis you don't know!!

Best wishes - Brian.

Thanks, Brian

In light of your experience, perhaps a TURP or HOLEP would be better than biopsies and perform 2 beneficial functions at one pass.  WDYT?

BW

D

Hello Dedalus

The problem with a TURP is the waiting list - I was told 2 years - and I needed mine to increase the flow and to get rid of the pesky catheter.

I managed to get bumped up the list as I needed RT and I was unable to have this until the TURP had been done. I have no idea of the waiting list for HOLEP. (my urology nurse got me the early appointment).

Funny thing is it's a year today (the day after my TURP) that the catheter came out and boy did that improve my flow.

Again we are all human and have our own feelings - mine were/are I want to be cured and as fast as possible so went with the the oncologist/urologists thoughts - it can't come out so it's HT/RT. My HT is 3 years and 2 years in I've cracked it and the side effects are just part of life.

My journey has had it's up's (ringing the bell after RT) and down's (nearly dying!) but maybe it's just me as I going through life I "always look on the bright side of life".

Best wishes - Brian.

Hi Youie

I am interested in your husband's progress regarding no HT with RT.  How has the specialist responded, and are you still in the same frame of mind? 

I also want to go this way if possible.

BW

D