RE: Surgery or Radiotherapy? Decision made!

Hi Tommy

If you give us some figures there's loads of people on here who can give advice

So, PSA, Gleeson, staging or what the MRI says

Steve 

Hello Tommycat  A warm welcome to the online community - I feel sure we can give you the help and support you need - can I please ask you update your personal profile with your statistics (Gleason Score - Initial PSA - TNM staging). This will stop us asking you every time. To do this on your home page, click on the icon of the chair, then profile and then edit.

Thanks for that. bast wishes - Brian

1. Hi everyone,I'm in similar position....I'm 53 years old, PSA of 5.2 and Gleason score of 2.....feel healthy etc, thinking active surveillance but also prostatectomy as want cancer gone as isolated to one lobe of my prostate,I'm just overwhelmed as to what way to go

Hello Psmike  Welcome to the forum.

It's a very personal choice and my advice to anyone in that situation is to make a list of pros and cons of each alternative. do your research, here, Prostate Cancer UK and by reading of other people's experiences. Don't go on Dr Google.

You will find that many Community members have completed their profile and you can read these by clicking on their avatar.

If you ask anyone on the forum for their personal opinion I am sure they will let you know - ask any questions you want - you will get answers.

Best wishes - Brian.

Thanks Millibob

I'm ok with diagnosis but after that I'm lost....need to know what happens after treatment and recovery,honesty v what is said on website or via surgeon?? Any feedback is appreciated and tbh I'm swaying now to radiotherapy as seems less invasive obviously but less side effects as I'm only 53 and still want a sex life but if choice was between dying early or sex life then I could make that reasoned choice

Hi P

U said it in your text, Radiotherapy less invasive and potentially less side effects.

Obviously u are young and need to be wary of surgery which can have ED and urinary issues.

I should add that not everyone who has surgery has issues but u need to be aware.

I had the Radiotherapy and 7 years on no real issues/side effects.

See what others say

Good luck

Steve 

Hello Psmike  That's the hardest question we get asked.

Surgery - We have people on the forum who have had surgery, made a perfect recovery, no issues with urination and back to a "normal" sex life (whatever normal is!!). We have others who have issues still in having a wee and have no chance of an erection.

Radiotherapy - If you can get away with Radiotherapy without Hormone therapy - it's not invasive and there's a minimal chance that it will cause changes to your toilet habits or erections - however the side effects of Radiotherapy could show up in later life.

As I said above - it's a very personal choice and you need to research and write down the pros and cons of each treatment. If you go through the treads on the forum you will find plenty of Community members who have had these treatments - read their personal journey and come to your own conclusions.

Best wishes - Brian.

Hi Steve,

Yes it's a very hard decision, immediately on diagnosis I was all for surgery but now not so sure as mine is localised with it being isolated to one part of my prostate with Gleason score of 3+4 (I said 2 but meant band 2) and have read that radiotherapy has evolved immensely over the last few years as I suppose surgery has as well.....just so difficult to decide best option for me,glad you're feeling good and long may it continue 

Hi Brian,

Thanks for the reply. I'm lucky as I have been offered both/either but the radiotherapy option was without hormones as my scores didn't warrant it ithe radiographer/specialist said so I'm swaying towards that but foremost I want the cancer gone,as anyone who has it does so presuming surgery is the only one that can achieve that as the prostate and cancer will be removed???? 

I said my Gleason score was 2 but it's actually band 2 score was 3+4 so seems that have caught it early and is localised to one area of my prostate so think that makes a difference but as I say I just want it gone.

I'm staying positive and feel ok moving forwards just need to make this difficult choice.

Thanks again for your comments and I will keep you posted 

Good morning Psmike 

Yes I can understand the need to "want it gone".

With any treatment for Prostate Cancer the chances of it recurring are between 20 and 30%, so after surgery if it comes back you still have radiotherapy to fall back on. If it comes back after radiotherapy yon normally can't have surgery so it would be hormone therapy.

Just something else to consider.

Best wishes -Brian.