Newly diagnosed

Hi LFC and welcome 

Yes I must admit half way through on my way to treatment I did think about refusing treatment.

Then I asked the specialist what would happen and when he told me about the bone pain I relented.

Glad I did cos treatment much easier than I thought.

What are your stats PSA, Gleeson etc to help get best advice 

Steve 

Hello Lfc1892 

A warm welcome to the Macmillan Online Prostate Community, although I am so sorry to find you here. I am Brian one of the Community Champions here on the Community and indeed I do have Prostate cancer too. I assume by your user name you follow Liverpool F C so I wish you well later against Nottingham Forrest (it will be a hard game!).

We all react differently to a cancer diagnosis, some people just want to "get it out" others simply don't want to know!! You are a normal bloke with a cancer diagnosis - don't worry about your initial reaction.

To help us to help you can you let us know your PSA readings and your TNM score and Gleason Score from your biopsy (I assume you have had a biopsy as you say "newly diagnosed"). Once we have this information we will be able to support you with information and answer any questions you may have.

Best wishes - Brian.

Hello Lfc1892 and welcome from a wife. I think we all go through a range of reactions when confronted with cancer and not wanting to engage with the treatment is one of them. For some men this is a viable option if they have a low risk form provided the cancer is monitored on a regular basis because prostate cancer is usually slow growing. If you can supply more information like your age, PSA, TNM and biopsy results then this will help us to help you in a more targeted way. If you don't have this information yet then we can explain what tests are usually done to supply it and why. Having been given the diagnosis is frightening but most prostate cancers are treatable and finding out what type empowers you to take control of the situation and make informed choices.

Please feel free to ask any questions and we will try and help.

Hi, and sorry you have had to join the forum. I am the wife of a man who has had grade 4 prostate cancer, diagnosed 3 1/2 years ago. I cannot speak for the men here and don't know if their first reaction was not to have treatment, however, I do strongly suggest you do. The treatment itself, normally injections to lower the testosterone which pc needs to feed off, can leave you feeling more tired and maybe more emotional, but that has to be better than letting this awful cancer just rule the roost.

It would be really helpful if you could give us more information, i.e. psa results, whether you have been told it has spread etc., in fact, the more we know, the more helpful the advice will be from the wonderful guys on this site. Also, let us know your age, and maybe if you are married. If you were, I am sure your wife/partner would be encouraging you to go for the treatment.

You will soon have many replies and I know they will all urge you to take a deep breath and consider your options. Prostate cancer, if caught early, is curable. If not it is definitely treatable and my husband is testament to that.

Best regards

Gina

Hi -

Welcome to the club that no-one wants to be a member of !   Sorry to learn of your diagnosis.   

I think that there is a huge range of reactions, depending on many factors, including how much if any prior warning there has been, age, personal circumstances, and the details of that diagnosis.  I reckon that your reaction is perfectly normal, and that there is a phase when many or perhaps even most don't really want to have treatment. 

However I think that in time there comes an acceptance that treatment really is necessary, and although scary you have to move forward with whatever option is the best (or least bad!) for you.

If you read the contents of this forum, you will see many inspiring stories of recovery, despite the adversity which is probably most challenging at the start of the journey.    

Cheers and best wishes for now.

Hi Lfc1892 sorry you are struggling but we all went through this.  It does get better.  In my 7 years since being diagnosed with Advanced PC I have known 2 people who initially refused treatment.  Both died regretting their decision.  It is however a personal choice.  Let us know your diagnosis and the folks on here will guide you through if you choose that route.  Best wishes, David

Hi Lfc1892 , 

you have taken the first BIG step in asking for support. Please ask away any question to enable you to make informed decisions . I get it you reaction but there are treatments out there that you can consider once you get to grips that you have PC . 

huge hugs in whatever you choose 

Liz & OH. xxxx

Hi Steve all I know is my gleason score is 7 (3+4) and T2 ok never thought to ask about my PSA just a state of shock really!

So low stats, easily treatable/curable 

Active surveillance a possibility.

But eventually, just out of interest, why no treatment?

Steve

Hi Brian all I know is my Gleason score is 7(3+4) T2 never thought about the PSA I suppose it was just shock on hearing the result of the biopsy