Another concerned newbie

This useful link was posted recently about managing Gleason 4 + 4

www.youtube.com/watch

Hello Beard . Agent99 has beaten me to it with the video link. Another useful link is to a book which you can download for free.

https://issuu.com/magazineproduction/docs/js_prostate_cancer_guide_for_patients_ezine

Your initial statistics are nothing to be overly alarmed about and could still be potentially curable, depending on the PSMA PET scan. There are still a few hoops to go through but nowadays prostate cancer is considered as one of the better cancers to have as treatments in recent years have come on in leaps and bounds, even for men like my husband who is on the treatable but not curable pathway. 

When you have more information then post it in your profile and we can try and help you with your different options but a good statistic is that 98% of men die with it and not of it. I would expect you to be advised to have some form of hormone therapy which will put the cancer into hibernation and then you will undergo something like radiotherapy and/ or Brachytherapy to do the killing the cancer bit. There are different options so don't be rushed into making a decision on treatment until you have all your results back.

This is the worst time so use it to think about your fitness levels. The hormone therapy can cause muscle loss along with other side effects and the best way of dealing with this is with exercise and preferably with some weight bearing elements.

Please ask any questions about anything.

Thanks Agent99 that’s very helpful 

Thanks Alwayshope. I was very concerned about the 4+4, am equally concerned about 18 months on hormones and the side effects ️

Hi Beard,

It's 100% true that things become more manageable & less stressful once a treatment plan is in place.  Up to that point there are so many 'what if's' that constantly cross your mind, but from that point on you are actually doing something about it.

Try not to be too concerned about hormones & the side effects as most guys will only get a limited number of them & even then, that may be to a limited degree.  The strange thing is that you find ways to deal with them & they become more of a daily nuisance that you learn to live with.  I found it helpful to think of it as the side effects were nothing compared to the kicking the PC was getting.

Best Wishes

Brian 

Hi Beard

Could be worth trying to find out a bit more on the MRI report, tumour (s) size in mm .by the sound of it still contained in the gland.

So PSA not excessively high, Gleeson 8 not 10.

Hopefully not spread, depending on the pet scan, and potentially curable 

Best wishes 

Steve

Precisely correct, especially this bit:

Buzzers said:

I found it helpful to think of it as the side effects were nothing compared to the kicking the PC was getting.

I was visiting my chiropractor about the back problem I have, and whilst being pummelled was explaining about the hormone therapy.

As I was having a particularly sweaty moment at that time, I explained about hot flushes. He said "Great. I'd take that as a win". 

When I questioned his sanity, he explained that the hot flushes indicated a reduction in testosterone levels, denying food to the cancer. Each hot flush meant confirmation that the cancer was getting beaten down.

That completely changed my outlook. Now I look upon them as a marker to beating this thing into submission.

Whatever side effects you may, or may not, get, they are just markers on the road to victory.

I hope you get a good result from the scan.

Hi Grundo/Steve

it doesn’t say anything about size on the report, so I will ask the question. The consultant wasn’t very forthcoming at the post mri meeting, or I just stopped listening! Obviously I’m hoping it’s still contained but I should get the results this week

Thanks for your reply  

 Cheers

 Tom

Yes, annoying when they're not that helpful.

Suppose my other thought would be,  he says spread could be 50/50.

Ok I'm no expert but unless he's seen something not telling I think the 50/50 doesn't help your thinking at this stage particularly if all enclosed in the gland.

Anyway good luck, hope works out ok

Steve 

I was doing well until I read the post about muffin tops and it made me think twice about taking any hormones tbh. But maybe I read it wrong