Prostrate Cancer

I was fast tracked while being put on HT injections after two weeks.

You don’t say how your Gleeson score was found, perhaps a biopsy, if so it does take a little while to get all the data for you to be dealing with. It’s all scary at the start so keep asking questions here and writing down questions for the clinicians in a list so you don’t forget to ask them something. But the waiting is the worst bit.

you are in good hands here with lots of experience so ask away and don’t be shy, you’re as anonymous as you wish to be. And if you have a partner then they can find answers and support here too.

Good luck. 

Hi Oneover 

my husband was fastracked but where we live it didn’t make much difference . I hope you have a fast speedy fast track to your oncologist . Once you have a clear plan you will feel better. 

best wishes & hugs tk you and yours 

Liz & OH xx

Hello Joe (Oneover) 

Welcome to the group from me - although I am so sorry to find you here.

The normal diagnostic route is for you to start with urology and then be passed to oncology.

Your treatment is standard being given 28 days of bicalutamide tablets and started on Hormone Therapy injections during the first 28 days - To give us a better understanding of your diagnosis we could do with the full TNM grades from the biopsy/MRI (I am T3aN0M0).

In simple terms the Hormone Therapy will reduce your testosterone (which feeds the cancer) and it will stop growing - then usually after 3/4 months you receive Radiotherapy to kill off the cancer cells for good. - That's the theory!!

Be aware the Hormone Therapy comes with side effects - we don't all get them but we do get fatigue which will catch up with you so keep as fit as possible.

Feel free to ask any questions however trivial and try and stay away from Dr Google!

Best wishes - Brian.

Hi Joe (Oneover ), your diagnosis path sounds very normal.  If the injections are given before the tablet, it would cause a spike, so always given the other way round.  Once you are on HT there is now no panic and in fact, if RT is to follow, then there is usually a gap of a few months to allow the HT to reduce the PCa before zapping it.

You mention that you are stage 4 but it would be helpful to understand your TNM score (I was T3bN1M0 at the start) and if you have had an MRI with results.  Please feel free to ask any questions.