Prostate cancer

Hello Ray (Ray B24) 

Welcome to the group although I am so sorry to find you joining us. Your question is a good one.

I was diagnosed early 2022 with an initial PSA of 182 and a Gleason 9 with possible lymph node involvement. I have had HT for 3 years and 20 fractions of RT (I managed to "dodge" chemotherapy) and once I had completed my 3 years it took 9 months for my PSA to rise and I am back on HT (although this may well be "intermittent" depending on how my PSA goes).

You can read my entire journey by clicking on my name or avatar. I hope this help, if you have any questions please feel free to ask them.

Best wishes - Brian.

Hi Brian, thanks for your swift reply. Nice to chat to someone in very similar circumstances.   
When I went for my PET scan ( had to pay privately for it, long story ) they seemed to be horrified that my psa was 135.  But obviously now I’ve discovered there’s plenty of us in that zone.  I’m amazed you managed to miss chemo, again all these consultants have different approaches I guess.  

Hello Ray

I think I was a "lucky boy". My cancer must have been fast growing as it got me into hospital very quickly (at Christmas!!). The consultant urologist having seen the MRI scans, even without the biopsy results and an MDT meeting banged me on HT at day 1 so I think saved my from it "going walkabout" in my body.

I live north of Manchester and am under The Christie which is the 4th best cancer hospital in the world and I just can't fault the treatment i have had.

Talking of the NHS I have been on the Community almost 4 years and you can get 2 Community members with identical diagnosis but living in different NHS areas having totally different treatment!

Best wishes - Brian.

Great story Brian with what sounds like a brilliant ending. 

best wishes 

Ray.  

Hi Ray (Ray B24 ), I had similar treatment plan but stayed on HT as my initial diagnosis was T3b.  There is evidence that stopping HT in stable patients has no detrimental clinical outcome.  If PSA rises, you restart HT and if not - well happy days.