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Prostate cancer - which treatment to have? Radiotherapy or radical prostatectomy

Bishboy66
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I am 58 and recently been diagnosed with early prostate cancer (gleeson3+4)- no symptoms but caught by a psa test and then subsequent mri and confirmation by biopsy. I have 2 treatment pathways : radiotherapy or radical prostatectomy. The decision of which treatment is mine to take. Has anyone else been in a similar situation where they have to choose their treatment? If so would you mind sharing which treatment you chose and the reasons you made that choice.  Many thanks 

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    Hi Bishboy, have you looked at all the different kinds of radiotherapy?

    I chose brachytherapy, I had to have HDR which is high dose, because of location of my cancer I had to have 15sessions of External beam too. I have some side effects but not as bad as if I'd chosen External beam only ...Please speak to your oncologist or the specialist nurses... I believe brachytherapy to be the one with least side effects...it's not available everywhere but it's worth travelling for it ...

    You will probably be on Hormone therapy first, which will affect you libido, may I advise you too still give yourself erections before during and after treatment or you will lose erectile tissue ( permanently)... you may feel it doesn't matter now it's secondary importance,  but Post treatment you will want to be active sexually again. 

  • Offline in reply to ME68

    I was Gleason 3+4 too... no symptoms only PSA test detected at 64yrs.....please get as much information as you can Prostate Cancer UK literature and nurses to speak to on telephone...I believe you will only be offered the treatment available locally...if you choose a specialist or hospital elsewhere you can ask to be referred there.

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