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Hello everyone, recently diagnosed with prostate cancer at the age of 53

WebbyS
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Hi All,

I'm new to this site, having recently been diagnosed with prostate cancer at the age of 53.  Back in Dec, the nurse (to whom I'm forever indebted) ticked the box to conduct a PSA at my yearly NHS MOT.  It came back as 8.8, which resulted in a trip to the urology dept and another PSA test, which came as 11.1.

An MRI scan in Jan came back with:

  • Prostate Size: 3.7 x 2.6 x 3.4 cm (volume: 17 cc)
  • Key Finding: PIRADS 5 lesion (high suspicion for cancer)
  • Location: Right apex anteriorly, involving transition zone & peripheral zone
  • Size: 1.5 cm
  • No progression outside of the prostate

This was then followed up with a biopsy, which is probably what everyone hates the most, and that came back as Gleason score 3+4.  There was a whole bunch of other stuff alongside the biopsy results, which basically confirmed that it's contained to the right side of the prostate.

As with others, I've now got a choice - robotic prostatectomy or brachytherapy.  I've met with the consultant surgeon and with the radiologist, and am trying to weigh up the pros/cons of both.  The surgeon has stated that they'll be able to save the left side nerves and will do all they can to save some of the right side nerves.  The surgeon appears to be very good having performed over 2000 robotic prostatectomies.  With respect to the brachytherapy, again the surgeon seems very good, and I liked the idea of the contouring/mapping exercise.

The issue I've got is trying to work out (without a crystal ball) the likelihood of the side effects for someone like me.

Any thoughts/ideas, will be much appreciated.

  • Welcome to Cancer Chat, WebbyS,
    I'm sorry to hear about your diagnosis, but it's great that you've found your way here.
     It sounds like you've had quite a journey already, from your PSA test to the MRI, biopsy, and now weighing up treatment options. It can be overwhelming trying to navigate the choices between surgery and brachytherapy, especially when you're thinking about the potential side effects and outcomes.
    For more information on prostate cancer, including details on the different treatment options and what to expect, we have a page on our website about prostate cancer I’m linking here that covers everything from diagnosis to treatment options, including surgery and brachytherapy, and might help you better understand the options in front of you.
    Many people here have gone through similar situations, and I’m sure others will be able to share their experiences and thoughts on how they made their decisions.
    If you need further support or just someone to talk to, our team of nurses is here to help. You can reach them on 0808 800 4040, Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
    I hope this helps.
    Bes wishes,
    Renata, Cancer Chat Moderator
  • Offline in reply to Moderator Renata

    Hi basically  you can't  I'm  56  6 weeks after opp  never really had a problem  with incontinent  stopped using pads after 2 weeks  still to early on the ED someone I no is 14 months after opp and is still suffering  with incontinent  ED using pump and viagra  I've spoke to a lot off people every one says different  things  like all the treatments  it's a lottery 

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