I'm so pleased for you. fingers crossed that we get the same outcome. The prognosis is good, its the waiting and uncertainty which isn't .

I'm sure ithat in time its something that we will have to get used too and we will.

Take care.

Lovely talking to you. Will keep in touch.

MRI scan which showed nothing and then a biopsy. Gleason score was 3 and 4 . PSA levels were below 4.

So you can see defo in the early stages. Have been told it could be 5 years before it worsens. 

Thanks once again for your help and I will let you know how we get on. Good luck to you and big hugs.

Hi sherbert. You've already been welcomed, but let me add mine.

I was diagnosed with prostate cancer way back in 2010, I had a robotic prostatectomy and I've been fine ever since.  

I'm not a doctor, but I went into a lot of details when I was diagnosed. I am also a  committee member of a local support group and I've met a lot of men at all points along their journey. 

The major issues that everyone naturally worries about with prostate cancer treatment are erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence.  There is always a period of these with surgery, but with a good surgical team then the incontinence should resolve within 12 months (it was 6 months in my case), and if you can have nerve sparing then erectile difficulties should resolve within a year, too. I couldn't have nerve sparing so that is an issue for me.  

Radiotherapy brings with it a risk bowel problems, which might not appear immediately.  Due to my long history of irritable bowel syndrome, I was recommended to have surgery - which is what I'd already decided, anyway.  

With early stage cancer, the chance of a cure appears to be excellent with both treatments, but there are some additional things it's worth bearing in mind.  With surgery, the entire prostate is removed and taken to a path lab for study. This means that the full extent of the disease can be properly established. Imaging technologies are good and always improving, but it's not impossible for the cancer to be worst than expected.  If the organ is out then at least you know the true situation.  Furthermore, with the organ out, one's PSA drops to "undetectable" (also written as "< 0.1" or "<" some other number) within weeks.  It should then remain undetectable for life. If it ever rises, then you have a lot of early warning that it's failed; you can then have a second bite of the cherry with a course of "salvage" radiotherapy. 

With radiotherapy, the organ remains in place so although the PSA drops to a low level, it never drops to undetectable, and furthermore the PSA will naturally rise and fall over time.  Having regular repeat PSA tests for many men (including me) is nerve-wracking enough without worrying about a minor rise.  Also, if it turns out that the treatment has failed, then removing the organ after radiotherapy is rarely an option. 

As our American cousins put it - you're between a rock and hard place when it comes to deciding the best course of treatment.  I know many men who've had successful surgery.  I also have a friend who's had successful radiotherapy, and of course there's my old friend [@woodworm]‍ who's been through it, too. But I don't think anyone comes through it unscathed and the same they were before.

The good news is that early stage prostate cancer is very very very unlikely to kill you, and while the treatment options are unpleasant, they're not as bad as some cancer treatments, so if you can count your blessings and keep optimistic, all should be well in the long run. 

Thank you for your welcome . i have just read your post and found it very helpful. 

My husband was only diagnosed on Tuesday so as you can imagine everything is a bit of a blur. 

Coming on this forum has really helped me and managed to calm me down a bit. 

Onwards and upwards. , positive vibes.

Thanks a million

Take care

Make sure he goes for tests when he should you never know, I'm no trying to scare you. But only reason i went to GP was i was being sick i have other med condition so a lot of tests to find out luckily someone did psa it was 1500 couple more tests gleason 8 grade 4 it went from prostate to lymph nodes, spine, ribs and pelvis and one lung that was over three years ago,. It is treatable but they can't get rid of it, just have to learn to live with it, every now and again i have cemo to keep it down,. It would be easy but I've a disabled wife to look after she needs care 24 /7 I'm trying to sort some carers out but they don't rush about,. Anyway best wishes and good luck.

Billy