Diagnosed with Prostate Cancer

Hi, I was diagnosed last Monday with prostate cancer.  Im a 53 year old male.  I really didnt want to have the operation to remove my prostate but I have so many questions about the surveillance route.  I have done some research but would be grateful to chat with anyone else who has been through this too.

Thanks in advance 

  • Hi you haven't said what any results are if they are saying remove it must be fairly low try woodworm his psa was 70 but it was not taken out just radio therapy and hormone inj's. Billygoat was higher you should find quite a lot of info on prostate cancer some is quite clear other you have to search quite a lot. Good luck best wishes.

    Billy 

  • Hi jeavo53. Welcome to the forum.

    We aren't doctors here, but a number of us have been diagnosed and have been (or are being) treated for prostate cancer. 

    You don't mention your results. It would be helpful if you would share them with us, particularly your last few PSA readings, and the Gleason grade (e.g 3+4) from your biopsy. 

    As for surgery, there is no doubt it is a strain on the system, but I went through it nearly 10 years ago and I'm still here to tell the tale. If you have surgery performed by an experienced team using a Da Vinci robot, then the prospects for a cure are excellent, and the prospects for long term urinary continence are excellent.  If you can have bilateral nerve sparing then the prospects for recovery from erectile problems are also excellent.  But I'm afraid there's an element of chance involved. You can throw the dice and get either double six, or snake eyes, or anything in between. 

  • Hi jeavo53

    Firstly I'm going to apologise as I don't have a prostate (am female). However my 51 year old partner does and was diagnosed with stage T2c prostate cancer with Gleason 7 in December. 

    He had 3 choices, surgery to remove the prostate, brachetherapy, or radiotherapy with hormone injections. We talked to the docs about treatment outcomes and risks and was told for someone with his stage that there is no significant differenece on survival rates. My partner decided to go the least invasive route and have hormone injections with radiotherapy. All the options appear to have their own benefits and risks and it really has to be your decision. It may help you if you can understand your stage and whether any of the options is likely to have a more significant good outcome for you. At least you will be more fully informed.

    Good luck

  • Hi did specialist tell you that if you have radiotherapy they will not operate later, radio damages prostate it makes op very very orquard. Good luck best wishes.

    Billy 

  • Hi billygoat. Yes the told him that. He's had Mir so we know it's not in lymph nodes and is still encapsulated so he weighed up the risk and felt non surgical was the best option for him. It's a really important point to consider though.

  • Hi cornish pastie, have they told him about the side effects of injection I put on two stone and having hot flushes I'm on them rest of life my wife lafes at me a lot I'm having more than she does.

    Billy 

  • Yes he's put on a bit and hot flushes too. We are a pair really as I'm on tamoxifen after having breast cancer last year so I get hot flushes too. At least we can empathise with each other lol

  • Hi i hope you are right you did not say What psa was I've a friend his psa was 7 he had the op and they had to remove some of lymph nodes as well. Good luck. 

    Billy 

  • Hi Cornishpastie,

    Hope you dont mind me joining in but when I was diagnosed I had a PSA of 70 Because this was so high I was only given hormone therapy and radiotherapy. My PSA dropped from 70 to 0.01, so it is a very effective treatment. I also had the hot flushes and the weight gain. My wife was always telling me "Now you know what us women have to go through". Now several years later my PSA is still very low so I do believe the treatment saved my life, 

    Best wishes to you and your husband, Brian

  • Thanks both. I'm doing ok. I have my first annual check at the end of the month. His psa was 8 I believe and has already gone down to 4.5 and he hasn't had radiotherapy yet. We know there are no guarantees but his mri confirmed no spread to the lymph nodes. Glad you are doing so well woodworm. Billygoat, after they gave us the info we did our own research and there was really nothing in it all.