Hi there my name is Nigel ,67 years old and I was diagnosed with prostate cancer in November/December last year. Since then I have had a biopsy,mri and a bone scan. I started hormone therapy early this year .My first injection was a monthly one to make sure I didn't have significant side effects.After this I went on to 3 monthly injections of Prostate.Prior to this I met the consultant to discuss my options regarding treatment and the two available were Prostatectomy or hormone therapy and radiotherapy.I chose the radiotherapy route as my cancer is contained within the prostate and I didn't like the risks associated with the surgery. So far I only have the hot flushes which don't seem to last very long, however I,m waking up in the night with them which is a pain but then I figure that's its a small nuisance compared to what other people have to go through.My consultant who was really informative also said that which ever treatment you opt for does not guarantee that the cancer will not return in later years, that kind of made my mind up to opt for the radiotherapy's well as the fact it is less invasive and I can continue with my daily life

Hi Nigel

Thank you very much for the information, and sorry to hear you were diagnosed with prostate cancer, however I have a few questions for you if you don't mind, Sir

How long did you have hormone therapy prior to starting radiotherapy?

Are you currently having hormone therapy with you radiotherapy?

What is the frequency of your radiotherapy (i.e. how many days a week are you having it) and how long has the doctor told you that you will have radiotherapy for (according to the nhs website, it states this will be approx. 4-6 weeks)?

what sort of radiotherapy are you having?

I have also been warned about the risk of surgery, and I am likely to opt for radiotherapy as well.

Sorry to hear about the hot flushes, but as you have alluded it is probably a small price to pay when compared to others.

Is it fair to assume that there has been little effect on your physical abilities since you began treatment?

Thank you, Sir

Hi Adebo. I started my hormone therapy 4 months ago now and have recently seen my consultant who has said that my radiotherapy will start in July ,I have another 3 month hormone injection in June and then sometime in July I have been told I will undergo 4 weeks of radiotherapy which is five days a week for 4 weeks and then after that I do not know what will happen.I have read though that the hormone therapy could continue for another year or so but I have not been informed of this yet.Regarding my life as I am retired I play golf at least 3 times a week and that has continued ,I also go swimming when I,m not playing golf so as of yet the hormone treatment hasn't,t affected my life at all.Not sure what will happen when I start radiotherapy though.

Forgive me Nigel, I assumed that you had started radiotherapy. So it is fair to assume that you will have hormone therapy in conjunction with radiotherapy, when it eventually starts. 

Thank you for letting me know that the hormone therapy has not affected you physical abilities, and I pray that when you start radiotherapy it will also have little or no effect on your physical capabilities.

Would you mind telling me what your gleason score is?

Just one more question, Sir, will it be fair that your treatment is to cure?

Hi my Gleason score was 4+ 4 and I believe that yes I will be having hormone therapy as well as radiotherapy

Thank you so so much Nigel, 

it has been quite an informative chat, and I really appreciate it.

I hope you have a good weekend

Hey no problem I hope it helps in some way, I was never a big believer in forum chats but now I can see the benefits of them ,so thanks for the chat.

enjoy the weekend

Hey no problem I hope it helps in some way, I was never a big believer in forum chats but now I can see the benefits of them ,so thanks for the chat.

enjoy the weekend

Hello Nigel

it is been over a year since we exchanged messages.

I want to thank you once again for all the useful information you provided to e a year ago. 

The last we exchanged messages you were scheduled to have radiotherapy in July 2024. its been a while now, but I was wondering how effective your radiotherapy was, and what treatment you are now on approx 12 months later. In general I was hoping that things have gone better for you.

I have also had radiotherapy this year, and I had 39 sessions of it. I have my first oncology meeting today since my radiotherapy session, and I was wondering what I should expect or what I should ask the oncologist.

regards

Adebo