Sorry  to hear your news  I was diagnosed  prostate  cancer end November  last year as I'm 56 I was offered  prostatectomy  or radiotherapy   I spent long time reading up and speaking  to people  but I think my mind was already made up  as the cancer was contained  prostatectomy  was my only option  I didn't  want to run the risk of it coming back I'm now 4 weeks after the operation  do I regret it no I no I've still got battles to over come but all the treatments  come with side affects hope this helps good luck whatever  you decide  if you want to ask any questions  about operation  feel free 

Hi, a lot to think about. I was also recently diagnosed. The Urologist / Surgeon & Oncologist recommended a prostatectmy. I was in shock, but managed to ask what the other options were as I had done some research on the side effects. They then told me I could do Active Surveillance. I am seeing a Dr tomorrow on alternative Focal Therapy treatments. I will update in the next couple of days. My next PSA test since diagnosis is on the 26 Feb. Depending on your diagnosis, you generally have time to make a decision.

Do jot rush into a decision, there are plenty of newer options , all have side effects, but the odds are much better. For example most Dr's do a multiport Da Vinci Assisted robotic surgery to remove the prostate. My research has shown that single port robotic surgery, improves the odds slightly.I have also seen that Dr are starting to do single port perniam robotic surgery, with a huge 95% improvement on incontinence. Unfortunatly the erectile disfunction is very real. Dr's seem to fail to let you know - only 7 % of men will be able to regain a natural erection. 43% of men will need some sort of chemical intervention to get an erection and 50% won't be able to get a erection.

Yes I'm nervous as he'll that my PSA may have raised. But every month extra that I can get without side effects is absolutely worth it to me.

I am fine physically, but it took a huge toll on mental health. I did get therapy, privately and from Maggies a cancer charity.

I am in a better place mentally, but at this stage of my diagnosis - I am more scared of the treatment options s and side effects, then I am of the cancer.

Good luck, and don't rush into making a decision.

Wishing you all the best. 

Mack Mack

Great advice don't rush in be 100% sure  mine was robotic  surgery  so far 4 weeks later inconvenience has almost gone perhaps 1 of the lucky ones possibly  being young helps as for erection problems  got a long way to go  but very early days . My uncle  was diagnosed  at the same time he's 75  they offered him active surveillance but he opted  for hormone and radiotherapy  he didn't like the idea keep having biopsies done 

Hi, 

A update from my visit to the Focal Therapy specialist. So the good news is the cancer is really small. Approx 1 mm. Out of 16 cores taken during the biopsy, two were positive. One sample a 3+3, the other sample 3+4. From this sample the 4 only made up 5% of the sample

 The Dr said that they could not treat this with HIFU as the cancer was too small.

He was surprised and "shocked" to hear that my original Urologist / Surgeon and Oncologist recommended a prostectamy.

He said to continue active surveillance, he also said my 1st blood test after the biopsy is too soon and to wait another 6 weeks. This he said will give a more accurate result.

He mentioned that having the earlier blood test will show a elevated PSA as the prostate experienced a lot of trauma and inflammation from the number of biopsy cores taken.

The Dr also mentioned (which the previous urologist failed to mention) - that I had a big prostate - 80cc , and for the size of my prostate that my PSA reading of 6.49 was not too bad. He mentioned prostate size can range from small - like the size of an olive, to the more usual, the size of a walnut, to the bigger sizes similar in size to a small tangarine. These sizes are determined genetically.

I would urge you and all others who have localised, low gleason score diagnosis to get a second opinion. Surgery or Radiation is a life changing option.

Whole I understand that I still have cancer, and that anything can happen.I am much more confidant of my choice of treatment- ie Active Surveilance.

Get that second opinion.

PS - this second opinion came from a Professor, who is at the forefront of prostate cancer treatment as well as been a practising Dr - he also does research which has been published and is the lead to have introduced focal therapy as a treatment for prostate cancer in the UK.

i can agree with this having been diagnosed with t2 3/4 gleason not spread from my prostrate, i decided to have hormone treatment and extrenal beam radiation, so far ive taken a month of hormone tablet and 2 weeks ago had my first of 2 three monthly hormone injections, since having the hormone injection  i am constantly really tried, i can be fine one minute then the next minute i feel dog tired and have to go to bed as i can bearly keep my eyes open, this can happen several times a day and is playing havoc with my life

Morning  yes it's *** my uncle was diagnosed  same time as me both t2 3/4  because  he's in his early 70s he got offered hormone and radiotherapy  I'm now 6 weeks after op getting out doing things still 6 weeks before returning  to work he unfortunately  is a shadow of the man he was was always life and soul up for a joke he's only just had first of his injections  was on tablets before struggling  badly some days don't go out as he's so tired  very very sad to watch I no there's light at the end of the tunnel  but that's tough  for him and us watching him go through  it 

Hi All,  I'm 53 and have also recently been diagnosed with PC, following a PSA test at my annual NHS MOT.  The PSA came back as 8.8, with a follow-up test coming back at 11.1.  I've since had an MRI, which has identified a 1.5 cm lesion on the right side, with no spread onto the left side, nothing in the lymph nodes and nothing in the bones. The biopsy confirmed the above, showing a Gleason score of 3+4.

I've now been offered 2 options - robotic prostatectomy or brachytherapy.  The surgeon, based in Manchester, appears to be excellent, having done a lot (over 2000) robotic prostatectomy and the radiologist also appears to be excellent, so I'm confident that both consultants are good.  The surgeon has said that they'll be able to save the nerves on the left side and will need to see how much of the nerves can be saved on the right side.

The bit where I'm struggling is all around the side effects, both short term and longer term.  To be honest, it's a minefield and my brain spins around trying to weigh up the pros/cons of each option.  I've sat through loads of videos on YouTube, but they're always slightly biased, depending upon the field of expertise of the presenter.

What I have been using and what I've found to be very useful is ChatGPT - just the free version.  I've found that by sharing my results, PSA, MRI and biopsy, alongside my lifestyle, ie relatively active (hiking, gym, running) that I'm able to have more of an unbiased conversation with it.

Saying that, I'm still confused as to which way to go.  Would love to know how people have gotten on with either a prostatectomy or brachytherapy and how they came to that decision.

I do consider myself lucky that a) it's been found early enough and b) there are options, both of which are curative.

I think being fit helps I've spoken to a lot people  I did a local radio show last Thurs talking about prostate cancer heard loads different  story's  it seems ED  happens in most of the options sadly but there is medication  and options as for incontinence I've heard anything  from 2 weeks to over a year and still having problems it's strange how it affects some more then others I'm now 6 weeks after opp regained incontinence  within 3 weeks   now back up to walking 2 miles + a day and doing stuff still got 6 weeks before go back to work  hopefully  apart from ED I will be fully fit 

Hi Crouchy - Thanks for your reply.  It sounds as if you're recovering well.  With the ED side of things, the surgeon I met suggested that they'd be able to save the left hand nerves and hopefully some of the right side nerves.  He proposed that there'd be a 60% chance of returning to baseline, and was also suggesting the use of viagra and pumps to help with the healing process, ie to prevent atrophy and scarring.

For me, I'm just not sure about the surgery vs brachytherapy, with the latter having more side effects that might hit in the longer term, ie 10-15 years.

It's all very confusing and there are times when I wish the urologist would say you're having x. 

Have you done any research on Focal Therapy, the side effect risks are still their, but with "better odds" - and less invasive than a prostectamy