Hi Paul, 

Making a decision about treatment can be really tough and I can understand why you're feeling scared but I have found some information on our website about treatment options for prostate cancer that might help. You can click here to find out more.

Also, if you feel like you need to speak to someone about treatment options you can always give our specialist cancer nurses a call. If you are in the UK you can call them for free on 0808 800 4040 and they are available Monday - Friday between 9a.m - 5p.m.

I hope this helps.

Best Wishes, 

Steph, Cancer Chat Moderator

Hi Paul

The decision about what particular treatment to have for your PC is the hardest decision you will have to make,you may be able to get some pointers as to what may be the best option for your particular PC But a lot of the health professionals will not commit themselves to telling you what they would recommend.

I myself am 59 years old and had a PSA of 32 at diagnoses rising to 47 before treatment and a Gleeson of 3+4= 7.Of fifteen cores taken at the biopsy all were cancerous (I put that down to my particular surgeon being a good shot) my CT showed them where the tumour was and the bone scan showed them that it had not escaped out of the capsule.  I was then offered all three treatments (Radiation, Surgery or Brachy )by the Oncologist and had to sdo the rounds before deciding and after reading all of the available literature I chose Brachytherapy as this seemed the treatment with the least side effects.I then saw the surgeonwho informed me that rather than the seed implants he wanted me to have the HDR procedure (Radiation 15 sessions, followed by Brachytherapy) as he wanted to completely destroy the tumour. He put me on Hormone treatment straight away and again I was offered the implants/injections or pills I chose pills (probably the wrong choice as the implants seem to be more effective ((via literature) as I have again read that the side effects from the implants/jabs can be more severe and I needed to work I was given two pills (Tamoxifen and Bicalutamide)about two to three weeks before my Radiation sessions began and before Radiation sessions began my blood was tken and my PSA was down to 3.2.(on hormones alone)

This treatment finished seven weeks ago and I returned to work six days after the Brachy.

After treatment, my PSA is now .1 but please feel free to read my post 

Good luck and let us know what happens.

Hi Paul,

This may seem a daft question but how old are you?
Obviously only you can make the decision but how aggressive the cancer is (which will be apparent when it has been graded), your age and your fitness levels (and hence the likelihood of a fast recovery from surgery/chemo) will all need to be taken into consideration. 

Using extreme examples, if the cancer is slow growing, isn't causing you any hassle and you're 103 years old, you might decide that watchful waiting is a good idea. Whereas if you're in your twenties with an aggressive cancer which it is making your life unbearable you are likely to choose a more radical approach. 

Good luck.
Dave

Hi ive just had biopsie to i ended up with sepsis had the option of them monitering or have the biopsie i thaught thats like having the sword of Damocles over my head they said after that officialy i dont have cancer but they will see me every 3 months dosnt instill me with confidance but it all depends on your age and the type i read that lots of men die from old age rather than the cancer so best ask what sort it is and go see your gp book a double appointment and have a good chat i found the eurologists fly in and out and you come out confused i asked my gp about biopsie he said to me i would have it done hope you get sorted  it depends on tge treatment they suggest 

Hi, I was diagnosed with PC just over two months ago with a PSA of 19 and Gleson of 4+5=9, I am 65 years old.
Initially the Oncologist said he would remove the Prostrate. After doing some research I was not too keen on the aftereffects, however I did think they would outweigh the long-term problems associated with the big C. He ordered an MRI and bone scan. The bone scan was clear, but the MRI showed that the cancer has spread out of the prostate. Having spread out of the prostate the oncologist said it would be pointless removing it. That I felt pleased about. The options he then suggested was Radiotherapy or Chemotherapy. My brother-in-law- had had radiotherapy and I liked the sound or the procedure and outcome. However, I have Crohn's disease and the Oncologist said sorry that is out for you has it would have a very bad effect on your crohn's. So, chemo it is then. Started my first session of 6 over 18 weeks today! It went very smoothly with no complications and we are now at 11:55pm and I feel OK. But I am told I will start to feel the effect of chemo after about my 3rd session.