I took half my pension when I reached 60 and reduced to a 50% contract.  I decided to fully retire about 18 months later. I had 24 years teacher's pension, plus my wife got her state pension at 60.  Now I'm 67 so I've got my state pension, too.  The house was already paid off, and money has never been an issue. We're not rich, but we're comfortable and money isn't a problem.

Our house also paid off. Likewise should be able to take pension at 60 just 18 months away and work part time for a few years.

Anyway, as I am fond of saying to others ... One step at a time and you can't cross a bridge until etc, etc.

Let's get the op over with first and then move forward.

Thanks again Telemando.

Hi proper job.

i post on here for my husbands oesophageal cancer, he being 56 at diagnosis, there sure seems to be a lot of it about, but 'prostate' always catches my eye. Now, being female, it is not something I can experience!, but I do have a lot of people in my life with the 'lived experience' (:

My Dad is now 17 yrs post diagnosis (aged then 60) Has radical prostatectomy- job done. He went back to work and finished at 65

Father in law- same diagnosed age 60, prostatectomy. Got to 83 with no return. Finished off by Parkinson's. He was already semi retired and didn't go back

One of my lovely old  neighbours. Got to 93, diagnosed at 80. No surgery. Zoladex jabs. Finished off by a fall.

Prostate, I belive is one of the cancers with the highest success rates in treatment, pretty darn high at 99%+

We are at the stage now of making 'those' life choices, do we 'retire' and live like teenagers, carry on working etc. I think maybe get through your treatment first, then see how you feel.

Best wishes

Hilts

Hi Billy 

I just came across your post in searching for anything to help my husband. He is 38 and diagnosed with Stage 4 prostate cancer that had spread to his spine. The cancer was only found after an MRI for back pain. Today we learned his cancer has also spread to his pelvis. He has a Gleason score of 5+4, we knew it was aggressive but this news today has really hit him hard. He's just in the middle of radiotherapy on the spine and is exhausted but finding your story really gave us something positive at the end of another tough day. 
 

K x

Hi Hits. Apologies for the slow response.

Lots to sort out!! Your message was very reassuring. Hopefully I will do as well as your loved ones did.

Op is on July 1st. 

Thanks again.

Properjob

Hi Telemando

Re: just diagnosed 

Apologies for adding my message on the back of someone else message, it was the only way I could find to get a message to you.

Can you please give me so advise?  My dad's psa is 9.23.  He were told yesterday that cancer Gleason scores were 4+4 8, and 4+3 7.  The consultant said that it looked to still be in the prostate from the mri scan.  My worry is that the mri scan was done a month ago and said we would have to wait around 2 weeks until he has a bone scan.  Just worried it could have gone to the bones in that time.  The waiting just never seems to end.  
The consultant said that if the bones come back fine it would be a t3c.

If you can please give me some advice on the above and how successful you think treatment will be for these scores?

many thanks

Jackie

Hi Finn1707.

Sorry to hear of your Dad's diagnosis.

Just to remind you, I'm not a doctor and I have no medical qualifications, but I was put through this mill 10 years ago and I'm still here to talk about it and help others in the same situation.

Prostate cancer is one of the few cancers where there is the luxury of time.  If it's still confined to the prostate then the signs are looking good. 

I'm confused by the mention of a T3c stage.  That means it's broken through the prostate and spread locally.  If it's still in the prostate I'd expect a T2c stage.   However, it's all very confusing and it's difficult to take in all the information that gets thrown at you.  Most people hear the word "cancer" and then zone out in shock.

If your dad is under 70 they may offer a radical prostatectomy, possibly followed by a course of "adjuvant" radiotherapy, depending upon what examination of the removed organ reveals.  Or else they may simply offer radiotherapy.  Or he may get a choice. Given his high Gleason, it's unlikely that he'll be offered HIFU or brachytherapy.

With treatment, 95% of men with T3 prostate cancer survive for at least 5 years (and usually a lot longer), and more than 99% of men with T2 cancer survive for at least 5 years (and usually much longer).  Of course, these statistics are always going to be out of date and treatments are improving all the time, so they should be regarded as "worst case". 

Surgery and/or radiotherapy frequently produce a complete cure, and even when a cure isn't possible, there are plenty of treatments that can keep you alive for many years.   The downside of prostate cancer being slow growing is that you may not know for many years whether you've been cured or not.  I'm still in this position after 10 years - still getting twice yearly PSA tests. Obviously, I'm hoping for the best but each test is somewhat anxiety inducing.

Thank you for replying.

Apologies, the consultant said that if the bone scan comes back fine it looks from mri as T2c.

my dad is 74 years old.

They are looking at starting him on tablets, then injections and radiotherapy and then injections again.

The consultant who phoned me yesterday was so cold and rude, he gave me 4 min of his time.  When I asked him to repeat the Gleason scores to make sure I had it correct.  He said I have told you once and it will be in my report in the post.

Just so worried and anxious about the up coming bone scan in the next couple of weeks and what that will bring with it.

Thank you again

Jackie

Consultants, eh?  They still sometimes act like they're gods! 

I can appreciate just how worrying this is, but it's really looking good, and this treatment is very effective and quite likely to be curative.

I expect the tablets will be aimed at suppressing testosterone.  I never needed them myself, and I know they often cause side effects, but they really do improve the outcome.

Anyway, let's hope the scans find nothing more wrong and your dad can plough on with his treatment.

Best of luck to you both.  Please post again to tell us of his progress.