Hi Sandwich.

I can understand your worries. But when I was diagnosed, my PSA was way up at 70. But due to my dear wife making me go to the doctors, it was caught early. I was treated with hormone therapy and also radiotherapy and my psa dropped down to 0.01, the lowest they can measure. It is still very low some years later so I hope you can take comfort in my story. 

I wish you and your husband good results. Please let us know how he gets on, Brian

Hello woodworm and telemando, thank you for your kind words and useful information. Well the results show prostate cancer but looks to be contained. Will receive a letter for a biopsy appointment and then radiotherapy. Half expected but still a shock when you actually hear the diagnosis :(

He was given the choice to have the prostate removed, but seems to have opted for radiotherapy due to the side effects. I'm not sure whether it would be better just to have the operation and at least have reassurance that it was all removed??

Hi sandwich2

Really sorry to hear of your hubby's diagnosis. However, it sounds like it's been caught early and the doctors are talking of a cure, not just a long-term containment.

Speaking personally, and this is just my personal opinion, I would suggest he gives the surgical option a long hard look before dismissing it. There is no treatment option that is without side effects, and the side effects of radiotherapy need to be carefully considered, too. In my case, I was guided away from radiotherapy because I already had long term irritable bowel disease, and radiotherapy can definitely cause bowel problems.

If your hubby is being offered surgery at one of the state of the art hospitals where they're doing many operations a week using robots, then this could be a good option to consider. My own surgery was done at a big hospital in Bristol using Da Vinci robots, with a team doing 6 or more operations a week. Sadly, I could only have one sided nerve saving so I still have erection issues (but that doesn't stop me from having great orgasms). I recovered urinary continence after 3 months, and stopped wearing pads after 6. I still continue doing the pelvic floor exercises. 

With prostate cancer, there is usually time to consider the options carefully and not rush into a decision. In the end, however, it is a personal decision and at some point you have to throw the dice and cast your fate to the winds.

I'm always happy to talk further on this. 

janei1 makes a good point. If a man has radiotherapy first then surgery after a recurrence is always difficult and may be impossible. However, if he should have a recurrence after surgery then a course of radiotherapy is successful in producing a cure in about 80% of cases.

Of course, recurrences are rare after treatment for early prostate cancer. 

janei1 makes a good point. If a man has radiotherapy first then surgery after a recurrence is always difficult and may be impossible. However, if he should have a recurrence after surgery then a course of radiotherapy is successful in producing a cure in about 80% of cases.

Of course, recurrences are rare after treatment for early prostate cancer.