1. Community
  2. Cancer
  3. Prostate Cancer

Just been diagnosed with prostrate cancer

Posted , 19 users are following.

JoeLucky
JoeLucky

I am 50 yr old reasonably fit and healthy or at least I thought I was.

My blood test revealed PSA level @ 6.2 which later reduced to 5.8 on my second test , I was sent for a biopsy where the doc told me my prostrate felt enlarged but didn't feel abnormal , unfortunately my results later revealed I have localised prostrate cancer . When the doctor revealed the news yesterday I was in total shock but now realise I am one of the lucky ones as my cancer appears to be none aggressive type, only one of the twelve biopsy samples revealed a small volume of cancer with a Gleason score of 6 which apparently is low.

My worry now is to decide to what to do next regarding treatment.

Do I sit and watch and wait or would anyone out there with a similar story advise otherwise., I am thinking about Prostate Seed Brachytherapy treatment but don't know a lot about the risks after or what the success rate is. At present, besides going to the loo more often my life hasn't been too affected.

Can anyone advise what to do

I have a choice to watch and wait or have radiotherapy ,, my dilemma is what if it spreads . Advice would be greatly appreciated

Yours worried S,,

0 likes, 129 replies

129 Replies

Prev Next
  • auntiebeanie
    auntiebeanie JoeLucky

    Posted

    My husband went ot doc with a bad back, she did blood tests and one was a PSA, came back as 12, so he was sent to rapid access clinic, They did more blood tests and PSA was 9, he had MRI and truss biopsy and was given a gleason of 6, and was told they wanted to do a further biopsy but he would probably be active surveillence. 

    Got results this week, they found more cancer in a different part of prostate. He has to have a radical prostatectomy. He is not sutiable for bracytherapy as the new more agreesive cancer is in the anterior part and consultant sais that the seeds would not be able to reach there and he would not be suitable for other treatments. His gleason went up to 7

    He will have prostate out 6 weeks from when biopsy was done, 

    He did not and still does not have any other symptoms associated with prostate cancer.

    Doc said if even surgeons agreed to bracytherapy he would doubt it would clear it and alsoit would be harder to remove the prostate once anotehr tretment has been tried, which would mean permanent nerve damage. His surggeon is one of the best in the country working for the NHS. .

    I consider him very lucky that it was picked up. Apart from being shocked he is struggling to come to terms with the side effects of surgery, but I would rather have him here and we can work through the side effects which in the main will resolve apart from never ejaculating again. Small price to pay I think, but then I am a woman!

    • Pepasan
      Pepasan auntiebeanie

      Posted

      He's so lucky - a) to be diagnosed in time, but b) - and more especially  -that he has your love and support. My wife has also been as understanding - there is more to a couple relationship than intercourse, after all!

    • barney34567
      barney34567 auntiebeanie

      Posted

      I can empathise with you and your husband having just gone through the detection,MRI, biopsy and radical surgery. I am 50 and a Gleason 9.

      Don't forget to have the PSA always measured  by the same lab as different labs have their own ways of measuring.p

      I see you're keen on surgery. Are you considering nerve sparing surgery or robot assisted surgery?

  • robertV
    robertV JoeLucky

    Posted

    I am 54 and live a healthy life style. Lift weights ,ride my bike and run. Had similar diagnosis and also a family history of PC. I chose to have mine removed using robotic surgery on Jan 26. 2017. As of today I am walking a few miles a day hoping to start light jogging next week No erections yet and very slight incontinence (a dribble here and there mainly in the evenings)  
    • MK51151
      MK51151 robertV

      Posted

      For 18 days post op, your progress with incontinece is great. At same post op time, I was leaking constantly and using 2 pars of pull ups Ned 5-6 heavy absorbency pads. 

      Keep doing Kegels and soon you will regain full continence.

      As for erections we have just to be patient. I am 15 weeks post op and no movents in that department. Still total flat tire. I still don't feel I have a penis at all. It is completely retracted to my body and what I can pull is penis head. At week 10, I started Cialis mostly 5 mg a day with 2 days at 10 mg. No change with Cialis so far.

      Wish you good and fast recovery.

      MK

    • robertV
      robertV MK51151

      Posted

      Thanks for the info Hope things start working for the both of us
    • barney34567
      barney34567 MK51151

      Posted

      I am a few weeks more advanced than you post op.

      With respect to Cialis, I was told to take 5 mg daily, ideally at the same time and it will take time to regain sensation in that dept.

      Also I was told not to double the Cialis dose but to consider another drug, eg Levitra, when I want to try to engage in sex. As yet I have not gone that route so cannot comment on the effectiveness of combining the two meds.

  • PureAsh
    PureAsh JoeLucky

    Posted

    Same boat myself ....and thinking that bachiatheapy is the best option as against postate removal. But I just came across a new therapy and it does seem the answer to our problem  -  assuming it is available :

    vascular-targeted photodynamic therapy (VTP)

    Investigating if it is an option outside  the clinical trial stage.

    Ash

  • rfh12
    rfh12 JoeLucky

    Posted

    i am 56 years old and was just diagnosed today with prostate cancer with a Gleason score of 6 as well.  I  too am looking for any advice on this matter. I am leaning towards radiation therapy as an option other than watch an wait.
    • Light1
      Light1 rfh12

      Posted

      Dear rfh,

      Radiation therapy leaves scar tissue and makes it difficult to do surgery later if necessary. Essentially, it turns everything that follows into a salvage operation. I would rethink the radiation if I were in your shoes. Good luck,

      Fred

    • charles61038
      charles61038 rfh12

      Posted

      Gleason score of 6 is treatable. Radiation will work, and there are several types of radiation treatments. The downside is that the traditional radiation it is several weeks of treatment. There are other treatments that require less time and are very successful as well. You have time to consider your options. Do your research on the many options available and get recommendations from your doctor. Find one that will work for you. And what ever you decide, make sure your doctor has done that procedure successfully many times. I had your same Gleason score. After researching options, I decided on Brachytherapy which is a one time treatment. It is very low dose radiation seed implants. It is done as an outpatient procedure that takes about 45 minutes. I am at the one year point since I had it done. Now it is like nothing ever happened. My last check up for the one year mark showed my PSA is at 0.11. All is well and everything is in working order. No incontenance, no erectile disfunction. Good luck to you.
    • Roger2Dodger
      Roger2Dodger rfh12

      Posted

      rfh12,

      I chose Radiation Thearpy,and I agree wirh Charles on his reply to you. I was on watch and wait  for almost a year. My PSA went up, and  I decided To get treatment. There are many factors one need to consider before choosing AS. Discuss this with your urologist. Even get a second opinion. At a young 56 years old my opinion would be treatment. However, that is your decision, but you have LOTS of time to do research and to evaluate your decision making.  

      G'Luck,

      Roger      

    • PureAsh
      PureAsh charles61038

      Posted

      I had decided to go down the brachiatherapy route (Gleason score 3+4 =7) and the specialist tells me that he has to test my flow rate as that is a determining factor as to whether brachiatherapy is an option!  Did you get thus tested?
    • charles61038
      charles61038 PureAsh

      Posted

      Ash, I did have a test for determining if I was a good candidate. What I was told is that the prostate has to be within a certain size range for Brachtherapy. My prostate was slightly enlarged so I was prescribed Dutasteride (generic Avodart) to help reduce the size. Avodart is prescribed for enlarged prostate (BPH). That worked. I think the flow rate would indicate an enlarged prostate. After taking the Dutasteride for a couple of weeks, I went in for what they called a 'volume study'. That took about 10 minutes. Basically, it is an ultrasound study of the prostate to help determine whether seed implantation would be appropriate. And it is also used to plan and map the seed placement. It is a procedure which requires placing an ultrasound probe into the rectum and taking a series of pictures. Not painful. The oncologist preformed this procedure in his office and told me directly after doing it that I was now a good candidate for the Brachytherapy. My prostate was at an ideal size for the procedure.

      Charles

Back to top
Prev Next

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.