Hello new member.

Hello new member.

User

Posted 16 Jul 2016 at 22:32

Hi, my name is Patti my fiance was diagnosed with prostate cancer last year while being treated for throat cancer. He has been 1-year remission with throat cancer so we have started HT in preparation for his RT in 2 months. Originally he was diagnosed with a Gleason 3 + 4 and a PSA of 36.4. But his original urologist forgot to mention that he shouldn't have sex 2 days prior to testing so when we we tested his PSA was down to 21 with new doctors from 2nd opinion.

He os starting HT this week and the doctor says that can range anywhere from four months to two years depending on how well he handles it.

I will definitely appreciate everyone's experience as we get through this together.

User

Posted 17 Jul 2016 at 02:50

Hi Pattiangeliz,

Welcome to the forum, though sorry for the reason that brings you here.

Yes sex a day or two before a PSA test can affect the result but it usually increases it. Another thing that should be avoided for the same sort of period in advance is cycling as that can also affect the PSA result.

Your country is shown as the USA and there can be some differences between the way treatment is administered there and in the UK. In some cases in the UK RT is preceded with 3 months HT but as studies have shown 6 months HT prior to RT gives better results this has become more generally the norm. However, some consultants prefer to wait until the PSA has fallen to a certain level before giving RT. Then again the period that HT is given after RT is often anything up to 3 years, depending on the consultant and patient response.

Most men cope pretty well with the RT but suffer various side effects to varying degrees. The worst side effect from my 8 months of HT was premature tiredness but there are many others that can be physical or mental as members will doubtless relate.

Barry

User

Posted 17 Jul 2016 at 08:43

Just to welcome you patti to the site.

I can't offer advice as we didn't go the RT route but I'm sure you'll get lots of help from our members.

Your fiance is lucky to have you !

****

We can't control the winds - but we can adjust our sails

User

Posted 17 Jul 2016 at 15:08

Hi Patti, I was Dx PCa Feb 2015 and my PSA was 63 and had a Gleason 3+4=7 I have had HT and RT. The RT is relatively straightforward with s/e's that wear of at the end of the sessions, I had 37 over 7 weeks but there is a new thought that a stronger Zapping and 20 sessions are just as goo at sorting out this horrid disease.

The side effects of HT are longer lasting, I am on HT for two years, ending Feb next year, I get tiredness at different points in the day, also very tearful and can cry at the drop of a hat regardless of whether something sad or happy occurs, I now have a good set of manboobs together with muscle wastage. The other main s/e is loss of libido and I now use a vacuum pump and take Cialis tablets to prevent penile atrophy, prescribed by my urology/ed nurse and obtained through my GP.

If you are living in the USA then procedures may be different but I would think that side effects will be similar wherever you live.

I hope this helps a bit

Regards Chris/Woody

Life seems different upside down, take another viewpoint

User

Posted 17 Jul 2016 at 16:16

Hi Patti,

I am like Chris in that I am on HT treatment but will have had 36 months due to finish in August next year. My score on diagnosis was 33.5 with a Gleason of 5+4 +3 and had 37 sessions of radio therapy, although it seems that the intention is to offer 20 as standard.

I have found the HT side effects can sometimes be overwhelming with increased tiredness, lethargy, teariness and hot flushes. However I have learnt to live with them and just accept them as part of my daily life now. In fact I more or less live as I did before diagnosis but have found acupuncture helpful with coping with the flushes and tiredness. Again like Chris I am using a pump to overcome penile atrophy but am on daily 5 mg of Cialis .

The fatigue from the radio therapy was quite different to anything else I have experienced before. It's not like usual tiredness but the effects wore off for me after about 6 weeks of finishing that part of the treatment. I would add that I was able to work reduced hours for the majority of the times I had radio therapy and possibly could have continued working but my employers and the radio therapy centre I attended wanted me to have time off towards the end to recuperate.

However not all patients suffer from all of the above side effects. Some may have had or will have some but not all of those mentioned above. I know one who has never had a hot flush and another who looks at me in amazement when I describe the teary state I can get myself into over both happy or sad issues!

I told all my family, friends colleagues and our neighbours what I was about to experience. I decided to do this because I knew then , what I told them was what was I wanted them to know and also to avoid rumour and speculation. I have had nothing other than support from them all.

I have gained weight, mostly around my middle and have a different set of boobs from those I used to have. My wife thinks it's quite amusing!

Anyway good luck for the future and ensure that you keep as positive as you can . Easy to say I know , but having a good outlook on this situation will help you both. A good sense of humour always helps too. There may be some difficult days ahead for you both but if there are just contact us and we'll help as we can!

Best wishes,

John

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