Greetings to all,
I was diagnosed in August 2016 and opted for the hormones plus radiotherapy route rather than surgery, for T2A localised cancer. I'm writing now to report how this route is working out, which might be helpful to those newly diagnosed and facing a similar choice.
I have had seven hormone injections, monthly, and also hormone tablets, both back in September and also since mid-January, still continuing. My radiation treatment (Xrays) has started , I have had five of the 20 sessions. I have had hardly any ill effects over these 7 months, and I still feel OK after the radiation so far. For me, this route was easily preferred over surgery and I have no cause to regret my choice. The doctors tell me that this localised cancer is curable with this treatment.
During the hormone treatment I suffered hardly any side effets, no sore breasts, no weight gain, just some hot flushes and a bit of depression and poor sleep. Mainly due to the waiting, I think. My Xray treatment sessions are only a Tube ride away, at the Royal Marsden, South Kensington. I arrive 90 minutes early, to use an enema and to empty and refill my bladder, so the biggest challenge is holding on as my bladder fills for an hour or so. The treatment itself takes only 15 minutes.
When I was diagnosed, my PSA was 12 . It fell rapidly to 5.7 in October and 1.6 in December, but then edged up to 2.0 in January, which had me worried. But then by mid Feb it had decreased to 0.6, which was below the hospital's threshold for starting with the Xrays. So my schedule could go ahead in March. I have had four gold seed markers injected into the gland to enable the death rays to be better aimed.
I know I may suffer side effects after the end of this treatment, but for anyone contemplating their treatment options I would definitely recommend this route as being virtually trouble free, just rather long drawn out.
Best regards
Paul