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Brachy or not to Brachy -update

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User

Posted 07 Feb 2018 at 13:47

Hi I am new to this forum and having being diagnosed with PC Dec 22nd. Gleason 6, right lobe 5/5 biopsy left lobe clear PSA 6.3.
I am 55 years young and have led a healthy & sporty life to date and PC is not in family!
Regards treatment, and btw I have done all the research I am torn between the surgery and the HDR brachytherapy. The HDR in my case is one dose of RT & no hormone treatment.
Is there anybody on this forum who is one or two years on who can comment on after effects of the HDR brachy?

Thank you

Dave

Edited by member 02 May 2019 at 13:16 | Reason: Not specified

User

Posted 07 Feb 2018 at 23:40

Have you considered AS?

I'm also Gleason 6 and 30 months following diagnosis, my PSA is stable and my last MRI showed no significant development.

My game plan is 6 monthly PSA (was 3 monthly for the first two years) and when it rises consistently and hits double figures I shall be having another MRI and go from there.

I was offered various treatments but all came with possible side effects which I felt would impact on my already parlous state of health (too many other conditions to mention) and when the time comes and my PCa becomes life threatening, I will then embark on a treatment regime and risk the consequences. Better a reasonably happy existence for a few or hopefully several years than add to the misery by suffering the side effects of treatment when not entirely necessary for many years.

Good luck whichever route you choose to go down.

Roger

User

Posted 07 Feb 2018 at 17:29

Hello Dave and belated welcome to the site

I'm sure you will get replies but just bumping to get you noticed

Best Wishes

Sandra

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

User

Posted 22 Feb 2018 at 17:47

Hi Bikerone, welcome to site.......

you are in the same situation as me. Its hard to know what the right thing to do is. Last set of Biopsies confirmed I have Geason 6 disease 3+3, stage 1 , with 5 positive cores out of 11, all around 10% involvement ( last May ). I had biopsy one year before that that showed a similar stage. Classic candidate for AS, and 3 monthly PSA tests. Last three PSA results all showing steady increase, so looking for perhaps some more radical action. I too have looked at Brachytherapy and can sympathise with the dilemma you find yourself in. I have had some great advice from the posts on the site so far , and if anything a problem shared .... as they say. Advice I have been given from some of the medical field is look at diet , but not convinced , I would consider myself a fit 54 year old, and want to remain so for a long time yet so as with you I am leaning towards a decision that I can see some tangible progress.

Best of luck whatever route you go down and let us know how you get on.

cheers

Keithyboy

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User

Posted 07 Feb 2018 at 17:29

Hello Dave and belated welcome to the site

I'm sure you will get replies but just bumping to get you noticed

Best Wishes

Sandra

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

User

Posted 07 Feb 2018 at 20:10

Please red my post as i go right through HDR and beyond However I had fifteen session of RT before the Brachy + hormones

User

Posted 07 Feb 2018 at 23:40

Have you considered AS?

I'm also Gleason 6 and 30 months following diagnosis, my PSA is stable and my last MRI showed no significant development.

My game plan is 6 monthly PSA (was 3 monthly for the first two years) and when it rises consistently and hits double figures I shall be having another MRI and go from there.

Good luck whichever route you choose to go down.

Roger

User

Posted 08 Feb 2018 at 11:30

Cheers guys for your comments and hello to you all.

Roger yes AS is also in the frame. Statistically even if you do nothing with a Gleason 6 and slow growing you will be here in 10 years time, however 25 years would be better :)
Read your profile, your dad's fact about his PC is amazing living until 98 wow!
Your journey is also amazing, however maybe not a word I guess you would use!

I'm just trying to get off the fence, I am leaning towards HDR brachy this week :)

Regards

Dave

Edited by member 08 Feb 2018 at 14:56 | Reason: Not specified

User

Posted 08 Feb 2018 at 15:51

Watch out for splinters Dave and more a controlled train wreck than an amazing journey but I at least I've hit the buffers with little or no permanent damage.

Personally, I'd be in no rush to climb down from the fence and let a few more weeks role by before making a decision.

As always good luck with whatever you choose to do.

Roger

User

Posted 21 Feb 2018 at 14:55

Hi Bikerone,

I had HDR brachytherapy in December 2010. It was quick, fairly painless and successful. I did also have hormone treatment, which has given me some side effects, and looking back I would have preferred not to have had the hormones. But the brachy was, for me, great. I lead a pretty active life, eight years on now from my diagnosis.

User

Posted 21 Feb 2018 at 16:17

Hi Bikerone,

I took the low dose Brachytherapy seed route in September 2016 with a PSA 2.29 Gleason 3+4=7 with 5 of 20 cores positive.My last PSA was 0.44 with no real problems, the operation at Mount Vernon was easy in on Sunday operation Monday home on Tuesday with some discomfort and a few pain killers and Tamulosin pills.

I am 17 months on with viagra to help out, but i may have needed them at 71 anyway without Brachytherapy.

I will never know if i made the right decision on choice of operation but time will tell and so far it seems OK.

Regards John.

User

Posted 22 Feb 2018 at 17:47

Hi Bikerone, welcome to site.......

Best of luck whatever route you go down and let us know how you get on.

cheers

Keithyboy

User

Posted 25 Feb 2018 at 21:28

Thanks for the replies fellas, much appreciated.

I still haven't came off the fence, however although I am in no immediate rush to choose I will make a decision in the next month or so...I am still leaning towards the HDR brachy monotherapy but with no major conviction yet!
Will keep you posted..

Thanks again..

User

Posted 02 May 2019 at 12:19

Just to update as not been on here for a while..
I came off the fence finally and to cut a long story short I went for the Vinci option with nerve sparing on the 25/4...yep one week ago!

I wanted to give an insight in to my first week after surgery just to maybe allay some anxst amongst others waiting for the op.
Day 1 - The catheter is attached to my penis, great I thought!
A little sore and a bit groggy and then I realised when I moved I was a lot sore - take the pain killers they work a treat!
Day 2 - Feeling much better in myself, having banter with others in the ward. Eating food and drinking coffee ok. Walking ok, tentatively.
Went home - yes went home!
Day 3 - Slowly but surely walking is getting much easier, some shoulder pain I had went. Did a slow walk to the corner shop < 1 mile there and back.
Day 4 - Stopped taking pain killers - all ok
Day 5 - bowels started working - yes I had not been the toilet for 5 days. Was taking Sena and Lactulose daily and then it all started working like clockwork now.
Also ventured outside for a longer walk to a coffee shop, round trip 2.7 miles.
Day 6 - dressings removed as all healing nicely; there are x6 punctures to your abdomen including the drain.
Day 7 - Catheter removed - this was painless. Had to put a nappy on at first to check if I would be able to control the bladder. I was never so pleased to do a normal wee in my life. The nappy went straight in the bin and I have a discrete one in now just in case.

Feeling great in myself and pleased at the rate of progress in one week post op; I realise everybody is different so your journey maybe different than mine.
But for those going in shortly I just want to reassure them that recovery may not be so bad...

Will keep you posted...

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