brachytherapy or EBRT experience.

I have been reading other profiles and seems everyone has gone through a lot more than us, "wishes" your husband is the same age as mine, the psa is very low. The consultant told us there was no hurry for treatment until psa reaches 10, but I didn't agree with him on that one, having read all the stories on here I feel we are best ignoring that advice and getting treatment now. (he did suggest another biopsy in 6 months if it were left) I have been told he is the top man in the area (Addenbrookes, Cambridge) We were also told if we had medical insurance, they would not pay for brachy as it is not necessary yet.
No chance of help on the farm, only paid help, I can do some work, but I am a little nervous of the cows and I can't push the bales of straw round for their bedding (5' round bales, get pushed round to unroll) calving season will start 3 weeks after the treatment, which I think he will struggle with, the consultant said he will be fine to return to full time work by day 3 after brachy...hmm, not sure on that one, don't suppose he has tried the physical demands on the farm. My husband has considered just selling up and retiring, which he plans to do anyway in about 5 years, but for someone who can't sit still or stay indoors, if treatment goes well he would be really fed with no farm. Selling up isn't exactly a quick job anyway, may take a year or so.
I have had the lecture this morning about what to do if he dies on the operating table...I told him off, said he isn't having a major op and will be fine.
I wish both of us could be more like a lot of you on here,a lot of you seem so positive and have been through much, much more. I think you are all wonderful.
I won't feel more positive until the he gets the results of the MRI which he is having 6 weeks later. I can't go to the 6 weeks check as it is school holidays and I have our 3 boys to look after. As my OH keeps telling me he thinks there is a lot more going on inside than everyone thinks, that is worrying me. I am surprised he isn't having another MRI before brachy really, the consultant said the cancer won't have changed in 6 months, so we can only trust him. Until we get the results we won't know, it my well be "in his head" I hope it is!
Thanks for everyone's advice.

Hello sjtb,

You wrote "  I am surprised he isn't having another MRI before brachy really" from which I deduce scans have indicated to the consultant that Brachy is a suitable treatment. Consultants don't offer treatments that are unlikely to be of benefit ! They want to enhance their treatment & success records. Nor waste resources.

So maybe it is time to allow the specialists to do their job where they have the experience. And looked at all the diagnosis details.

Look at it another way : if there was spread then it is likely many local treatments options would be out of the window. And your husband would be facing HT long term. Which, as mentioned previously, can be very  debilitating especially in a very physical job. Surely far better to take the local treatment & trust that will sort the problem. Subsequent psa results will guide you over time & plans can be made less urgently & without such pressure.

Seems to me you are looking for trouble which may well never arrive. 

Sjtb, we have already spoken together in your earlier posts.

I really do appreciate how you are feeling but it's only a little while now before the treatment starts.

Once something happens you will find that you will relax because the die is cast so to speak.

My husband will not read anything on this site either, he hardly listens when I tell him some of the stories. Although mine doesn't harp on about his cancer (apart from he gets a bit fed up sometimes) , I do try to point out to him occasionally how fortunate he/we are in comparison to others on here.

If it's any consolation, John's PSA has dropped since his procedure in June. Not having a definitive answer (PSA undetectable) like is usually the case following surgery is just something we have to put up with because of our choice of treatment.
Brachytherapy is supposed to have fewer side effects which is why h went for it, but something has to give and with Brachy that is in having a delay before we know whether we can really celebrate.

You have so much going on in your head at the moment, running the home, looking after young children, etc that everything else is becoming an enormous burden.

Keep strong

Best Wishes

Sandra

Well, we are certainly feeling frustrated now, my husband had a call from the consultant this afternoon, he said due to nhs cuts it is very unlikely the Brachy will be going ahead tomorrow, he said the seeds have arrived from Germany, which will get thrown away if not used, he has a meeting with his boss at 9am and will call us after the meeting, he said please take all medicine and the enema but be prepared for it to be cancelled! 

You have all seen what a nutty worrier I am, so a restless night ahead.

Hello, yes we got the call literally 10 minutes before time to leave. The consultant said they have cancelled a lot of people, the beds were empty so it wasn't due to lack of beds. I guess it is just nhs funding as they said. Very sad for those concerned.

We both slept quite badly wondering what was happening.

I stayed for an hour and a half today at hospital, they took the other chap first and said it would be another hour or so till my OH would go, so I left as I had to collect the boys. I am getting a little worried as not heard, he was due to in go at 2.30pm and now nearly 6.30pm I know what a worrier I am so resisting calling the hospital, no news is good news as they say. I will call at 7pm if I haven't heard otherwise. 

Thanks for asking.

I have spoken to him, apparently the catheter is causing agony, he said it feels like his old chap is on fire, they have put a fan on it and given some cooling gel, he is begging them to take it out but they said 6am tomorrow. At least it is taking his mind off the spot where the seeds went in! Sounds a bit odd, but not a lot I can do. I have spoken to a few men tonight calling to see how he is, a couple of them have catheters in and say no pain. 

You are lucky yours came out same day, we would have rather been in and out in a day, but no option, just given afternnon appointment with overnight stay.

Edited by member 06 Jan 2015 at 20:43  | Reason: Not specified

Hello. I have a good 2 hour drive so now heading to hospital, catheter is out, the nurse said he hasn't passed enough water to leave this morning, he complained they are trying to drown him, he hates drinking much, the consultant told him he needs to change that habit. He drinks well in the Summer, but this time of year only 2 cups of tea a day and a half pint glass of water/juice/squash with dinner each day. 

I have texted him to ask if he has passed any water, but he doesn't reply. He just replied with "don't forget it is dustbin day!" 

I will let everyone know how our week goes.

Thanks for messages, he is home, apparently the catheter after brachy is much bigger than normal, incase a seed is passed. I decided to walk the dogs before collecting him, while I was out he phoned and said he was allowed to leave. So he had a bit of wait for me to get there. 

The only real discomfort is still from where the catheter was, the end burns when he pees too, he also sat on the hard chair for dinner and said it was a bit sore underneath, but no more symptoms. Water works seem fine so far, no blood, so hopefully things might stay ok. Hoping we both get a good nights sleep (him more than me, but could do with it too!)

Very good news - and at least he knows where he stands where the dogs are concerned!

Sleep well - the 2 of you.

Paul

How are things a week on sjtb? Hope all going well.

dl