Still unsure which treatment I should choose

John

This has to be a personal decision as you don't want to look back and wonder if it was the right decision. Not sure what literature you have read but the toolkit on PCUK publications is very good.

Did the oncologist and urologist discuss all the possible side effects with you? This is something you may want to consider when making a decision.

You say you are staged at T3a...This means that there may be some local spread as it means the cancer has broken through the capsule. What are the urologists thoughts on that ie is he/she confident of getting all the cancer. If so will they be able to preserve nerve bundles in doing so (important for erectile function). What is their experience in this particular operation. What are their sucess rates both in terms of cure and minimising side effects. Ask them they have to tell you and you need an experienced surgeon.

Have they said you will need follow up radio therapy. If so should you consider going down the HT/RT route as primary treatment rather than risking two lots of side effects. Or would you rather debunk the prostate and follow up with RT if necessary.

Lots to think about but as I say it has to be your decision and you need to be confident that you have made the right decision.

Good luck. Please read my profile re my decision and follow up

Bri

Morning John,

You are facing the choice that we all faced when diagnosed. If you read through some of the personal stories here with all the different choices there is still no clear "winner" in the treatment options race, sadly.

So it comes down to personal choice assuming that all options are suitable for you, your age and level of fitness.

Questions that you may wish to consider asking at any consultations:

1. What treatments are on offer?

2. Are there any other treatment options offered in nearby NHS trusts that I could have if I ask for a referral?

3. If I opt for one type of treatment now, might that preclude any others from the future if I needed further treatment?

4. What are the potential side effects of each treatment?

5. What are the % rates at which those effects have been experienced by patients of similar age, level of fitness and stage of diagnosis?

I would take a notebook and a pen to record any answers to any questions, and someone to accompany me, as 4 ears are better than 2 at remembering to ask the questions and remembering to record the answers.

Every treatment option has the chance of unintended side effects, some more likely to happen than others.

When I spoke with my surgeon, Da Vinci, I told him that my most important outcome was to live, then be continent, and then if possible to have some EF preserved, in that order.  I made sure he understood that he could do whatever he needed to do in order to preserve my life expectancy.  Take out whatever he wanted as I did not want him apologising to me later for a recurrence because he had been timid in removing tissue in the belief that he was doing me a favour, which might only benefit me in the short term as there might be no long term.       

Whatever you decide to do, be 100% sure that it is right for you and your circumstances.

atb

dave

Edited by member 10 Mar 2015 at 09:27  | Reason: Not specified

I chose surgery too,

one thing to consider is your age and fitness , if you decided not to have surgery and in 5 years time or so the cancer comes back what will your options be, I had to pass a fitness test for surgery,  Im in my mid 60's and consider myself resonably fit and active

The impression I now have is the older you get, the less keen they are to do surgery along with any treatment ,apart from prescribing medication

it was pointed out to me by a consultant that the the average age of life expectancy in the UK is 72,  I was taken aback somewhat probably because I didnt consider myself old or ill, I could see the cogs turning in his head though , he didnt need to paint me a picture , no mistake this was and probably is happening.

good luck with your decision

John,

None of this will give you a clear steer as to which treatment option you should opt for, probably?

Interesting noting the initial staging at diagnosis and subsequent staging after pathology, mostly here found to be more advanced at pathology I suspect? Mine went from T2 to T3a. I might well end up having further treatment along the lines of Lyn's partner. All that being possible, I would not change my mind about my initial treatment choice.

Have you asked in what order any treatment choices could be made so that none are ruled out later? I was told, and things may have changed over the last 19 months, that unless I took surgery as the 1st treatment I could n to have surgery of any sort later. Please be aware that things may be different these days?

You will probably feel a lot better once you have made your first choice and got that treatment behind you, I know I did. And although I did not make anywhere near as good as a recovery as the Robotic adverts suggested I might, unlike Lyn's other half, even if I could turn back the clock, I would not change my initial choice.

good luck whatever you decide.

dave

well done decision made now you have stick with it and do not look back.

I hope the HT gets everything under control for you ahead of your RT.

best wishes

Mo