Ian, I suppose the problem is that for most ordinary folk, once both radical treatments have failed there are no other curative treatments to try and so the only option is to go to treatments that will contain or slow progress (ie hormones). As these would then be needed for the rest of your life (either continously or intermittently) there are many oncologists who believe you should delay starting them for as long as possible. A PSA of 10 seems to be the accepted point that should not be passed although a couple of men on here have been told their oncos will not intervene until they get to 20.
If you went private you would undoubtedly find someone who is willing to prescribe hormones for you now, but this may not be in your best interest if the sooner you start them the sooner you would become hormone-resistant and run out of treatments.
As Bazza says, it may be much better for you to ask what trials are available to you either at your hospital or another one, and whether there is any possibility of you being referred to another onco who may be willing to give you some new more detailed scans and / or look at treatments other than HT
"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard
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