my brother in January, now me!

I think I have already made this comment to you DW but will say it here just in case.

Statistically, anyone who needs salvage treatment of any kind is less likely to achieve remission in the long term. In other words, there is no such thing as a second bite of the cherry. If that is true, it is important to choose the treatment most likely to be most successful - it is flawed thinking to settle for a treatment on the basis that if it fails, there are still other things to go for.

Of course, once you have worked out which treatment is most likely to result in a cure, you then have to decide whether you are willing to accept the potential risks of that treatment. Some men will opt for a treatment which has less potential for permanent side effects accepting that the chance of full remission may be a little lower.

Hi Arthur

Thanks for the tip re Harlow...I now have an appointment there this Wednesday to discuss HIFU treatment. My worry, with whatever I choose, is that it will return!!

David

UPDATE

Well, after last week's RALP I kept quiet just to have a break, to be honest!

It went well, so I was told, and the frozen pathology during the surgery showed clear margins to keep both bundles. If I hadnt had it done this way, at this hospital (patholgy during surgery) I would have lost one bundle, for sure. Lymph nodes taken as promised.

A week has gone and catheter came out yesterday. I was surprised I didnt gush at once, but in fact held on till I had to go 1-2 hrs later, and controlled it, so we will see. A dry first night.

A shorter penis for sure, but it's early days. They have given me cialis but not to use it for 3 weeks...?

Being the worrier, my fear is the lymph nodes are psoitive. The MRI says not. Surgeon said 18% chance with my stats of being positive, which is why deciding NOT to choose HIFU was probably correct.....what would happen if my nodes are positive, using HIFU?

So we will wait and see, but apart from the pain in that one hole (sneezing or coughing BURNS!!), I'm doing ok, and thank you all.

David

Well, here we are in September. I got continent quickly after the op in May, ed still total, and the lymph nodes were clear. But there was a bit gone into the seminal vesicles so I ended up with T3b. Blast. Anyway, first psa in July was <0·02, which was brilliant.
Second psa result yesterday 0.04. Bit surprised. All was well removed so surely any rogue cells that had already escaped had had many months or even years to produce some psa, but clearly had not through to July.....yet 8 weeks later have done?!
Strangley, I had seen the RT man the day before this result, in case rt was needed down the line. He said, on hearing the slight rise, that it could be a blip, and could settle down again, especially as it is still 0.0x
So a discussion, and another psa in 6 weeks. He says 3 rises are needed and rt would only happen if we get to 0.2, or close to it. If the 0.04 is genuine, then it looks likely I will be going down the rt route, which is a real blow.....

David

Thanks Chris

And how have you coped with any fear because of the possible increase, knowing it could lead to RT, and even HT? It makes me feel a bit weak and sick, as the undetectable first PSA and clear margins etc had started to give me hope I had got through the worst. Now I am far from sure...