New diagnosis treatment options

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User

Posted 06 Sep 2018 at 14:47

Hello

Please excuse my grammar and the way this is written but I find it much easier to do the Talky thing as it would take forever for me to type this all out as I'm really getting oldwe have just returned from our diagnosis hospital appointment my husband is a Gleason 9 5 and 4.wLuckily enough it has not spread from the prostrateWe thought we would go in and be told exactly what would now be happening in respect to treatment but we've left and are home now feeling slightly confused and very apprehensive Theconsultant with a very very nice man and very blunt and matter-of-fact which is the sort of thing that my husband prefers He offered us appointments to discuss with a surgeon about an operation or an oncologist about radiotherapy .THENfor my husband to decide which option he would like to go with these appointments could be a couple of months time and we are very keen to get on with this just the thought of leaving it 6 to 8 weeks before we even see a different consultant and then my husband is supposed to make his choice and then get back to the consultant before they make us an arrangement for treatment the consultant today felt that we had time and he wasn't concerned about a few months wait but if my husband hasn't made his mind up with in 6 months then he thought that would be too long eEXCUSE ME where do we stand here we just want to get on with it I understand totally that it has to be my husband's decision i'm not sure which 1 to choose you all know there are pros and cons with both. I just feel that my husband should make his decision NOW And lets get on with it. Its just too much stress to be hanging o er the family for month

User

Posted 06 Sep 2018 at 15:41

Hi Ellen,

Before people here can really help you they need to know hubby’s PSA number, grade group of the cancer if you have it, any symptoms before diagnosis, what kind of biopsy he had and how many samples were cancerous. And also where you live as treatments vary from NHS Trust to Trust.

If you provide those details you will have loads of helpful feedback.

Best wishes, John

User

Posted 06 Sep 2018 at 15:58

Hi Ellen,

If you haven't already done so, you should download the information sheets from this site which tell you what each type of treatment will entail, and what its pros and cons are. Then, once you've read them, if you still have questions phone the PC-UK nurses who will be happy to talk to you for as long as you need.

What nobody can do, though, is make the decision for you; it's your choice whether to go for surgery or radiotherapy, and it's important that whatever choice you make you're happy with it in your own mind.

As your consultant said, there is no rush to make a decision, and given that whichever choice you make will have life-changing consequences, it's really not something you want to rush into.

Chris

User

Posted 06 Sep 2018 at 16:12

Hi Ellen,

Sorry you join us due to your husband's PCa diagnosis.

It would help us get a better idea of his situation if you could obtain (if you have not already done so), the details of his diagnosis, basically his PSA, and most importantly his staging. You have already given his Gleason score. If you can ascertain, any further information about the location of the cancer and the number of cores taken with the percentages of cancer can be helpful additional information. If you then post it in this thread and under profile/bio it provides a useful reference for those who respond to what you may ask, bearing in mind we can offer ideas and support but decisions have to be made by hubby in consultation with his doctors. What can be a big help is to download or obtain a hard copy of the 'Toolkit' available from the publications section of this charity. It provides a lot of information about PCa and various treatments which I am sure would be very helpful.

The Gleason score of 5+4=9 indicates an aggressive cancer but the fact that hubby has been offered an appointment with a surgeon hopefully means it is still contained within the capsule. In the circumstances described, I would press for early appointments to discuss the situation and ask prepared questions having considered information given in the aforementioned 'Toolkit'.

Depending on local waiting lists it could take quite a time to have a Prostatectomy but because RT is most usually preceded by HT, this could most likely be started as soon as the treatment decision is made.

Barry

User

Posted 06 Sep 2018 at 16:36

He can't make his decision now without seeing the specialists and having the implications explained. Nothing much will change in a few weeks - order the toolkit so that you are better prepared for the oncology and urology appointments.

"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard

User

Posted 06 Sep 2018 at 20:23

If I was you I'd be looking for the fast treatment with a Gleason 5+4 unless there are medical reasons for the long time to treatment. They're meant to do it within 30 days from diagnosis.

I was offered immediate hormones for 3 months followed by radiotherapy. However I always wanted it cutting out as within a month it would hopefully be fully gone and the future psa tests would be a definite measure. You can still have radiotherapy after an op as well. As it was near the edge and Gleason 4+3 I wanted fast treatment.

After the Operation it was upgraded to Gleason 4+4 and the doctor at my first clinic said with the upgrade I'd definitely made the right choice. Some might say he shouldn't have said that but I agree with him. I'd recommend my path to you without knowing the full details, but it's completely your call.

I'd also recommend you make up your mind and are then firm and focused on getting it done as quickly as possible, even if at another hospital.

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