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Bracytherapy option

User
Posted 18 Apr 2019 at 12:44

I was diagnosed with prostate cancer last November after experiencing ed and missed or urinary problems. Since then I have had a biopsy, mri, and cti scan. The result is a Gleason score of 7 (4/3) with no cancer present other than the prostate. I had the full options pack after my biopsy and decided I would go for the Bracytherapy treatment as this was one of the options given to me. I have since had the cti and mri scans with good results. I had a consultation this week and was told I have to do a urine flow test to see if I can have the treatment. 

Has anyone else had a similar experience and if so what was the results. I had not considered any other treatments and I am now more concerned that my options may be further restricted 

Alan

 

User
Posted 18 Apr 2019 at 14:23

Hi Alan,

I had Gleason 7 3+4 that is the other way round to you and was given the choice of radical removal but took the Brachytherapy route back in September 2016 and so far i am very happy with the results, my PSA is down to 0,22 from 2.19 at the start of treatment with my next PSA blood test at 12 month intervals.

If you click my avatar you can see my progress,I had my operation at Mount Vernon and in and out in two days with no great problem apart from some discomfort but no real pain.

I am 31 months on with no medication apart from viagra for ED and much of that could be down to my age of 73.

As your Gleason is 4+3 they may look at high dose Brachytherapy as against the low dose i had where the seeds are left in till they degrade over a few months.

If i can help you anymore please ask  good luck.

 

John. 

Edited by member 18 Apr 2019 at 14:24  | Reason: Not specified

User
Posted 18 Apr 2019 at 18:52

Thanks John,

Good to hear that yourtreatment was a success. I am still hoping to pass the flow test but at least there is other options.

Alan 

 

 

User
Posted 04 Jun 2019 at 14:41

Alan,

 

Don't know if you have had your treatment if so I hope all went well and you recover well. But I was diagnosed in September 2015 at the  age of 58 after a routine blood test for kidney function, I had no symptoms.

Results of my biopsy were 70% positive of 10 samples, 5 in left/ 2 in right were positive. PSA 13, Gleeson 7 (3+4), originally reported Stage 4, but after a second MRI this was changed to Stage 3A locally advanced PC. 

After my urologist suggested that I look at alternatives to RP surgery if I wanted any quality of life, I went hunting for other solutions after being offered EBRT + HT as my only real choice as I was too advanced for any other treatment.

Spoke to a senior consultant at the BHOC in Bristol and asked my doctor to refer me to there. They responded very quickly with an offer for my wife and I to visit Southmead Hospital for a consultation. There were a number of men and couples there and when our turn came we had a consultation with a surgeon, then a radiographer and finally the brachytherapy surgeon, quickly realising they were all senior consultants who all gave us their expert opinion. Afterwards I confirmed my desire to pursue the brachy route and they confirmed they would consider me. A few days later I had confirmation by letter that they would accept me for treatment, 6 months HT, HDR brachytherapy then 23 doses of EBRT. Started HT Jan 3rd 2016 and treatments were all completed by June 2016.

It has taken over 2.5 years for my PSA to reach 0.1, but it did at my Feb 2019 review, I am now hoping it stabilises down there. ED problems occurred at 4 months post treatment but slowly improved over the next 12 months with the help of 100mg Viagra/sildenaphil. Now this problem is almost non-existent, though occasional use of 50mg sildenaphil comes in handy.  I was getting very tired but again this has almost entirely disappeared.

I can't speak highly enough of the consultants and hospital at the BHOC in Bristol, and after being given a pretty grim original prognosis I can say there is always hope, just keep looking forward, never back and consider all your options not just what you are initially told.

 
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