Help With Decision

Jim

If you use this site's search and search "NHS prescription pump" There is a list of threads worth checking out. I pasted a link to one below

https://community.prostatecanceruk.org/posts/t25660-Should-i-buy-a-pump

Glad your recovery seems good but shame you need more treatment, good luck with it

Cheers
Bill

Update for Dec 13, 2020.

Heading for RT planning session tomorrow. RT treatment starting Dec 28th

First Prostap injection Monday Dec 7th. So far, no side affects to note. Early days. Maybe weight going up?

Also wanted to let you know that the NHS genetics team have advised that I have an altered BRCA2 gene. At least some sense on why I have this disease.

Jim

No, it's not normal. Family history prompted investigation.

Jim

I am also waiting for the NHS Genetic Team results. I was told 3 months for my results. I am being tested for BRCA1 and BRCA2 and one other that I forgot to note down before I returned the form.

Maybe I will feel better knowing that there is reason why I got PCa. It will also be important for my son.

Good luck with the RT Jim.

Thanks.

Got to say it made me feel a bit better. Big implications for the family, both your son and maybe extended family as well.

Jim

Thanks Alex. I had read about the therapies you mention for ovarian cancer. I didn't know about Prostate Cancer. Really interesting.

Hope I never get to that point, but good to know. Also, reminded me that I need to make sure my Onco is aware of my BRCA2 situation.

Jim

Edited as missed the key word ‘prostate’ 🤷🏼‍♂️

thanks Lyn!

Jim,   Awkward question if i may (apologies) . With the benefit of hindsight would you have been better going down the RT route first , instead of opting for surgery. My numbers are very similar to yours and there is a risk that it is near or on the surface (T3 ?) What I'm trying to establish is that if there is a risk you might need RT after surgery why bother going through the operation and recovery in the first place if you are only going to end up on RT anyway?  You possibly might only need the brachytherapy as i assume being able to target it accurately in the first place has a better outcome than the treating "an area" after the prostrate has been removed?

Thanks and hope the rest of the treatment goes well
x

Thanks :-)

Do you know why you weren't offered brachytherapy ? I have incorrectly assumed it was the "gold standard" RT and available to all as its very targeted and has fewer side effects ??

I have been offered either the robot surgery or brachytherapy with a Gleesan 7 (3-4) and T3a ? 

No mention of any HT

With failed RT is more & stronger RT an option ?

Phil

Hi Philip, 

I had brachy and am pleased with it. I think one of your questions is "can you have stronger RT if the first treatment fails?" I'm not 100% sure of the answer, but apparently there is a life time limit to how much radiation certain bits of your body are ever supposed to get, so as a general rule once you have RT to your prostate your up to that limit, and you shouldn't have any more to that area of the body. I have never found any reference to what the limit is in greys, nor can I see the logic in leaving someone with a cancer that will kill them, rather than zapping them with even more x-rays and taking them above the lifetime limit, which might also kill them, but might not.

BTW you might want to start your own thread on here, introduce yourself with your diagnosis, that way your questions and "story" all ends up in one place and you can refer back to it, a bit like a diary.