hi,
It is a worrying time being diagnosed, choosing treatment and waiting for it to happen. Your imagination can run riot.
As Lyn says above if he chose Radiotherapy they could start him on hormones very quickly and the treatment with RT starts months later. I recall the consultant saying to me if I chose that route they could start almost immediately. I didn't want that route though.
For some people though RT is the best route. But they leave the decision to the patient unless it's obvious.
They also told me it was normally slow growing although it didn't stop me wanting it removed right away. Especially as it was graded fairly aggressive and near the edge.
I don't know who told him it needed treatment right away or that there is a 7 week delay. It seems a strange thing for a doctor to say.
If he wants surgery he should ask the surgeon how long it will be and if there are other hospitals who can do it quicker if it is 7 weeks. I'd think 2-4 weeks is fairly normal from when you see the surgeon and it can take up to 2 weeks to see the surgeon.
If you're aware of the date of his appointment with the consultant to decide his preferences you might work out how long you expect treatment to be and ask why if it's taking longer.
If surgery is delayed it is known, but unusual in the NHS, to be given hormones to shrink the lesion before surgery. I've seen it on private hospital websites in the UK. If the NHS has excessive waiting times it might be a route to reduce risk if they agree.
Good luck, Peter