Decisions decisions! Tell me what to do!

With a T3 there's a significant possibility of requiring salvage RT after surgery, so you get two sets of side-effects rather than one. I'd go for RT myself, but at the end of the day it's your decision. The fact that your urologist is suggesting RT is significant, because urologists are surgeons. When a surgeon recommends against surgery it's as well to listen.

Chris

Edited by member 19 Jan 2021 at 19:53  | Reason: Not specified

Gleason 4+5 is at the high end, whereas your PSA is pretty low. Others have been around much longer than me, so may have seen this combo before.

I agree with Chris, but did you ask the Urologist why they felt RT was the right path?

Basically, because of my past history of surgery, it was felt that RT was the best option. To be honest after getting C diff last year I wasn’t looking forward to another hospital stay! He said that, because of the low PSA and the localised aspect, then a curative intent was definitely on the cards even though a Gleason score of 9 indicates aggressiveness. He did say that 20% of cases such as this were recurrent but that’s good odds in my book. I asked about brachytherapy but he said the Trust had discontinued doing it because it was felt that it offered no advantages over EBRT and was a surgical technique which was to be avoided in my case. I will be speaking to the surgeon next week but it may just be a formality to explain why it’s not an option for me.

So, having finished 28 days of bicalutamide this morning, the plan is that in 2 months time I will be zapped daily for 4 weeks followed by quarterly injections for 3 years. Plus ongoing monitoring.

I feel a lot more informed, relaxed and positive going forward. Thanks so much for all of your help. These forums are great. I’m a novice here but an expert on Bowel resection, stoma and reversals! Every day something new!

So I spoke to the surgeon today and he basically reiterated what the oncologist said ie it’s curable but because of my previous bowel surgery it would have to be open surgery and that would include a raised chance of side effects. He told me that he had chaired the MDT meeting and that the radiotherapy route was the agreed option which is basically what I’d decided but it was good to hear it from both sides.

He confirmed that either route offered a similar positive outcome with similar chances of recurrence.

So hopefully in a couple of months I’ll get zapped once a day for a month then 30 months of Hormone.

On February 1st I have a follow up colorectal telephone appointment with a nurse and I think I’m due my routine colonoscopy which will be a tense time! Something different every day!

But it’s another step along the way! Thanks everyone for your help, it really is invaluable.

Stay away from the surgery mate!

Dont let them butcher you.

You will be suffer (hope not hope I'm wrong) rest of your life, 

I had never stepped into hospital for any kind of treatment before my RP surgery, since than I had to go to A&E sometimes at 2 am some times 4 

Last week same day in 24 hours I made 2 trips.

Do not go ahead with surgery 

That's my suggestion and dont let anyone trick you on here with blah blah blah as if they became superman after the surgery...but in facts many of their bedroom life was way over before the surgery but they dont admit that!