Hi all
I was diagnosed in 2014 with Gleason 3+4 in 20% of 1 core and was considered low risk. I choose active surveillance as it seemed to me that the risks involved with treatment seemed higher than leaving it. I had around 8 MRIs over the years that all showed TxM0N0, no measurable tumour and no spread. My PSA tended to wander around, but was 4.9 at its highest.
At the start of the year my PSA hit 6, which kind of freaked me out as this was at the same time as another MRI that showed nothing much. I asked for another biopsy and the result was 3+4 in 80% of 3 cores. Now considered low to intermediate risk, the advice was to undergo treatment.
I spoke to radiotherapy folks and surgery folks and decided on robotic assisted RP, which I had done last Monday at the Churchill in Oxford. The surgery went as planned and based on my MRIs, the surgeon said he had saved both nerve clusters. He also said that he could feel no tumour in the extracted tumour, which is consistent with my MRIs.
Since having the op I am plagued by the question, have I used a sledgehammer to crack a nut? Should I have opted for radiotherapy or HIFU? I was never going to leave it to surveillance again, but I find myself consumed by doubt about my choice, watching countless videos on YouTube of doctors extolling the virtues of radiotherapy over RP. I now it’s too late to change anything, but wondered if everyone has these feelings?
In terms of recovery, I am doing OK. I never had any real pain, it just felt like I’d done a ton of sit-ups. The catheter is driving me nuts though and that is coming out on Friday. Then I have the incontinence and ED to deal with, but all in time. Time does seem to be the key here.
Anyway, I’m just starting my journey and I wish everyone well on theirs