Will T3a spread in 6 months

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User

Posted 22 Jul 2022 at 08:07

i know this is a difficult question but I’ve been diagnosed with T3a and have been told it will be 6 months before surgery which is my preferred option. Worried that it will spread in this time. Any thoughts.

Thanks

User

Posted 22 Jul 2022 at 09:16

The answer is it might (if it's T3a, it already has a bit), and the probability is higher depending on your gleason score. I don't consider a 6 month wait acceptable unless you were eligible for Active Surveillance (which T3a never would be).

A couple of things you might consider...

Ask to go on Bicalutamide until your operation. This is a mild hormone therapy drug which is likely to stop the cancer for that length of time. You should ask for Tamoxifen too, to prevent the Bicalutamide causing breast gland growth. Get your PSA checked every 3 months while waiting, to keep an eye on things.

You could ask for a referral to another hospital with a shorter waiting list. If you're going to do this, you might as well look for one of the centres of excellence, unless they're too far to travel.

Edited by member 22 Jul 2022 at 09:17 | Reason: Not specified

User

Posted 22 Jul 2022 at 12:33

When I was diagnosed I was concerned I'd be waiting over Christmas and it could be delayed by the usual winter problems so asked about hormones as I'd seen a Private Hospital was offering hormones before surgery. The reply was that the hospital must have a long waiting time. What Andy says above would appear to be a possible option. Although his latter comment is preferable.

As a side point I was told my op would be in 6 weeks, after Xmas. As I left the room I said I'm ready tomorrow if you can give me a slot. His eyes flashed like he'd had a thought which left me wondering what it was and amazingly when I got home the phone rang to say he'd booked a theatre in 8 days the last Friday before his Holidays. You don't know till you ask.

User

Posted 22 Jul 2022 at 14:18

I was diagnosed T3a and Gleason 7. My urologist told me I would have surgery the next week. I told him I was going on holiday. He told me to cancel the trip.

Post surgery, I was upgraded to pT3b and Gleason 9. Things were worse than at first diagnosis. It is only after the operation that they truly know what's going on.

Don't want to alarm you but based on my experience, I'd be seriously asking questions.

I needed salvage radiotherapy and hormone therapy. Now I'm in a brilliant place. PSA less than 0.006.

Phone the specialist nurses on here for advice.

User

Posted 22 Jul 2022 at 17:34

Thanks for your reply it’s much appreciated

User

Posted 22 Jul 2022 at 17:36

Thanks for the reply. I e already told them I’d be available at a moments notice

User

Posted 22 Jul 2022 at 17:37

Thanks for the reply I’m chasing them up

there isn’t enough noise being made of this in the press

User

Posted 22 Jul 2022 at 17:52

Ask about being treated as a day patient. I was told it would speed admission up a bit.

User

Posted 22 Jul 2022 at 20:29

Hi Alan,

My husband was diagnosed with T3a July last year….it was originally advanced PCa but after second opinion he was downgraded to locally advanced. He had already been started on hormones bicalutamide for the usual 4 weeks and 3 monthly prostap injections. Although still not recommended my OH really wanted surgery and consultant agreed to do it, with us knowing SRT was to be expected later.
His post op histology downgraded him from T3a to T2 ( not sure if HT shrunk it) but upgraded from Gleason 7 to G9. He had his last prostap Nov 21 and currently has undetectable PSA. If you have to wait and are concerned I would definitely ask for it, he didn’t love the HT but it was manageable and testosterone is now starting to return. Of course the better option would be to get an earlier op if poss. Best of luck

User

Posted 23 Jul 2022 at 11:48

Most often following surgery where a more accurate assessment can be made, Staging and Gleason is as previously assessed but where it is different, it is more frequently upgraded and in a smaller number of cases can be downgraded. Even then it is not always possible to establish whether miniscule cancer cells may have escaped the surgery so subsequent PSA monitoring is necessary.

Barry

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