Age is an increasingly important factor when treatment is being considered for Prostate Cancer (PCa). PC is an Acronym for Pancreatic Cancer. If Dad is fit and there are no contraindications, surgery might be an option based on the details provided. However, side effects of surgery can be more severe than HT+RT which is a major reason why this form of treatment is given to elderly men. Although HT does have some side effects, it is likely that Dad would be on these only for a short time, rather than long term as more advanced patients often are. The RT is most likely to be EBRT which is painless, rather like having an X ray but continuously from different angles. Twenty fractions (sessions), is becoming used more often but some hospitals still use the 37 fraction regime but of a lower radiation dose per fraction. There are other combinations used occasionally and indeed other forms of RT.
Some men prefer to be just monitored at least for a time but as Dad has been diagnosed at an early stage he has to consider whether he would risk cancer progression and treatment when he is older. Another possibility might be one of the Focal Therapies if he is suitable. Most hospitals don't mention this, largely because they can't offer it. However, it does mean going to London or a few other towns for the procedure having first checked on suitability. Side effects are generally milder than Surgery or RT and the procedure can be repeated or followed by Surgery or Radiation in need. I was originally treated with radiation in 2008 but because this failed had HIFU (High Intensity Focal Ultrasound) in 2015 and again in 2021. My PSA is now 0.03 and I was told last week that my recent MRI showed no cancer. HIFU and other forms of Focal Treatment can also be given as a primary treatment for PCa so maybe worth Dad investigating his suitability.
All forms of treatment have their failures and successes and men can have varying responses to treatment even if the figures of their diagnosis may be the same.
This is a link to the 'Tool Kit' with a lot of basic information about PCa and most of the major ways it is treated. https://shop.prostatecanceruk.org//our-publications/all-publications/tool-kit?limit=100
Edited by member 29 Mar 2023 at 01:29
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