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Sleepless nights

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User
Posted 06 Aug 2024 at 16:07

Hi all, confirmed PC last week. 
Gleason 3+4. T2 and zero in the Lymph nodes , prostate 27mm

PSA 5.6 Pi-rad 5/5 favourable intermediate PC

Been offered AS, surgery,EBRT or HDR Brachytherapy x 2

I’ve been reading account after account and flip flopping between preferred treatments . 
waiting for my next appointment when, presumably I’ll have to make a decision. It’s a shame there is no recommended treatment plan .

66 years old and very active with golf and cycling hobbies.

Hormone treatment has not been part of any conversation I have had to date and yet reading others posting on here it’s seems to be very often used  and very often to the detriment of the patient .

If I had to do something I would probably go for the HDR Brachy purely because I know others who have had this done BUT my question is , are there any guys out there who have similar numbers to mine and opted for AS and have not had the cancer worsen  ?

T I A

Steve

 

 

 

 

 

User
Posted 06 Aug 2024 at 16:52

Hi Steve,

Please read my bio, You'll see that my AS failed, but it's still a very good option.

The below link discusses the pros and cons of active surveillance.

https://community.prostatecanceruk.org/posts/t30809-post-histology-report#post298408

Edited by member 07 Aug 2024 at 06:33  | Reason: Additional text

User
Posted 06 Aug 2024 at 19:46

Hi Steve,

Most men seem to have a period of HT(3 months is common) before EBRT and  up to 3 years in total. I managed to get off it after 2 years. For some men, including me, it has an effect on their QOL. Others seem to get off very lightly with side effects. Nobody seems to know why this is the case🤷🏼‍♂️

You would normally see both the surgeon AND the Oncologist before having to make a decision. air there’s anything you are not sure about phone your CNS, or one of the fabulous nurses on this forum.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

Derek

User
Posted 06 Aug 2024 at 19:51

Hi Steve

As with Adrian, my AS failed as well. It doesn't mean yours would, if you went that route, but please be very wary if they tell you there's nothing to worry about, its a slow growing cancer etc etc. It may well be, in some or even most cases, but mine certainly wasn't.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

Ian.

User
Posted 06 Aug 2024 at 21:30

Thanks Derek, your reply is much appreciated. I certainly need to ask some more questions. 
steve

User
Posted 06 Aug 2024 at 21:35

Thanks Ian, I really appreciate your input. 
it’s clear that I need to ask more questions. 
I will ask if there are any treatments that don’t involve hormone therapy. 
steve. 

User
Posted 06 Aug 2024 at 22:02
My impression (as someone who wasn't offered that option) is that AS usually means delaying intervention as long as possible. If your temperament allows that, it apparently has outcomes as good as immediate intervention and of course means a few more years of life without hethe adverse impact that all the treatments have in one way or another. But for a lot of men, the uncertainty of not doing something positive is too much stress.

It is interesting that your hospital has not mentioned hormone treatment, it is usually part of standard RT protocols (I don't know about brachy). Having experienced salvage RT including HT, I can say it is the part with the biggest immediate impact of RT - although there is also the longer term impact that irradiation can increase cancer risk in nearby organs (though that should be minimised with the most modern equipment).

User
Posted 07 Aug 2024 at 05:12

Thanks JB I may be doing my cancer nurse a disservice saying it hasn’t been mentioned. There is so much to take in during that appointment that I wish I had recorded the interview, which probably would have been an option. 
All the best 

Steve. 

User
Posted 07 Aug 2024 at 07:22

Thanks Adrian , I’ve just read the link you provided to the US study and found it very interesting. 
my own PC has been described as favourably intermittent and although I have been offered AS , I will have to ask if I am low risk. 
all the best 

steve. 

 
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Sleepless nights and anxiety by Steve George
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