Info please. 40 psa - 3+4 gleason

1. 12 to 20 was the old standard trans rectal biopsy. New biopsies are trans perineal which is safer so more cores can be taken. The more cores taken the better the diagnosis.

2. High PSA, Gleeson above 3+3, large percent of cores. All these factors go against AS.

3. I don't know anyone who lost weight on HT. If you keep active on HT it probably won't go up too drastically. After you stop HT you will probably return to your former weight.

4. Two years would be fairly typical for HT. There is some argument that 18 months is enough. Some people just can't stand it within six months, but I can think of only one person on this site who found it that bad.

Edited by member 01 Dec 2024 at 23:35  | Reason: Not specified

An update.

I am now on hormone therapy - just had my first injection yesterday.    Because of my very high psa level at 40 , they reckon I might be on the HR for maybe 3 years.   I will be having 20 sessions of RT in April/may.    I asked if the 5 session of RT was available , but they said that the 40psa classes me as high risk , and that makes the 5 session unsuitable.  I was told that all my cancer appears to have been contained in my prostate.   They gave me a bone scan , and that is clear ( it has also given me additional info that my spine has some bad wear !).   Reading has advised that keeping fit , especially core exercises, is highly recommended.   

I have felt quite stressed for the last couple of months - I am going to a local support group tomorrow as I think sharing helps.   I have been seen and had my treatments at Blackpool Victoria hospital - and I have to say every member of staff I have had interaction with has been wonderful.

I suppose my story is quite average , and maybe similar to the path many are on.

Don't you hate that! Scans do tend to show up some of the wear and tear of life. I was told exactly the same thing about some lower spinal joints and oddly, a toe but I reckon you just take it as a mark of success if you're still functioning and fit despite such issues.

As you say, your fairly "average" but you're also in a relatively good place in that the cancer is contained and your treatment stands every chance of success. There's several of us here who've had EBRT for G9 cancer, sometimes locally advanced with success. The latest LINAC RT machines are very accurate and very effective.

As Dave says, you might not have to go through the full 3 years of HT after your RT but that will be determined along the way as your psa results come in. If they stay in the "low enough to be regarded as unmeasurable" class, it will be a good indicator for shortening your HT treatment time.

Jules