Scared Witless!

Oh dear, I'm so very sorry to hear that. It's definitely not the news anyone wants to hear. 

I was lucky to be negative for any cancer after my biopsy so I can't take you any further along the journey that that.

But I know you will get a lot of support and advice from folk on here who have had to deal with the same things you are going through.

I hope that the treatment options open to him make sense and urged you to get as much advice as possible before choosing any particular course of treatment. 

At least the waiting and worrying is over, now you can take action to secure as good an outcome as possible for you both. 

Take care and be strong, you're not alone in this xx

I'm not afraid to say I sort of panicked &wanted every treatment available by the following week. The oncologist/nurses said its fine you'll have plenty of time etc, based on my details of course. I didnt have to choose treatment though only treatment suggested was HT/RT. HT was started pretty quickly but RT didnt happen for 12 mo ths for couple personal reasons & Turp (part of prostate cut away).

Once I realised there was no rush (again in my circumstances)it was so much easier to 'accept'.

Peter

Hi Sheila,

As has been already said, don't panic! Easier said than done of course, but it sounds like you have an early diagnosis which puts the chances of curative treatment exceptionally likely.

You haven't given much detail regarding what the biopsy actually found and it may be that you didn't glean any more from your consultant meeting but if you're someone who wants to know as much as possible so that you can make a fully informed decision about what treatment is best, you might want to find out a little more info.
- How big is the prostate?
- How many cores did they take?
- How many of the cores were positive?
- Is it contained within the prostate?
- Was there any evidence of perineural invasion?
- What percentage of the 3 + 4 was pattern 4?
- What length was the cancer in the cores found to contain it?

The answers to these questions and a discussion about them with your consultant might make the treatment choice clearer.

I'm always surprised how few people on here seem to be offered the choice of Brachytherapy (BT). Perhaps that is the radiotherapy treatment you've been offered but I suspect you're more likely to have been offered EBRT?

Not everyone is a suitable candidate for Brachytherapy but if your husband is, I would definitely recommend adding it to the list of options - it's very minor surgery compared to RARP, has just as good success rates and  fewer side effects and recovery time. It also has better long term outcomes than EBRT.

Like I say, Brachytherapy isn't suitable for everyone (e.g. if you have a very large prostate or existing urinary function issues) but if you have a favourable diagnosis and aren't ruled out for other reasons, I would make sure I was talking to a urological surgeon about RARP, an oncologist about RT and a specialist onco or surgeon who does BT to get the complete picture. I wouldn't just be speaking to a single consultant urologist who probably specialises in RARP and who will resultingly likely favour that as the best option.

Of course not all hospitals offer BT but a quick google indicates that it is offered by some hospital(s) in your geographic area. If your consultant/consultant's centre doesn't offer it, you can ask your GP to refer you to a specialist/hospital that does for another opinion.

It's an awful lot to process and making a decision regarding treatment is probably the hardest part of all but you don't need to rush a decision in the next few days/weeks. Take some time to assimilate all the available information, get appointments/referrals to specialists in their respective field and you'll feel much happier and confident with your eventual decision and treatment.

All the best and good luck!
Paul

Edited by member 08 Apr 2025 at 20:44  | Reason: typos

Zoogirl, I was diagnosed at 62 with slightly worse stats than you husband. It hasn't been a straight forward journey for me but I am  just over 11 years on from diagnosis and not going anywhere anytime soon.

Thanks Chris 

Cancer a horrible word. However your husband diagnosis on the scale of this awful disease is at the better end. Given the low psa and Gleason score then the treatment being offered is most likely of curative intent. Obviously there are some exceptions.

On this forum there are lots of good news stories, mine included. I was PSA 8.7 with a Gleason score 3+4. Following RP I am still here and thus far no cancer detected.

Edited by member 09 Apr 2025 at 01:39  | Reason: Not specified

The problem for you two is that both (robotic) surgery and HT/RT come with side effects, and your decision will need to take into consideration the impact of those side effects as well as the likelihood of eliminating the cancer. The fact that people in your situation (I was in the same nearly a decade ago) are offered two routes is because both have good success rates in terms of cancer.

The Prostate Cancer UK leaflets are an excellent resource, written by experts. As is this forum, though do remember that it tends to be under-represented in those whose outcome was so good they have simply got on with their lives and no longer post here. Your husband and you have to decide which treatment you are happy with, knowing there isn't a "right" solution simply because no one knows in advance which side effects your husband will (or won't) suffer from. Or whether he will be one of the unlucky ones where a little bit of remaining cancer causes a return which needs further treatment.

Hi Zoogirl,

As the others said don't panic 3+4 is treatable ,I had 3+4 in 2016 at the age of 70 i had the choice of Robotic removal or Brachytherapy and i took the Brachytherapy as i felt it had less side affects but many others may have taken the other option. Well i am 8+ years on and doing well . If you click on my avatar and scroll down a lot you can see my journey even if your other half is not going for that option. there are a lot of kind people on this site that will help and answer any questions you may ask going forward .

Good luck John .