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User
Posted 13 May 2025 at 08:40

Hi All,

Reading through the posts does give me encouragement so glad to be here.

I'm at the beginning of the journey, MRI scan results yesterday:

PI-Rads 5 lesions to PV & TV, 33cl.prostate, 0.41 prostate density,  extracapsular extension and seminal vesticle invasion, so suggests local advanced would be my best diagnosis.

Biopsy planned 22.5.2025 for the official diagnosis.

56 and otherwise good health, worrying times, however, trying to remain positive and crack on as normal for now.

It's cruel, was loving life,  new job and getting things in place for retirement prior to this.

Take care all, and hope for some positive treatment for myself and everyone else starting on the long road to something close to normal again.

Edited by member 13 May 2025 at 09:13  | Reason: Typos

User
Posted 19 Jun 2025 at 08:45

Hello Hawkz,

I had a similar diagnosis to you March last year, T3b SVI, Gleason score was lower at 3+4, I had some very dark days to begin with and its horrible. I'm not sure what treatment you will be offered, I would think most likely Radiotherapy and Hormone therapy. This is the route I chose, though I was given the alternative option of surgery as I was relatively young at 48.

Like Adrian says you do cope and its amazing what you can and will do. A lot of the anxiety is not knowing, but there are lots of stories and help here so ask about anything that's worrying you or you're wondering about and someone will more than likely be able to answer.

The plan for me was four weeks of External Bream Radiotherapy (EBRT), with weekend off and two years of hormone therapy (HT) that started 4 months before the EBRT. It was changed slightly in the end to 3 weeks EBRT and HDR brachytherapy.

I found it all very manageable, I worked throughout with my EBRT sessions pretty much all in the evening. There are side effects from the HT, though luckily mine have been mild. Same with the radiotherapy. I have one year of HT to go.

I think its best to take everything one step at a time, I felt exactly as you do now, but the dark thoughts do lift, your life will go on. I felt so much better once a plan was in place for treatment.

I do wish you all the best, I know how horrible it all feels, as does everyone on here

John

User
Posted 13 May 2025 at 08:40

Hi All,

Reading through the posts does give me encouragement so glad to be here.

I'm at the beginning of the journey, MRI scan results yesterday:

PI-Rads 5 lesions to PV & TV, 33cl.prostate, 0.41 prostate density,  extracapsular extension and seminal vesticle invasion, so suggests local advanced would be my best diagnosis.

Biopsy planned 22.5.2025 for the official diagnosis.

56 and otherwise good health, worrying times, however, trying to remain positive and crack on as normal for now.

It's cruel, was loving life,  new job and getting things in place for retirement prior to this.

Take care all, and hope for some positive treatment for myself and everyone else starting on the long road to something close to normal again.

Edited by member 13 May 2025 at 09:13  | Reason: Typos

User
Posted 13 May 2025 at 10:29

Thanks mate, yes diagnosis or lack of is the worst part, telling family has been particularly tough, but have said to them (and myself) not to worry, hopefully it's very treatable and many years left in the old dog yet!

Really appreciate the replies and info.

Take care.

User
Posted 19 Jun 2025 at 09:02

Thanks John, your reply and positive outcome has lifted me, thanks mate.

I read your profile before biopsy results so was well clued up for the meeting, the nurse was well impressed 😁 

My treatment plan if both scans are clear would look like yours, bicaltumide and ebrt,  she said brachytherapy wouldn't be an option as it can't get to the SVs?

One massive weight off is I've just told my boss. I work a lot away on site so it has been a concern, but plan is to crack on as long as I'm able to I'm only 56. They seem supportive ATM.

@Adrian it is G8 4+4.

Thanks again lads.

User
Posted 13 May 2025 at 09:32

Hi mate,

Thanks for the support, I'm going to need it!

No it didn't give any staging, is this good or bad?

Will post up biopsy results soon as I get them.

Thanks all.

User
Posted 14 May 2025 at 15:11

Thanks for the encouragement much appreciated.

Reading about some similar diagnosises on here does sound very much like it's not all doom and gloom.

Always look on the bright side as my old man used to say!

Got confirmation my biopsy is next Sat at the QE. 

User
Posted 19 Jun 2025 at 05:59
Hi Hawkz,

So sorry to read your terrible news.

I can't offer anything that might help, having had a much shorter ride on the PCa rollercoaster than many on here.

But I can say that the support provided by people on this forum is so beneficial. Just feeling there are others in the same boat who will take the time to answer questions or just chat is such a positive thing. No one in my circle of family and friends had any experience or awareness of PCa, other than well intentioned "it's probably nothing" or " at least it's a good cancer".

Having access to people like Adrian who spends a lot of time here offering a hand of friendship was such a relief for me.

Your on a hard and demanding journey, I honestly feel so sad at reading your diagnosis. But you're not on it alone and you seem to have a really positive attitude, which will be so critical as you follow the path to your cure.

Take care and stay on the site, talking helps and it's sometimes a lot easier to talk to people here than in real life as it were.

Best wishes, Mick

User
Posted 19 Jun 2025 at 11:05
RT can go further than surgery so it looks like it may be the former + HT although they sometimes add another component depending on how you present and your MDT (Multi DisciplinaryTeam) conclude.
Barry
User
Posted 19 Jun 2025 at 13:02

Hi Hawkz, my diagnosis was similar to yours although my PSA was significantly high. My Gleason score was 5+3, Cambridge Diagnostic 4 and high risk of mass breakout and recurrence. I  started HT injections the week following the diagnosis and at the meeting with the oncologist 2 months or so later the PSA reading was now in single figures,just what we expect was his comment. I was told the aim of radiotherapy was to cure. Thoughts of why was I chosen to carry the seeds of this awful disease are only natural but you can take comfort from my experience. At my meeting in March the doctor said the cancer’s gone. Well done NHS Scotland is what I say. So on that note we agreed I could discontinue the HT which although being highly effective can be tough to tolerate. The side effects which I have found debilitating will continue for at least another 6-8 months. Roll on the day when I feel more male! You can read My Story on the website.

John

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User
Posted 13 May 2025 at 09:27

Hello mate.

I'm sorry that you've had to join us, but welcome to the forum. 

Did your MRI give a radiological staging, dependent on histology, of T3b?

Good luck with the biopsy. Please keep us updated.

There are a few blokes here with a similar diagnosis to yours. So if you need it, you'll get a lot of help and support here. 👍

 

 

User
Posted 13 May 2025 at 09:32

Hi mate,

Thanks for the support, I'm going to need it!

No it didn't give any staging, is this good or bad?

Will post up biopsy results soon as I get them.

Thanks all.

User
Posted 13 May 2025 at 10:14

Hi again.

 The MRI suggests extraprostatic extension (EPE) and seminal vesicles invasion (SVI), which is a provisional T3b staging. However only a biopsy can show if it is cancer and how aggressive it's likely to be, by it's Gleason grade.

If it's confirmed to be cancer the T3b staging can limit your treatment options.

Here's a conversation on T3b, and contains comments from some of the lads who were diagnosed with this staging.

https://community.prostatecanceruk.org/posts/t30952-T3B-SV1-choice-of-surgery-or-radiotherapy

We all understand the anxiety you are feeling. The intial diagnosis is the worst part. You've just got to take one procedure at a time and deal with the results accordingly.  Most of us have felt more comfortable when we know exactly what we've got and have a treatment plan to deal with it.

As you're doing, keeping positive, is a good thing. 

I'm glad that you've posted here. When I was first diagnosed I can remember feeling a bit isolated and thinking, why me? This place makes you realise that your not on your own.  Others, going through the same, will help you.

Edited by member 13 May 2025 at 10:16  | Reason: Add link.

User
Posted 13 May 2025 at 10:29

Thanks mate, yes diagnosis or lack of is the worst part, telling family has been particularly tough, but have said to them (and myself) not to worry, hopefully it's very treatable and many years left in the old dog yet!

Really appreciate the replies and info.

Take care.

User
Posted 14 May 2025 at 14:35

The PI-RADS 5 and signs of local advancement are definitely serious, but you’re catching it at a stage where treatment options are still very much on the table. The biopsy will give you clearer answers, and from there you can work with your care team on the best path forward.

User
Posted 14 May 2025 at 15:11

Thanks for the encouragement much appreciated.

Reading about some similar diagnosises on here does sound very much like it's not all doom and gloom.

Always look on the bright side as my old man used to say!

Got confirmation my biopsy is next Sat at the QE. 

User
Posted 18 Jun 2025 at 22:47

Shell shocked. Consultant had me thinking it was prostatis. However,  biopsy confirmed exactly what MRI suggested. T3b SVI.

Gleason 8. 9 out of 9 cores one side positive. 9 out of 11 cores other side positive. PSA 13.5. PSA density 0.41

Heads all over the place at the moment was fine after biopsy, but all the dark thoughts have come back again. Will they ever go how do you cope with it?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

User
Posted 18 Jun 2025 at 23:56

Hi hawkz.

I'm sorry that cancer has been confirmed.

Do you known if your Gleason 8 is 4+4 or 3+5? Whatever, your disease is curable.

If you read my profile you'll see my cancer had no seminal vesicles invasion, but it had breached the prostate capsule and I was Gleason 9 (4+5). I had surgery over two years ago and since then, touch wood, my PSA has been undetectable. As I said before, there are several blokes here who've had T3b disease and are making good recoveries.

It is daunting when you start, but we do all learn to cope.

You'll get lots of support here, mate.

Edited by member 19 Jun 2025 at 00:26  | Reason: Typo

User
Posted 19 Jun 2025 at 05:59
Hi Hawkz,

So sorry to read your terrible news.

I can't offer anything that might help, having had a much shorter ride on the PCa rollercoaster than many on here.

But I can say that the support provided by people on this forum is so beneficial. Just feeling there are others in the same boat who will take the time to answer questions or just chat is such a positive thing. No one in my circle of family and friends had any experience or awareness of PCa, other than well intentioned "it's probably nothing" or " at least it's a good cancer".

Having access to people like Adrian who spends a lot of time here offering a hand of friendship was such a relief for me.

Your on a hard and demanding journey, I honestly feel so sad at reading your diagnosis. But you're not on it alone and you seem to have a really positive attitude, which will be so critical as you follow the path to your cure.

Take care and stay on the site, talking helps and it's sometimes a lot easier to talk to people here than in real life as it were.

Best wishes, Mick

User
Posted 19 Jun 2025 at 08:45

Hello Hawkz,

I had a similar diagnosis to you March last year, T3b SVI, Gleason score was lower at 3+4, I had some very dark days to begin with and its horrible. I'm not sure what treatment you will be offered, I would think most likely Radiotherapy and Hormone therapy. This is the route I chose, though I was given the alternative option of surgery as I was relatively young at 48.

Like Adrian says you do cope and its amazing what you can and will do. A lot of the anxiety is not knowing, but there are lots of stories and help here so ask about anything that's worrying you or you're wondering about and someone will more than likely be able to answer.

The plan for me was four weeks of External Bream Radiotherapy (EBRT), with weekend off and two years of hormone therapy (HT) that started 4 months before the EBRT. It was changed slightly in the end to 3 weeks EBRT and HDR brachytherapy.

I found it all very manageable, I worked throughout with my EBRT sessions pretty much all in the evening. There are side effects from the HT, though luckily mine have been mild. Same with the radiotherapy. I have one year of HT to go.

I think its best to take everything one step at a time, I felt exactly as you do now, but the dark thoughts do lift, your life will go on. I felt so much better once a plan was in place for treatment.

I do wish you all the best, I know how horrible it all feels, as does everyone on here

John

User
Posted 19 Jun 2025 at 09:02

Thanks John, your reply and positive outcome has lifted me, thanks mate.

I read your profile before biopsy results so was well clued up for the meeting, the nurse was well impressed 😁 

My treatment plan if both scans are clear would look like yours, bicaltumide and ebrt,  she said brachytherapy wouldn't be an option as it can't get to the SVs?

One massive weight off is I've just told my boss. I work a lot away on site so it has been a concern, but plan is to crack on as long as I'm able to I'm only 56. They seem supportive ATM.

@Adrian it is G8 4+4.

Thanks again lads.

User
Posted 19 Jun 2025 at 11:05
RT can go further than surgery so it looks like it may be the former + HT although they sometimes add another component depending on how you present and your MDT (Multi DisciplinaryTeam) conclude.
Barry
User
Posted 19 Jun 2025 at 13:02

Hi Hawkz, my diagnosis was similar to yours although my PSA was significantly high. My Gleason score was 5+3, Cambridge Diagnostic 4 and high risk of mass breakout and recurrence. I  started HT injections the week following the diagnosis and at the meeting with the oncologist 2 months or so later the PSA reading was now in single figures,just what we expect was his comment. I was told the aim of radiotherapy was to cure. Thoughts of why was I chosen to carry the seeds of this awful disease are only natural but you can take comfort from my experience. At my meeting in March the doctor said the cancer’s gone. Well done NHS Scotland is what I say. So on that note we agreed I could discontinue the HT which although being highly effective can be tough to tolerate. The side effects which I have found debilitating will continue for at least another 6-8 months. Roll on the day when I feel more male! You can read My Story on the website.

John

 
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