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Hormone treatment positive stories.

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User

Posted 05 Jun 2025 at 17:21

Hi. My first post here, asking for positive experiences of hormone treatment. (As in - manageable side effects). It seems very daunting looking at 3 years of it. I had thought I'd opt for surgery but my oncologist suggests the positive margins will mean my seeing her after RP so why not go straight for RT + HT.

I'm having a PSMA Pet scan next week, also seeing the surgeon, so not committed yet.

T3b N0 M0 (from MRI) Gleason 3+4 (borderline 4+3) PSA 7

Thank you.

Edited by member 05 Jun 2025 at 18:59 | Reason: Clarification.

User

Posted 05 Jun 2025 at 23:54

I had a similar diagnosis to yours. I was on HT for two years. I did not find it too bad. If you lookup Andy62 profile, he has a lot of helpful advise on dealing with HT.

Dave

User

Posted 06 Jun 2025 at 00:45

G, positive or negative margins usually refer to examination of the prostate after removal. You may have misunderstood what your situation is. It is possible that they suspect there is spread

Thanks Chris

User

Posted 06 Jun 2025 at 05:01

Hi Grecophile.

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

I'm not medically trained but your T3b N0, M0 means there appears spread to the seminal vesicles. However, the good news is, it doesn't appear to have spread to lymph nodes or anywhere else. Your Gleason score isnt too bad. What is your PSA level?

It is rare to deal with T3b staging with surgery. Which is why RT/HT is being recommended.

Like most treatments, HT can affect people very differently. Some don't find it a problem, others really struggle with. Most lie somewhere between.

Please keep us updated and best of luck, mate.👍

User

Posted 06 Jun 2025 at 08:59

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member

Thanks for your reply. The PSA is 7. Hopefully next week's PSMA Pet scan will confirm the absence of spread.

Hi again.

Sorry mate. I must have still been half asleep when I first posted. I now see you gave your PSA in your opening post. 🙈

Good luck with you scan.

There are several blokes here with T3b disease. I see, two of them, Dave and John, have already introduced themselves. You'll get lots of support here. 👍

Edited by member 06 Jun 2025 at 09:07 | Reason: Typo

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User

Posted 05 Jun 2025 at 23:54

I had a similar diagnosis to yours. I was on HT for two years. I did not find it too bad. If you lookup Andy62 profile, he has a lot of helpful advise on dealing with HT.

Dave

User

Posted 06 Jun 2025 at 00:45

G, positive or negative margins usually refer to examination of the prostate after removal. You may have misunderstood what your situation is. It is possible that they suspect there is spread

Thanks Chris

User

Posted 06 Jun 2025 at 05:01

Hi Grecophile.

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

It is rare to deal with T3b staging with surgery. Which is why RT/HT is being recommended.

Like most treatments, HT can affect people very differently. Some don't find it a problem, others really struggle with. Most lie somewhere between.

Please keep us updated and best of luck, mate.👍

User

Posted 06 Jun 2025 at 05:19

Thanks for your reply. The PSA is 7. Hopefully next week's PSMA Pet scan will confirm the absence of spread. Keeping my fingers crossed.

Best wishes.

User

Posted 06 Jun 2025 at 05:25

I think my description was poor Chris. She explained she could detect something on the MRI which suggested that surgery mightn't cleanly remove the gland. I guess that's why she's scheduled the PSMA PET scan? I'll clear that question up though, so thanks for the comment.

User

Posted 06 Jun 2025 at 05:26

Thank you for your reply and the link to Andy62. Much appreciated.

User

Posted 06 Jun 2025 at 08:17

Hi, I had a very similar diagnosis to you T3b (very early) N0 M0 Gleason 3+4 PSA 7.6. I was given the option of Surgery or HT/RT. One surgeon I spoke to said surgery would be none nerve sparing and I'll likely need salvage RT.

That very much swayed me to take the HT/RT route plus one session of HDR brachy.

I've not found side effects too bad and its not stopped me working or doing anything else for that matter. Will be glad when I'm off the HT though! Tiredness/Insomnia and achiness seem to be the worst of my symptoms, hot flushes there but not too bad, though have increased a bit lately. I'm just short of 1 year in of a 2 year course of Zoladex injections (3 monthly)

Hope all goes well with your PET scan

John

User

Posted 06 Jun 2025 at 08:22

Thanks John, I appreciate your reply and take comfort from it.

User

Posted 06 Jun 2025 at 08:59

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member

Thanks for your reply. The PSA is 7. Hopefully next week's PSMA Pet scan will confirm the absence of spread.

Hi again.

Sorry mate. I must have still been half asleep when I first posted. I now see you gave your PSA in your opening post. 🙈

Good luck with you scan.

There are several blokes here with T3b disease. I see, two of them, Dave and John, have already introduced themselves. You'll get lots of support here. 👍

Edited by member 06 Jun 2025 at 09:07 | Reason: Typo

User

Posted 06 Jun 2025 at 10:03

Hi mate. Sadly my diagnosis ended up with me being on HT for life with no cure ahead. It’s a different situation I guess but because I HAD to have it I’ve tolerated it extremely well. Not much weight gain at all , no moobs , still get horny but not as much. Biggest downside is fatigue and joint pain especially my knees. But QOL is key and I reckon I’d only do 2 years on it if I was curable.

User

Posted 06 Jun 2025 at 10:10

Sorry to read there's no cure ahead Chris, but pleased to read you're coping with the HT and grateful to you for sharing the fact.

Best wishes and thanks for your reply.

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