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Dad's biopsy resulted in Gleason 4+4

User
Posted 04 Dec 2025 at 14:07

We've finally had biopsy results back and unfortunately it's a grade 4 (GS 4+4).

Specialist says the options are radiotherapy with hormone treatment or surgery - so basically everything.

My dad (63) is a bit of a fatalist and I expect he'll say he doesn't want any treatment - that the side effects are too much.

Is there any useful advice I can give him regarding his options?

User
Posted 04 Dec 2025 at 15:35

That is almost certainly curable. How old your dad is and other health conditions can make a difference as to whether it should be treated. If he were over 100 and had heart disease I would probably say don't bother treating the cancer.

The side effects of dieing from prostate cancer are far more unpleasant than the side effects of treatment.That is a good enough reason to get treated.

Dave

User
Posted 04 Dec 2025 at 15:51
If Dad has been offered surgery, it would seem his diagnosis is such that he would be treated with cureable intent. If this does not entirely kill all his cancer cells, RT may do so, perhaps in conjunction with Hormone treatment or he could go straight to RT. Severity and range of side effects can vary but most men would prefer the side effect risk rather than do nothing and risk the rotten death of PCa that can be a possibility. A lot can come down to life expectancy of the patient. 63 is quite young and an average man could expect twenty or more years but untreated PCa with shorten this. It often becomes the case regardless of PCa that as a man ages he can't perform as well as he once did. You slow down, react more slowly and need medical help to optimise what you have and can do. You might need to wear glasses, have dentures, use a walking stick, take pills to help regulate, need pads and or other things. You do go to the dentist, optician, GP or whoever. It makes sense to accept help and this is true for PCa too. The only reason I can think of for not doing anything is for men that only expect to have a short time left to them or have had enough of life. Suggest you tell Dad he is valued and you want him to be cured if possible so he can be about for many years even with a few side effects. You don't want him to face the possibility of an earlier and painful death if treatment might stop or defer this.
Barry
User
Posted 04 Dec 2025 at 18:20

Hello and welcome to the forum. 

I'm sorry that your dad has been diagnosed with PCa. Do you know his PSA and cancer staging. Is his cancer confined to the prostate. 

When I was 66 years old, my PSA was only 6 but I was finally diagnosed with Gleason 9 (4+5) and the cancer had breached the prostate capsule, T3a staging.

I opted for robotic surgery. Since the op, my PSA has been undetectable, touchwood. I can no longer get natural erections but still can with the help of penile injections. Life's pretty good.

Here's an excellent video which includes details on surgery and radiotherapy and hormone treatment. It lists possible side effects of each treatment.

https://youtu.be/zYTU94-8pTc?si=1Z29_l8rbTwF6DHl

If your dad decides to have surgery, this link is also worth watching.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fyYTLZpxnB9HaR7O4xQ5Ff58Pj4Cn6ZB/view?pli=1

It's great, that to help your dad, you've found us. You'll get lots of support here.

Please keep us updated, and good luck.👍

Edited by member 04 Dec 2025 at 18:26  | Reason: Additional text

 
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