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46 Yrs Old - PSA level 7.9

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User
Posted 18 Feb 2026 at 22:02

Hi there,

              I am 46 years old, and received the news today that my recent PSA test result came back as 7.9. I previously had a PSA test back in November, after symptoms such as needing to pee frequently, and also some discomfort in the perineum area. The test result then was 8.4. I then had a follow-up up test about a week later and it had risen to 10!

I had a DRE the next day which I was told felt normal, but I was suspected of having prostatitis and was given a two week course of antibiotics. I was also told to have a follow-up PSA test which got a bit delayed due to Xmas etc hence where I am today.

I am now on a waiting list referral for an MRI scan and feeling more anxious as I hoped it was just prostatitis, but now thinking the worst that it could be cancer, and at age 46 could be aggressive! 

So, just came on here for support I guess. I know it is a waiting game now, but just wanted to get guidance or perspectives from others in similar situations. Also, not sure about the change in PSA levels going up then down again - seems strange!

User
Posted 16 Apr 2026 at 11:44

Hi again, Jonny.

If you're considering surgery, get the best you can. Retzius sparing, CUP (complete urethal preseservation and Neuro-safe would be ideal. They limit the chances of incontinence, erectile dysfunction and having positive surgical margins which could increase the chances of recurrence.

I don't know how available this Rolls Royce of RARP is and whether it comes free on the NHS. 

I 'borrowed' this from https://prostatematters.co.uk/.

It's by an eminent prostate surgeon.

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

I think it's 'must view' video, if surgery is your prefered option.

Best of luck, mate. πŸ‘

Edited by member 16 Apr 2026 at 11:50  | Reason: Add link

User
Posted 19 Feb 2026 at 00:16

We have had people with higher PSA than that who have had the all clear. My PSA was 28 and then fell to 23 and then 21. I did have cancer, but I suspect I also had prostatitis. Hence the falling PSA. It is a waiting game for you now, but don't worry too much. 

Dave

User
Posted 19 Feb 2026 at 08:36

Hello Jon,

Sorry you find yourself here, but there are lots of helpful people and information here. Waiting for results is very stressful and worrying.

I was 48 when I had some similar PSA results to you, 10.7, then after some antibiotics, it dropped to 7.6. I was also sent for MRI. PSA can fluctuate anyway, time of day its done can make a difference too. Unfortunately the MRi did come back with an area of suspicion.

The nurse specialist who was dealing with my case admitted she was very surprised it came back with issues, the following biopsy confirmed it was cancer.

I had no symptoms and went to the doctors with another issue where they were very thorough and did lots of tests including PSA. Your symptoms do sound like they could well be prostatitis

Fingers crossed that's what it is

 

All the best 

John

 

User
Posted 20 Feb 2026 at 12:38

Don’t read anything into the quick timeline other than the trust trying to meet their targets. I do know how you feel though. You think they know something you don’t.

My own timeline was letter sent from GP on Friday around midday. Phone call the next day for MRI on Monday evening at 8pm. Phone Tuesday morning with results. Biopsy the following Tuesday. Got me thinking they must know it’s urgent, but no. I was positive but 3+4 and went on active surveillance. So no rush at all. 

User
Posted 21 Feb 2026 at 10:00

Hi Jon,

The waiting is the hardest part, but be positive you're in the system now to get to the bottom of the reason for the elevated PSA. In my case it all moved very quickly. Rest assured if you do need treatment (fingers crossed you don't) but if you do, you will feel much better when you know what you are dealing with. 

All the best,

hawkz.

User
Posted 21 Feb 2026 at 23:47

Hi Jonny

Sorry to hear that you’re going through this process, as everybody has said the period waiting for results is the most difficult and you can’t help but think about all of the possible outcomes. Try and keep yourself busy and positive, the speed of the process doesn’t indicate any particular urgency as you should be on the 2 week pathway and so it’s good that your trust are seeing you quickly. All the best with your outcome, there lots of support on here for you and so just reach and let us know how things go.

Best wishes 

Jamie 

User
Posted 22 Feb 2026 at 17:57

Good luck for tomorrow. My experience is that the hospital will take the time to explain the findings of the investigations very clearly. Don't be afraid to ask any questions. Whatever your situation turns out to be the management of prostate problems these days is very impressive. Even prostate cancer itself covers a surprisingly wide range of types with differing needs for monitoring/treatments. Also there's lots of wisdom and experience on these community boards for you to tap into as your situation becomes clearer. All the best. 

User
Posted 03 Mar 2026 at 23:10

Hi Jon,

It's good you're getting yourself checked and have some results to begin with. A biopsy isn't pleasant and unless very unlucky can't think you'll have any complications. Nothing compared to the possible complications down the line if you leave it. I think you already answered your own question anyway.

ATB,

hawkz

Edited by member 03 Mar 2026 at 23:12  | Reason: typo

User
Posted 04 Mar 2026 at 00:03

Good manπŸ‘πŸ‘

User
Posted 04 Mar 2026 at 08:56

Hi, Jon.

As Hawkz said, Id get a biopsy. Better safe than sorry.

I've had two prostate biopsies and found neither of them too troublesome.

Good luck, mate.πŸ‘

User
Posted 04 Mar 2026 at 11:11

Hi Jon,

In your position I'd also go for a biopsy so you really know what you're dealing with. My MRI PI-RADS was 4 so I definately needed a biopsy. The result was a small area of Gleason 3+3 (lowest grade of prostate cancer) which demands Active Surveillance rather than any immediate treatment. I found the biopsy not too bad once the local anaesthetic was in (that was rather painful but is brief) and the taking of the samples was not a problem. Just be aware that unlike MRI results, biopsy results seem to several weeks, depending on where you live - they should give you an estimate of when you'll hear back when you have the biopsy. Mine took 4 weeks to be reported and just missed the hospital weekly multi-disciplinary meeting so it was 5 weeks before I went in to get the result (Cornwall). Hard not to worry during the wait but your MRI doesn't sound too bad. All the best, John B.

User
Posted 11 Mar 2026 at 18:34

🀞

ATB mate,

hawkz

User
Posted 11 Mar 2026 at 20:58

All the best and I hope your part of the country gives you the results relatively quickly.

User
Posted 15 Mar 2026 at 22:35

Hi Jon,

It's good that you've got the biopsy over with. Blood in the urine is an expected side effect. Also disconcerting is blood in the semen and that lasts longer than the urine blood. Hopefully the hospital gave you some written information about these things. It will resolve. I didn't get any strange taste after biopsy but I was a bit shaky and probably would not have noticed anyway!

Hope you get results soon and can move forward. But be warned, the histology services tend to take a while (can be several weeks) to report. It's painstaking work to slice the samples and look at them under microscopes to check the cells for abnormality and if there is any to grade it to get a Gleason score.

All the best

John B

User
Posted 15 Apr 2026 at 23:28

Jonny, I was 46 when I was diagnosed with PCa.  I was T3b and Gleason 4+5.

Prostatectomy, salvage radiotherapy and hormone therapy.

9.5 years later, I'm still alive and well.

I wish you well with your chosen treatments.

User
Posted 16 Apr 2026 at 08:36

Hello Jonny,

Sorry to hear your about your results came back positive for cancer. Your results were similar to mine, I was also 3+4.

I opted for RT/HT in the end as I was also T3b meaning that surgery would be none nerve sparing and I would most likely need salvage radiotherapy, seemed like a double wammy of potential side effects. I was however recommended surgery by one surgeon, and RT/HT by another which made choosing rather stressful!

Ultimately the survival results are generally the same via either route, as are side effects. Someone described the side effects to me like a wedge just flipped round depending on the route you take. Surgery you get hit straight away (big end of wedge), but over time things can and do improve. Whilst with HT/RT side effects increase over time due to fibrosis (scarring) so ED can become an issue.

If my staging wasn't as far along so surgery could have been nerve sparing and recurrence less likely, I think I would have taken that option. I liked the idea of it being out, I did have worries over surgery as I've never had any before either.

It would be worth speaking to both a surgeon and radiologist just to get a view of all your options.

All the best

John

 

 

User
Posted 16 Apr 2026 at 09:18

Hi Jonny, sorry to hear your result was positive and you now have to decide on treatment. One thing to bear in mind is that if you have surgery the subsequent monitoring is very clear cut - PSA will fall to pretty much zero and stay there unless there has been some spread. If that were the case then follow up radiotherapy is possible to eradicate previously undetected local spread. However, I gather that if you have radiotherapy as the first line treatment, subsequent surgery is very difficult and may not even be possible. As another person said, surgery will cause immediate side effects but these can and do get better whereas radiotherapy gives little side effect initially but they get worse over time. What side effects you're finally left with (after either treatment route) is probably impossible to say because it varies from person to person. Ask lots of questions but if you're being advised to have surgery, that's probably the best option. Good luck.

John

User
Posted 16 Apr 2026 at 11:08

Hi Jonny,

It's probably the time to diagnosis that's made you feel tired. I know I found it exhausting, the tests and waiting, but things will improve from here as you get your head around it and adapt to the new 'normal'.

Sounds like you've caught it early though which is great, so surgery is an option, and you have age on your side which will hopefully aid in a speedy recovery, so I'd be considering robotic surgery, with back up of RT if necessary.

Hopefully others will post who have had the surgery and done well.

ATB,

hawkz

User
Posted 17 Apr 2026 at 14:33

Hi Jonny, I have found videos by Dr Charles Chabert of The Prostate Clinic in Australia very helpful. I notice he's just posted a new one called Avoid Wrong Treatment which gives a very measured overview of making treatment decisions and the key questions to ask. It's well worth 15 minutes to have a look at. Just search The Prostate Clinic on You Tube and it will be top of the list. Hope this might be helpful to you. All the best.

John

User
Posted 07 May 2026 at 21:20

Hi Jon,

I'm really sorry to read that you are going through this. The period between diagnosis and surgery is a very worrying time, a leap into the unknown, but things will get better. I am 62 and had the same surgery as you 5 months ago. Everyone is different, but I recovered very quickly from surgery. With youth on your side, I think you have a very good chance of doing so too. Also, I had a huge feeling of relief afterwards that my unwelcome squatter had been evicted.

I also had some lymph nodes removed, I think this is fairly common and is done because if there has been any spread of cancer beyond your prostate, nearby lymph nodes would be one of the first places it would show. After surgery a pathology lab will examine the prostate tissue, lymph nodes and seminal vesicles to confirm the grade of cancer and if it has spread outside the prostate. They are not doing this because they think the cancer has spread, but to provide reassurance that it hasn't. It shouldn't result in a longer stay in hospital. I was only in for one night but some on my ward were kept in for 2 for various reasons. I am not aware of any issues to do with having lymph nodes removed, certainly I haven't noticed anything.

Dave

 

Edited by member 07 May 2026 at 21:28  | Reason: Not specified

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User
Posted 19 Feb 2026 at 00:16

We have had people with higher PSA than that who have had the all clear. My PSA was 28 and then fell to 23 and then 21. I did have cancer, but I suspect I also had prostatitis. Hence the falling PSA. It is a waiting game for you now, but don't worry too much. 

Dave

User
Posted 19 Feb 2026 at 08:04

Hi Dave,

              Thanks for your reply. Yes, I have seen other posts where guys have had higher PSA readings than mine and been given the all clear. I know there's no guarantee either way so just need to try and take it one step at a time and not over-worry I guess - easier said than done though! I woke up a few times in the night with very strange dreams in between so it is obviously playing on my mind!

Cheers,

             Jon

User
Posted 19 Feb 2026 at 08:36

Hello Jon,

Sorry you find yourself here, but there are lots of helpful people and information here. Waiting for results is very stressful and worrying.

I was 48 when I had some similar PSA results to you, 10.7, then after some antibiotics, it dropped to 7.6. I was also sent for MRI. PSA can fluctuate anyway, time of day its done can make a difference too. Unfortunately the MRi did come back with an area of suspicion.

The nurse specialist who was dealing with my case admitted she was very surprised it came back with issues, the following biopsy confirmed it was cancer.

I had no symptoms and went to the doctors with another issue where they were very thorough and did lots of tests including PSA. Your symptoms do sound like they could well be prostatitis

Fingers crossed that's what it is

 

All the best 

John

 

User
Posted 19 Feb 2026 at 15:30

Hi John,

              Thanks for your message of support. Yes, I also hope that it is just Prostatitis, but I am also mentally preparing myself for the worst! I guess it is only natural to do so.

I am a bit of a hypochondriac, so this is not the first time I have had a health scare. But I guess it is the first time it has been backed up by some reasonable evidence that something is not quite right. Just need to find out exactly what is going on.

Cheers

.         Jon

User
Posted 20 Feb 2026 at 12:16

So, a quick update: I got a phonecall today about my referral - hospital appointment on Monday! 

I am not sure if I should be more concerned that I got booked in quickly - did they think it was that urgent?

Or maybe I am just reading too much into that and it is down to the NHS actually being efficient for once!

Anyway, I am feeling slightly more stressed now. My partner is at work so can't talk to her about it till later. My Mum died last year and she would have been the other person I would have spoken to about it. Just kinda feel in limbo at the moment.

User
Posted 20 Feb 2026 at 12:38

Don’t read anything into the quick timeline other than the trust trying to meet their targets. I do know how you feel though. You think they know something you don’t.

My own timeline was letter sent from GP on Friday around midday. Phone call the next day for MRI on Monday evening at 8pm. Phone Tuesday morning with results. Biopsy the following Tuesday. Got me thinking they must know it’s urgent, but no. I was positive but 3+4 and went on active surveillance. So no rush at all. 

User
Posted 21 Feb 2026 at 10:00

Hi Jon,

The waiting is the hardest part, but be positive you're in the system now to get to the bottom of the reason for the elevated PSA. In my case it all moved very quickly. Rest assured if you do need treatment (fingers crossed you don't) but if you do, you will feel much better when you know what you are dealing with. 

All the best,

hawkz.

User
Posted 21 Feb 2026 at 23:47

Hi Jonny

Sorry to hear that you’re going through this process, as everybody has said the period waiting for results is the most difficult and you can’t help but think about all of the possible outcomes. Try and keep yourself busy and positive, the speed of the process doesn’t indicate any particular urgency as you should be on the 2 week pathway and so it’s good that your trust are seeing you quickly. All the best with your outcome, there lots of support on here for you and so just reach and let us know how things go.

Best wishes 

Jamie 

User
Posted 22 Feb 2026 at 16:01

Thanks for your kind and supportive words everyone. I'm still feeling anxious about tomorrow. Just because it feels a bit more real now, and I seem to have convinced myself that the outcome is not going to be good.

I seem to have developed a load of other aches and pains which of course in my mind is convincing me that it is something serious!

But I guess I just need to wait and see.

Cheers,

             Jon

User
Posted 22 Feb 2026 at 17:57

Good luck for tomorrow. My experience is that the hospital will take the time to explain the findings of the investigations very clearly. Don't be afraid to ask any questions. Whatever your situation turns out to be the management of prostate problems these days is very impressive. Even prostate cancer itself covers a surprisingly wide range of types with differing needs for monitoring/treatments. Also there's lots of wisdom and experience on these community boards for you to tap into as your situation becomes clearer. All the best. 

User
Posted 03 Mar 2026 at 22:33

A quick update:

So, last Monday, no MRI as I thought, just another consultation with a Dr, who did another DRE - felt nothing abnormal. He did prescribe Tamsulosin which I have just started taking. He suggested having an MRI just in case, especially with the high PSA levels.

As I was driving home, I got a call about a scan two days later on Wednesday! So, I had that done, and got a call about the results tonight. The Dr said that the results came back as borderline PI-RADS 2/3, so it is not clear if it could potentially be anything serious or not.

He suggested two options: firstly the 'wait and see' option, checking PSA levels every so often.

The other option is a biopsy to check further. I am in two minds, as I know that a biopsy can have side-effects and possibly some complications. However, I can't help feel that the risk is worth it for peace of mind - or to detect something early on. I just wondered what others thoughts are about this?

User
Posted 03 Mar 2026 at 23:10

Hi Jon,

It's good you're getting yourself checked and have some results to begin with. A biopsy isn't pleasant and unless very unlucky can't think you'll have any complications. Nothing compared to the possible complications down the line if you leave it. I think you already answered your own question anyway.

ATB,

hawkz

Edited by member 03 Mar 2026 at 23:12  | Reason: typo

User
Posted 04 Mar 2026 at 00:02

Thanks Hawkz

Yes, I think I already convinced myself! In any case, I told the Dr to go ahead with the biopsy. I think I would rather know either way!

Cheers,

             Jon

User
Posted 04 Mar 2026 at 00:03

Good manπŸ‘πŸ‘

User
Posted 04 Mar 2026 at 08:56

Hi, Jon.

As Hawkz said, Id get a biopsy. Better safe than sorry.

I've had two prostate biopsies and found neither of them too troublesome.

Good luck, mate.πŸ‘

User
Posted 04 Mar 2026 at 11:11

Hi Jon,

In your position I'd also go for a biopsy so you really know what you're dealing with. My MRI PI-RADS was 4 so I definately needed a biopsy. The result was a small area of Gleason 3+3 (lowest grade of prostate cancer) which demands Active Surveillance rather than any immediate treatment. I found the biopsy not too bad once the local anaesthetic was in (that was rather painful but is brief) and the taking of the samples was not a problem. Just be aware that unlike MRI results, biopsy results seem to several weeks, depending on where you live - they should give you an estimate of when you'll hear back when you have the biopsy. Mine took 4 weeks to be reported and just missed the hospital weekly multi-disciplinary meeting so it was 5 weeks before I went in to get the result (Cornwall). Hard not to worry during the wait but your MRI doesn't sound too bad. All the best, John B.

User
Posted 11 Mar 2026 at 18:12

Hi there,

              So  yesterday I got a call from the hospital about my biopsy. It is booked in for tomorrow afternoon. 

I am hoping it is the transperineal method as that is my preferred option. Not sure if I will get a choice or not.

It is at a hospital with a specialist Urology department for the area, so hopefully I will be in good hands!

Anyway, I'll let you know how it all goes.

Jon

User
Posted 11 Mar 2026 at 18:34

🀞

ATB mate,

hawkz

User
Posted 11 Mar 2026 at 20:58

All the best and I hope your part of the country gives you the results relatively quickly.

User
Posted 15 Mar 2026 at 19:38

I had the biopsy on Thursday as planned. I had to wait an hour or so after the time I was given as they were running behind - just added to the nerves! It didn't help when I asked one of the nurses if she knew which type of biopsy I was having and her answer made it seem it was the transrectal type which I wanted avoid.

Thankfully, when I finally got to speak to the Dr for my pre-op consultation, he talked through it and made it clear it was the transperineal type - phew! I think I might have been confused by the nurse mentioning the ultrasound probe going up the bum!

I have to say I found the biopsy to be slightly traumatic. Not because of the pain which after the anaesthetic was mostly bearable, but just the indignity of it all. Sitting in the chair with the stirrups, my butt and everything on show! I am quite a shy and reserved guy, and I am not keen on being touched by strangers, so I just had to grin and bear it. Also the sound of the biopsy needle taking a sample which sounded like a staple gun being fired at me! 

There was a friendly nurse who kept chatting to me, probably to distract me, but I just wanted to shut up and get it over with. At one point my legs started shaking, probably because I was tensing up so much!

Anyway, it is done now. Just got a few side effects of soreness, which I hope should fade soon, and blood in my urine, which I think (and hope) is normal. Apart from a bit afterwards, it didn't start until yesterday, so I don't know if there is a delayed reaction. It was a bit disconcerting at first. I'm not sure how long it usually lasts for.

Also, did anyone else get a weird taste in their mouth after the biopsy - a bit like Alka-Seltzer? Is that an after effect of the anaesthetic?

So, just got to wait for the results now!  🀞 

User
Posted 15 Mar 2026 at 22:35

Hi Jon,

It's good that you've got the biopsy over with. Blood in the urine is an expected side effect. Also disconcerting is blood in the semen and that lasts longer than the urine blood. Hopefully the hospital gave you some written information about these things. It will resolve. I didn't get any strange taste after biopsy but I was a bit shaky and probably would not have noticed anyway!

Hope you get results soon and can move forward. But be warned, the histology services tend to take a while (can be several weeks) to report. It's painstaking work to slice the samples and look at them under microscopes to check the cells for abnormality and if there is any to grade it to get a Gleason score.

All the best

John B

User
Posted 16 Mar 2026 at 21:27

Thanks John,

                       Any idea what a normal level of blood in urine is? I didn't have much for the first day or so, but the last few days it has been a reddish colour for the first bit that comes out each time and then the rest has been pinkish.

Earlier today there were a few little red bits that came out as well - about a mm or two in diameter - blood clots maybe? 

I went back to work today and it seemed a bit more noticeable. Maybe it is because I have been more active?

Just wondered when I might need to get it checked out - should it start to let less noticeable in colour over the next few days?

Or am I just worried over nothing? I feel OK otherwise.

 

User
Posted 16 Mar 2026 at 22:38

In my case there was blood in my urine for about 4 days. Also had red specks at times. But we're all different, and I'm not medically trained! If you're worried I'd call the urology department in the morning. Hope it all settles soon. 

User
Posted 17 Mar 2026 at 09:00

Hi Jon,

I was lucky with very little blood in my urine but, as another person said, we are all different. The biopsy Risk & Side Effects list I was given by my hospital in Cornwall says "Blood in urine for up to 10 days - almost all men", "blood in semen which may last up to 6 weeks, red or brown in colour - almost all men" and then goes on to list other less common side effects. The advice I was given was to make sure to drink plenty which helps flush things through and to get in touch urgently if I could not pass urine (which can happen but is reasonably rare). If you're getting stressed by it you can always call the Urology specialist nurses for advice.

John B 

User
Posted 15 Apr 2026 at 20:48

Hi all,

          So, last Saturday I finally had my biopsy result. Although I was prepared that it could be bad news, I was still shocked to hear that I have cancer. Gleason 3+4 overall, although only a few areas were graded 4.

The doctor told me that the recommended treatment is surgery to remove the prostate, as due to my younger age radiotherapy is not the best option. The prospect of this terrifies me as I have never had any surgery, and the thought of the after effects on my bodily functions does not appeal to me.

But I guess it is the best option to (hopefully) rid myself of the cancer in one go.

I feel like I am in a state of limbo at the moment. Just taking each day as it comes. Also feeling really tired, but not sure if that is just the anxiety. Can Stage 1 cancer make you feel tired?

User
Posted 15 Apr 2026 at 23:28

Jonny, I was 46 when I was diagnosed with PCa.  I was T3b and Gleason 4+5.

Prostatectomy, salvage radiotherapy and hormone therapy.

9.5 years later, I'm still alive and well.

I wish you well with your chosen treatments.

User
Posted 16 Apr 2026 at 08:36

Hello Jonny,

Sorry to hear your about your results came back positive for cancer. Your results were similar to mine, I was also 3+4.

I opted for RT/HT in the end as I was also T3b meaning that surgery would be none nerve sparing and I would most likely need salvage radiotherapy, seemed like a double wammy of potential side effects. I was however recommended surgery by one surgeon, and RT/HT by another which made choosing rather stressful!

Ultimately the survival results are generally the same via either route, as are side effects. Someone described the side effects to me like a wedge just flipped round depending on the route you take. Surgery you get hit straight away (big end of wedge), but over time things can and do improve. Whilst with HT/RT side effects increase over time due to fibrosis (scarring) so ED can become an issue.

If my staging wasn't as far along so surgery could have been nerve sparing and recurrence less likely, I think I would have taken that option. I liked the idea of it being out, I did have worries over surgery as I've never had any before either.

It would be worth speaking to both a surgeon and radiologist just to get a view of all your options.

All the best

John

 

 

User
Posted 16 Apr 2026 at 09:18

Hi Jonny, sorry to hear your result was positive and you now have to decide on treatment. One thing to bear in mind is that if you have surgery the subsequent monitoring is very clear cut - PSA will fall to pretty much zero and stay there unless there has been some spread. If that were the case then follow up radiotherapy is possible to eradicate previously undetected local spread. However, I gather that if you have radiotherapy as the first line treatment, subsequent surgery is very difficult and may not even be possible. As another person said, surgery will cause immediate side effects but these can and do get better whereas radiotherapy gives little side effect initially but they get worse over time. What side effects you're finally left with (after either treatment route) is probably impossible to say because it varies from person to person. Ask lots of questions but if you're being advised to have surgery, that's probably the best option. Good luck.

John

User
Posted 16 Apr 2026 at 11:08

Hi Jonny,

It's probably the time to diagnosis that's made you feel tired. I know I found it exhausting, the tests and waiting, but things will improve from here as you get your head around it and adapt to the new 'normal'.

Sounds like you've caught it early though which is great, so surgery is an option, and you have age on your side which will hopefully aid in a speedy recovery, so I'd be considering robotic surgery, with back up of RT if necessary.

Hopefully others will post who have had the surgery and done well.

ATB,

hawkz

User
Posted 16 Apr 2026 at 11:44

Hi again, Jonny.

If you're considering surgery, get the best you can. Retzius sparing, CUP (complete urethal preseservation and Neuro-safe would be ideal. They limit the chances of incontinence, erectile dysfunction and having positive surgical margins which could increase the chances of recurrence.

I don't know how available this Rolls Royce of RARP is and whether it comes free on the NHS. 

I 'borrowed' this from https://prostatematters.co.uk/.

It's by an eminent prostate surgeon.

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

I think it's 'must view' video, if surgery is your prefered option.

Best of luck, mate. πŸ‘

Edited by member 16 Apr 2026 at 11:50  | Reason: Add link

User
Posted 16 Apr 2026 at 14:43

CUP sounds like a brilliant recent development!

User
Posted 17 Apr 2026 at 14:33

Hi Jonny, I have found videos by Dr Charles Chabert of The Prostate Clinic in Australia very helpful. I notice he's just posted a new one called Avoid Wrong Treatment which gives a very measured overview of making treatment decisions and the key questions to ask. It's well worth 15 minutes to have a look at. Just search The Prostate Clinic on You Tube and it will be top of the list. Hope this might be helpful to you. All the best.

John

User
Posted 18 Apr 2026 at 13:06

Thankyou to everyone for your supportive comments and helpful suggestions. I will take a look at the websites/ YouTube videos over the next week.

I find I can only look at so much information at a time as otherwise I dwell on it too much. I also have to remember to live my life and not obsess about it! It is difficult not to though. I can't believe it is already a week since I found out. I have had a bit of an up and down week really with bad days and better days.

I also feel like I need to start telling people apart from my partner and work who are the only ones who know. I am finding it difficult thinking about how/when to tell them. Like my dad and sister for instance. And maybe some of my close friends I have know for 30 years. Is it better face to face or OK to just send them a message/ phone them?

 

User
Posted 18 Apr 2026 at 14:43

Hi Jonny, I know what you mean about information overload at this stage when you're trying to get a handle on what comes next. I usually find that I feel better on health issues when I've got a definate plan of action and things are less up in the air. As for telling people, I'd take it at your own pace and not get rushed. Apart from close family you probably don't need to feel any obligation to share too much - especially if this gives you more stress. Do what you feel comfortable with. Remember it's good that the cancer has been caught and is treatable - probably completely curable. I wish you well and hope you keep in touch with this forum as you progress.

John

User
Posted 07 May 2026 at 18:50

So, all things being well, my robotic radical Prostatectomy will be taking place this coming Saturday.

I am am feeling very anxious about it all as I have never had any surgery, and I'm also worried about the post-surgery recovery.

At the moment I feel reasonably fine health wise, so it seems weird to be having surgery which will make me feel worse.

I also got a call from the surgeon today asking if I have any questions, but also asking me if I would consider having some of the nearby lymph nodes removed as well which freaked me out a bit! 

He said he would call me back tomorrow to talk about it more, but I was just wondering if this is standard? He's got me worried that they think the cancer has spread...or is it just to check that? 

It could mean a longer stay in hospital which I am not looking forward to, but not sure if it is a good idea or not - any thoughts?

Jon

User
Posted 07 May 2026 at 21:20

Hi Jon,

I'm really sorry to read that you are going through this. The period between diagnosis and surgery is a very worrying time, a leap into the unknown, but things will get better. I am 62 and had the same surgery as you 5 months ago. Everyone is different, but I recovered very quickly from surgery. With youth on your side, I think you have a very good chance of doing so too. Also, I had a huge feeling of relief afterwards that my unwelcome squatter had been evicted.

I also had some lymph nodes removed, I think this is fairly common and is done because if there has been any spread of cancer beyond your prostate, nearby lymph nodes would be one of the first places it would show. After surgery a pathology lab will examine the prostate tissue, lymph nodes and seminal vesicles to confirm the grade of cancer and if it has spread outside the prostate. They are not doing this because they think the cancer has spread, but to provide reassurance that it hasn't. It shouldn't result in a longer stay in hospital. I was only in for one night but some on my ward were kept in for 2 for various reasons. I am not aware of any issues to do with having lymph nodes removed, certainly I haven't noticed anything.

Dave

 

Edited by member 07 May 2026 at 21:28  | Reason: Not specified

 
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