Side effects from Seed Therapy and IMRT

Joe:

With your stats, either treatment should provide success.  The literature is mixed re which of these techniques would provide fewer side effects when done by a highly experienced doc.  I think the bulk of the evidence would favor BT but not by an overwhelming margin.  In either case, the only likely SE is the possibility of ED some years down the road (but less likely than with surgery).  With your prostate size you are certainly a good candidate for BT; BT is the less invasive and more convenient of the two and was my choice.

I don't know your age but, with your stats, it would seem that you might seriously consider AS as you might never need ANY treatment.

Tudpock

Brachytherapy (seed implant) seems to have a lower immediate incidence of ED than surgery.  By that,I understand that people who choose BT do not usually suffer erectile problems until a few years later.  I have always been uncomfortable with the fact that with BT you will always have  higher PSA numbers because you still have a prostate. I chose surgery because of my higher Gleason score.

If I were you, with the numbers in your diagnoses, I would consult with a urologist about AS or watchful waiting.  At least in the short term, you might be able to put off decision making for years.

I had both seeds and IMRT for a large G7 tumor. Had seeds in May and IMRT, 35 treatments, in July. The only side affects I had were frequency and urgency for about 4 weeks after seed implants. Both were very controllable and did not affect any of my daily activities. I palyed golf the day after seeds and about twice weekly during IMRT. Either treatment will work with few side affects. Seeds are convenient, with radiation you have to go about 8 or 9 weeks for 20 min every day. Seeds are a one time 45 min procedure.
Your prostate size of 24 grams is perfect for either procedure.
JohnT

Tud,
If it were a 3+4 then definately no. I would get a third opinion from Bostwich or Epstien on the path just to be sure. A 5% G6 is an excellent candidate for AS. Two doctors I saw for a 2nd opinion said they would never treat a G6 with 5% core as it is most likely indolant.
Joe, in any case you have a lot of time to make a decision.
JT

John, if all his cancer really is, is a 5% core Gleason 6, and assuming he doesn't have a family history of PC, sounds like a really good candidate for AS, one of the better ones I have seen here. With the right criteria like his, sounds like it might make perfect sense.

David in SC

With your stats there is a reasonable case to be made for watchfull waiting. As you can see, I am a surgery guy, but my younger brother had seeds at age 55. Now, 5 years later he reports that his only issue is ED and that Viagra deals with that very well.

Your problem is too many good choices and lots of time. You may want a consult with a prostate oncologist to help layout options.

Hi JJ, I was DX in 2003, 3+3, was on AS till 2008 when I had BT, no SE's, nothing, everything still works.
Make an informed choice and don't be panicked