Heading to the radiology oncologist tomorrow...

Urologist suggested a visit to the oncologist, appointment tomorrow to discuss options, most likely radiation.  What am I to expect as far as any additional tests go?  Forgot to ask?  If recommended, assume they'll likely want to start treatments ASAP?  Thanks...

Test before deciding to start? Maybe, depends. They might do a CT or MRI scan just to check things out. The doc might want to do a bone scan to set a baseline. Likely the choice will be made based on you PSA and RP pathology report. at .15 the scans might not show much or anything.

As for starting right away if you decide to do? - maybe, depends on your definition of ASAP. With your numbers you won't get shoved in tomorrow afternoon, but likely scheduled with the normal course of machine/doctor availability. For SRT there are steps that happen before they start the RT, CT scans, arguing with insurance, figuring out the machine program and stuff. That can all take 2-6 weeks before you start the daily treatments - depending on how busy your treatment center is.

Hang in there,
Andrew

It goes that way some times. In my brother's case we knew we really wanted to do Brachy but the insurance may us get a evaluation from the surgeon, to prove surgery wouldn't work. Then we were sent to the RO who did IMRT - again to show cause why my brother couldn't do that. Then we went to a URO who specialized in Brachy but turns out he is in a partnership with an RO who does the actual procedure so we had to be seen by both - and not they didn't share an office.

Took us the better part of 5 weeks to get through all these appointments and when finally approved we had to wait another 3 weeks for the procedure date.

All that to do what our first URO said to do ASAP. So it's possible that ASAP could mean some time in January...

Hang in there, you'll fight through it.
Andrew

I would suspect they want to shrink that 66 grams considerably with hormonal therapy or perhaps TURP, lazers, Avordart or something else before shooting Grays at such a large target that would increase the chances of damage to rectum or bladder.

You can see in my signature that mine shrank from 50.4 to 15 beofre my SBRT in 5 fractions rather than 35 with IMRT.

LupronJim