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Posted 8/30/2015 4:03 PM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone. I am new to this forum. I was diagnosed with prostate cancer in December of 2010. Hell of a Christmas present. Well for the the past few years my doctors and I have been watching it closely. The biopsy showed a low grade. 1 core had 10% cancer cell. the other 11 looked ok. It was repeated a year later with about the same results and the same area. So things were looking ok until this past year. PSA starting to rise and they did an MRI and it showed a little different picture of my prostate. One that I think the biopsy's really don't show. Now at my the advice of my Doctor it is time to decide what I choose to do for my future. I have done a lot of research on surgery vs radiation and talked with my father who also had prostate cancer. He is still doing good at 74 years old (he elected the radiation treatment). His advice to me was to make the best choice for me, the only bad choice was to ignore it and live in denial. So I am facing it with as positive an attitude as I can. I have the full support of my wife and family. This was not a decision I was looking to make at 56, but I know by this forum I am not alone.
Posted 8/30/2015 5:03 PM (GMT 0)
Pab, if you haven't already look at the "just diagnosed" thread Tom just started and, more important, the first two sticky threads at the top of the list.

The states of science and practice are rapidly changing, which is wonderful from the treatment perspective but complicates decision-making. I'll just say this--having spent much of the three months since my diagnosis learning about this cancer and its various treatment modalities, I'm sleeping quite a bit better now.

That's good news that your father did well; it suggests that any genetic predisposition you may have isn't toward one of the very aggressive forms.
Posted 8/30/2015 5:09 PM (GMT 0)
Pab, welcome to Healingwell, sounds like you've been very prudent in your decision making and no doubt will continue to make good decisions. Keep us posted.
Posted 8/30/2015 5:16 PM (GMT 0)
pab: I am not sure exactly what the MRI revealed and what your Uro is recommending. Since you were on AS I am assuming you were a G6. Apparently your Doc does not feel another biopsy is warranted and it is time to make treatment decisions. If that is the case, your dad gave you great advice. If you are still a G6 that has been confirmed by Epstien or Bostwick, than Surgery, LDR,HDR. SBRT, or EBRT all offer a curative route.

Others will surely chime in with sage advice far greater than mine. Until then I wish you the very best and keep us posted.
Posted 8/30/2015 5:17 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Pab and welcome-

I was 57 when I was diagnosed (see my signature). If you care to share the details of your current diagnosis , we may have suggestions. It helps to create a "signature" - My Profile>>Edit profile>>Signature and click "include signature" when you post. Also, if you care to mention where you are and any constraints on where you can get treatment, we may have suggestions.

Also, you get more hits when you include a subject.
Posted 8/30/2015 5:18 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome to HW.

It's a tough choice. For many us of, the difference between surgery and RT really comes down to personal choice and how you read the probabilities. Side effects differ slightly, effectiveness can be questioned and often there is little scientific evidence to prove one treatment is better than another.

I did RT and am biased towards that. The guys who did surgery will claim that's the best thing.

Keep researching and ask any questions you have, there are a bunch of folks here who know their stuff.

Andrew
Posted 8/30/2015 6:59 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome to the Prostate Cancer forum, a great place to get opinions and support. I had an open prostatectomy nine years ago, and had a similar profile to yours. The best advice I can offer is to be open to what turns out to be the right choice for you.

Take everything that each individual says with a grain of salt, then weigh our opinions, your research and your doctor's expert opinion together. You've got time on your side and don't have to decide in a day, a week or a month.

You can also feel free to email anyone who has listed this information in their profile. I remember the difficult days of deciding what to do as though they were yesterday. Take care , hang in there and keep in touch.
Posted 8/30/2015 8:44 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you all for your post. I will update my profile and keep you all post. I do have a lot off faith in my Dr's. He is in Manchester assachusetts and has performed many surgeries with the Davinci robot system.
Posted 8/30/2015 9:03 PM (GMT 0)
pab, you've got access to great physicians and facilities in Massachusetts. Use them. What I tell people is this: go big or go home. Meaning, get to the best facility and doctors you can find.

Surgery isn't the only option. I chose it, and have done well with it. Others in here have done one of the several radiation therapies, and done well. You'd probably do well with either.
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