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Posted 9/27/2015 1:15 AM (GMT 0)
Hello:

Had my RP 18 months ago and the first 5 post-surgery PSAs registered <.04 which the urologist was fine with. Most recent one was .08. Doctor wants to try a different lab in 6 weeks. (Now 4 weeks)

I'm less concerned about the possibility of RT than I am the side effects. Are they temporary? Can they do permanent damage? Although, I did not have a difficult recovery as far as continence and ED are concerned, the idea of going through it again along with bowel trouble just blows my mind. And from what I read, there could still be failure.

I knew this was possible but I didn't realize that it could happen this quickly. There seem to be as many scenarios as there are men. Trying not to lose my mind while I wait.

Thank you.

Age at surgery: 58
Cancer contained within capsule. Nodes and Vesicles clear.
Gleason was 3&3 pre-op and 3&4 post.
Biopsy: 4 out or 12 positive.
Tumors were T2. (Can't remember the letters at the moment.)
Posted 9/27/2015 1:30 AM (GMT 0)
That ultra-sensitive PSA test came drive you crazy..The numbers just bounce around too much because of tiny differences in the assay..A "standard" test would still call you undetectable and you would feel much better...

Today, radiation treatment has made big advances over what it was just a few years ago..A modern LINAC and an expert Radiation Oncologist and side-effects are almost non-existent..A little fatigue, a little frequency and urgency and that's about it..A month after your treatment ends, you will never even know it happened...Will it produce a cure? That's still a 50-50 deal...Adding HT to the procedure can improve those numbers a little but there is a big side-effect hit with HT...
Posted 9/27/2015 3:02 AM (GMT 0)
You are still a long way away from being concerned with true recurrence, so don't let that number get into your head.

If you need salvage radiation, make sure you really, really need it. Won't repeat it here, its actually summarized on someone else's thread, but bad things can happen.

When I underwent SRT, I was only given about a 20% chance of it being a "cure". Mine failed within 6 months of completion, about the same length that my surgery failed.

Side effects can be mild and short term, for many men, and for others, not so fortunate. Main thing, make sure that you truly have recurrence, and not to jump the gun going into radiation.

If I could only go back in time, sigh.
Posted 9/27/2015 6:55 AM (GMT 0)
No one can predict how you will react to adjuvant radiation. Even with the best machines and image guidance, it can have long-lasting SEs, or it might be light and transient.

With your clean path report, it is especially a difficult decision. I suggest you look into Decipher. It's at least pretty good at predicting which men are not likely to need adjuvant radiation.

- Allen
Posted 9/27/2015 3:29 PM (GMT 0)
Gentlemen:

Thank you for the feedback. It allowed me to hit the reset button and slow the mental train down a bit.

Joe
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