RP Surgery or SBRT Radiation - Decision Time

Dear T.S. Eliot
I'm hoping the SBRT is going well or has completed and that you are having a strong heart for whatever is unfolding.

Because your details are similar to mine, 4 +3 in the lesion and other 3 + 4's, age and because you took some months to decide, like me, but a little earlier, I am especially interested in your process.

I am coming closer to a decision, narrowing down to 2 paths, one of which is SBRT, and talking to possible providers of each one next week I hope. I do have a backup path I'm exploring also.

Blessings, Manticore

Good luck with it all Mark!

Sending positive energy your way.

Roger

Appreciate this post and replies. I was at same point, and just made decision couple weeks ago to go for surgery at MSKCC. For personal reasons I think this is the correct way to go for me. I'm not happy about it, but we do need to act at some point. I feel that I have secured the best surgeon for the procedure and did the best I could in research and decision making, having joined groups like this and a PCa support group locally and listened to all the doctors and experienced men - and praying all the time to the God who is in complete control!

Keep researching and thinking and thinking and thinking. And acting - doing. Praying for you.

Bruce
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DX 1/2/2018 56 yo.
PSA 3.76 7/2015; 3.97 7/2017; 4.02 10/2017; 3.7 with free PSA 0.46ng/L free pct. 12.4%
Biopsy 1 12 cores 12/15/2017 pathology report a (Quest): 2 cores 3+3 10%, 5%; 2 cores 3+4 20%, 35%; pathology report b (MSKCC) 6 cores 3+3 8%, 20%, 4%, 40%, 4%, 10%
Biopsy 2 14 cores (MSKCC) 4 cores 3+3 40%, 5%, 50%, 40%; 1 core 3+4 40%(s) 5%(4)

TS Eliott
I am glad you did not fall into RP surgery trap.
Post biopsy I had very similar findings like you. Gleson 7 (4+3) 55% Gleson 4.
I did go surgical route of removal of my prostate on 11/2/2016. I did not want surgery but my wife who happened to be a nurse in urology clinic at a teaching hospital wanted me to have a surgery and also my urologist surgeon and RO recommended surgery and I accepted it against my will
after surgery, in recovery of erectile function, my wife distanced herself and became non existent in our sex life. At almost 18 months post RP with bilateral nerve sparing and resection of PLND, my recovery did not start yet even after extensive and expensive penile rehab.
Only good thing was my post op Gleson was downgraded to 3+4 where 4 was 40%.
Surgery killed my QOL. I lost my functionality and last my penis, I have just second navel down there where penis used tu hung.
I am very disappointed with surgery.
MK

T. S. Eliot and Manticore - Look back to my early posts and you will be able to follow much of my SBRT experience, which was about 15 months ago.

We're all different, and the slight differences in treatment protocols may drive some different patient reactions, but I think my posted experiences may help you from afar.

You've made the decision which is best for YOU. Don't let anyone second-guess your call. Just follow the plan and you will come out the other end in fine shape.

MK - Don't beat yourself up too much. Each case is different and we make the best decision we can based on the data we have at the time. It is not a perfect science; if it was, we wouldn't have such diverging primary treatments. Hang in there and take one day forward. Regards. TS