Posted 9/25/2016 1:32 PM (GMT 0)
Under the heading of a link "Prostate Cancer Means Choosing Between Surgery or Radiation", the surgeon, Dr. Samadi (not surpisingly) makes the case for surgery having a better chance of long term success than radiation for those with localized cancer. SE's mostly not addressed.
Hoping for TA and other of the more knowledgeable posters to comment.
"The diagnosis of prostate cancer will mean a man will have many decisions to make, and one of the most important decisions is whether to treat it with surgery or radiation.
A decision of this magnitude must not be taken lightly and a man will need to do his research.
A thorough discussion with his urologist and/or oncologist on the pros and cons of each can guide a man on deciding what direction is best for him and his overall health.
At the time of diagnosis, prostate cancer will be staged according to how much cancer a patient has, if the cancer has spread beyond the prostate to surrounding tissues, and what their prostate specific antigen (PSA) level is.
The reason is that patients treated with radiation are twice as likely to die from prostate cancer, and one-and-a-half times more likely to die sooner than men who had prostate cancer treated with surgery.
In addition, a man who has radiation over surgery may be exposing himself to developing a secondary cancer, such as bladder cancer or rectal cancer, due to the possible side effects from radiation to that area of the body.
If a man chooses radiation over surgery and the cancer comes back, it is extremely difficult to perform surgery after radiation.
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Another factor men need to consider is if the cancer is found only in the prostate, men who have their prostate removed with surgery have an almost 100% survival rate.
However, if a man chooses radiation over surgery first and then finds out the cancer has spread outside of the prostate gland, the chances or a man living longer than five years is less than 30%.
Finding a qualified and experienced surgeon is another very important factor when considering surgery to remove the prostate.
A man should always ask a surgeon about his experience and number of successful surgeries for prostate cancer he has performed, in regards to rate of cancer return, urinary continence and sexual function after the removal of the prostate."