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Medical Oncologist vs Radiation Oncologist versus urologist for follow up care

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Prostate Cancer
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Posted 1/29/2017 2:51 AM (GMT 0)
My husband is completing IMRT EBT next week and has 18 months left on ADT. His radiation oncologist has said either he could follow him through the remaining 18 months of ADT or his original urologist could. I like and respect both of these doctors. BUT I have requested my husband be followed by a medical oncologist. Both the urologist and the radiation oncologist say absolutely not unless has biochemical failure. Am I just being paranoid? My husband does not want an oncologist. How hard do I push or do I? Should I just wait and see if his PSA does go as planned? Thanks everyone for any input/opinions as I am worried stressed wife trying hard not to show it to my husband

For some reason my signature is not showing but my husband was Gleason 9 in one of 3 MRI guided biopsy samples (4+5) and the other two were Gleason 7, with positive mucosal SVI with Gleason 7. CT and Bone Scans were negative. Initial PSA was 9 on Finasteride.
Posted 1/29/2017 3:54 AM (GMT 0)
With a Gleason 9, you and your husband may well be on for a long, many faceted struggle. An MO would normally be the type of physician in overall charge pf a complex case. Best wishes to both of you.

NewspaperLover
Posted 1/29/2017 4:20 AM (GMT 0)
I think it is a mistake to bring in a medical oncologist while the cancer is still curable. MOs have a different skill set from urologists or ROs, and really don't have the specialized knowledge that Uros and ROs have. What exactly is it that you think an MO can do for your husband at this point?

Between the RO and the Uro, it may make sense to stick with the RO for awhile. He is used to dealing with radiation-induced side effects, and has a better understanding about how to watch for signs of recurrence after radiation.
Posted 1/29/2017 5:29 AM (GMT 0)
I am in a similar situation having had both surgery and radiation and now recurrent.

As it happened I had an appointment scheduled with the RO and I asked him if he would refer me to a local MO who specialised in Urological cancers. He was happy to do that and I duly saw the MO (of my choice) and we had a very fruitful discussion about future treatments, but it was he who suggested that for the time being, I remain under the care of the RO. I am glad I did that, because it was he who was able to get me a free PSMA scan at another hospital.

At my follow up appt with the RO, I asked his opinion as to who should manage my ongoing treatments. He said he was very comfortable managing me while I remained on hormone treatments and possibly further scans, but would hand me over to the MO if I got to the point of needing chemo treatment.

I have also dropped my appts with the Uro as I am not 100% confident with his past treatment and although I do still have Uro issues which might require a Uro specialist, I think I would find an alternative

Chas
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