Abinoone
Biopsy results: Gleason 7 (3+4), group 2. Want to be more aggressive than "active surveillance", so am looking at surgery or radiation. I've read that radiation precludes later surgery if there's a reoccurrence - is this true? What about proton therapy versus photon therapy - advantages and disadvantages to both?
As for surgery, I'm worried about the side effects - especially incontinence, less so ED (I'm 70 and divorced). How common are these issues, and what's the experience like?
Thank you for any advice/shared experience you might provide.
Guy Meredith Moderator
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGEVAWx2oNs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WiJLRMbo5ns
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArL2XD5Bx5I
Talk to as wide a variety of providers as possible as they often just sell their own specialties. Providers tend to talk in generalities "Most men... depending on..." so make sure to drill down and find out how the treatment will affect you as a unique individual.
When I went for one second opinon the answer I got was obviously based on actuarial tables, not me as a person. I was not happy.
At age 73 I had the same diagnosis as you and asked for an MRI to learn the location of the cancer to see whether that would affect my decision. I asked for an MRI which showed the cancer in a location that would guarantee ED with surgery. One of my major goals was to retain sexual function.
Also, I was offered active surveillance, but the cancer was too close to an escape route for this layman to feel comfortable.
I was told that I would be impotent and incontinent after surgery, but it MIGHT resolve in a couple of years, depending... On the other hand radiation MIGHT cause ED and incontinence a few years down the road. I decided to go with radiation so I could have the guarantee of enjoying sex and living wihout a diaper until maybe I became too old or senile to care. Too, with radiation the odds seemed to be in my favor.
I also elected to have hormone treatment. I put myself on a regime of one erection a day to bring in the needed oxygenated blood to maintain erectile health. Normally we do this through nocturnal erections, but without testosterone that doesn't happen.
Hormone treatment causes menopausal symptoms and was actually the most difficult part of the treatment. Not fun. Ask any post menopausal woman.
It didn't take long to recover from the treatment. I had maintained sexual function throughout.
Best of luck.
Guy B. Meredith, moderator.
Bawade
Guy Meredith Moderator
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XeCfJ885PvE
I found Dr. Scholz of the Prostate Cancer Research Institute to be my "go to" for current and unbiased information.
Guy B. Meredith, moderator.
Bawade
kernal
My Gleason was the same as yours. Choice of waiting or radiation. My Dr said removal wasn't a good option due to the side effects. Two of my friends that had removal said that if they had the choice again they would go for the radiation. I couldn't see waiting because since my PSA has been rising continually from 2 to 12 in the last 5 years so it would most likely continue and then action would probably be mandatory. I'm 2 weeks down and 6 to go and I'm posting the progress.
© 2010-22 Health Union, LLC. All rights reserved. This information is not designed to replace a physician’s independent judgment about the appropriateness or risks of a procedure for a given patient. Always consult your doctor about your medical conditions. ProstateCancer.net does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Use of the site is conditional upon your acceptance of our terms of use.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.