Over diagnosed prostate cancer and treatments
Did I have all this treatment, and all these negative results for nothing? I’m 69 and was diagnosed with prostate cancer after a physical exam, scans, including nuclear bone scans and a prostate biopsy. At the time my PSA was 6.0 and my Gleason score was 7. I elected proton radiation and underwent 30 session of beam radiation. Following that I had 18 months of ADT. My PSA is now 0.15 and I have no testosterone, no libido and can’t remember my last erection. I read about individuals with PSA readings in the hundreds. I wondering why I put myself through all this.
I’m on the “ fence” with all these treatments especially with the side effects from each one. I was diagnosed with prostate cancer 7 years ago with a PSA of 4.2. Once your PSA goes over 4 the doctors want to take action. So, since then I have had only 2 biopsies done and promised myself I wouldn’t put myself through another. My present PSA is just over 8 and I am due to have it checked again in a month. I have it checked every 6 months and have also had 5 MRI’s done, only one with the contrast. I can tell you that I had brain fog for some time after the contrast was administered. I have been following the protocol with A S (active surveillance) but not doing the required biopsy each and every time. I am 77 years old and am very heavily weighing just staying on AS. My Urologist hasn’t convinced me enough to take action. I am very active and don’t want that lifestyle to change. There comes a time, at my age, where you decide on lifestyle or treatment and I am weighing on the side of lifestyle. I guess it comes down to how long does one want to live. I may not die from PC.
