ironside555
Hello, my PSA was 6 when I got had my biopsy done, came back 3+4=7. Just starting to look at treatment options for prostate cancer. I would like to hear from others with similar biopsy results on what treatments they had and what the results where. Thanks
amylynv Community Admin
Hi,
Best,
Amylyn (ProstateCancer.net Team Member)
Subdenis Member
I had same pathology and chose HDRBT. I am 3 years post treatment and no side effects and my PSA is 0.4.
ohhawk Member
First diagnosed in late 2017 with low risk. Went a little over a year on active surveillance and had moved to intermediate risk category with PSA of 13 (3+4). Made decision to go with radiation therapy (5 week version) with no ADT in 2019. After 6 months PSA had dropped to 6, after 12 months it was down to 2, and will soon be going into my 18 month appt. hoping to see even lower numbers which radiation oncologist highly believed would happen. PSA dropped slower in my case in part due to not taking ADT according to oncologist. I know ADT is recommended most often with intermediate risk category but had talked to a couple of men who did take ADT along with the radiation who discouraged it based on their experience. I've had very few side effects and most occurred shortly into the treatment itself......some burning while urinating, lower flow rate, and higher frequency. Currently have been taking Flomax generic for quite awhile as it helped the flow issue. May not even need it now but I keep using anyway. Pretty normal life thus far with little interruption with sex life as well.........which was one of the drivers in my decision making. I will soon be 72 which is also one of those things that should go into the decision making. If you are one that likes to dive into the data before making a decision (myself) I would recommend reading Patrick Walsh book on Surviving Prostate Cancer. I consider myself blessed so far and understand there are no guarantees and that every case can be different.
CommunityMember480 Member
I was diagnosed in mid 2002 with gleason 10 CaP. I was treated with external beam radition for 6 weeks at the end of the year. So far I have the inner lining of my bladder and my rectum cauterized due to damage from the radiation, which gave rise to bleeding frm the urethra and the rectum. cystitis and proctitis. Idon't know if it is related, but my blood went septic, which in turn is necessitation open heart surgery to replace an aortic valve. Coping? I don't know that I am.
Dennis E. Golden Moderator & Contributor
richg Member
same Gleason. PSA went to 8.0. decided on RARP. PSA day of surgery 8.8. A yr and a half later PSA rising when it reached 2.0 decided to go with salvage external beam radiation therapy-39 sessions. PSA has been less than .06 (negligible) for 2+yrs. 71 yrs old overall healthy, active. urinary incontinence creates a need for pad (AM only-sometimes) ED a fact of life (not a concern for me)
Only side effect not anticipated was radiation cystitis-bleeding bladder. this side effect was minimized when I was researching.
Presently doing very well. 6 month PSAs and follow up urologist visit.
in retrospect I would choose RARP.
ADVICE: GET SECOND OPINIONS BEFORE MAKING FINAL DECISIONS