Talking to Doctors About Different Treatment Options

By Diane Talbert

2 min read

My father got treated for prostate cancer years ago. I always keep a check on what’s the newest update in the treatment world. When we were working on his treatment plan, we had gone through a number of treatment options. These range from surgical ways to remove the cancerous cells to radioactive therapies.

Hoping for more treatments

Modern science has come a long way in the treatment of prostate cancer. As you all know, being diagnosed with prostate cancer can bring on a slew of feelings, such as unhappiness, disbelief, or fear. I like keeping up on new updates for my father’s sake. We all want to one day beam with joy when we hear the words, "we have a cure for prostate cancer." I believe that one day there will be an end to prostate cancer. Boy, we will all be jumping for joy on that day.

There are so many people out there who have tried everything and are still facing the adversity of this disease with bravery. From what I’m reading, it seems that there are new treatment options which to me can bring on a ray of hope for my father and other men as well.

Apart from this good news, I would like to highlight a few other ways which are already being used widely by practitioners. We also considered them carefully while choosing the best way for treatment plans. One is robotic prostatectomy, which is a surgical way to remove the tumorous prostate gland. Another was brachytherapy, which is a form of radiation therapy that can involve surgically implanting radioactive seeds into the prostate.¹

Talking to doctors about treatments

Now we have had all the technical talk, too much of it at times. Let me tell you something about part of my father’s almost 20-year journey. I think being open to your doctor is the best thing one can do about treatment plans. Talk to your doctor and discuss every treatment option that is out there. You and your doctor can do this in detail. This can help make you more certain about your options for the future. I do my research and stay on top of any new thing coming down the pipeline.

But know that there will always be a certain percentage where you have to have faith and belief. Doctors do everything in their capacity for their patients, but the family also needs support at this critical point. Keeping a check on each other’s mental health is very important, including the person who is undergoing treatment. Mental well-being is just as important as physical health.

I share every little detail with my father’s doctors. It can be pre-treatment as well as post-treatment. I keep him updated about the progress and always consult a counselor for emotional health as well. Stay well and strong fellas.

This article represents the opinions, thoughts, and experiences of the author; none of this content has been paid for by any advertiser. The ProstateCancer.net team does not recommend or endorse any products or treatments discussed herein. Learn more about how we maintain editorial integrity here.

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Sue Franke Moderator & Contributor
<inline-mention username="Diane Talbert" user-id="3268418"/> You mention so many critical parts of managing and living with a cancer diagnosis. Yes, science has come a long way in discovering and treating cancers, but still has a long way to go. We are so grateful for the developments that have taken place over the past many years. Hearing your doctor say the word "cancer" still strikes a fear but doesn't mean the same thing it did 20 years ago. Sharing your concerns and your questions with your doctor help you make the right decisions and hopefully give you some peace in the process. Then you can rely on that faith and belief in your medical team as you discussed. Finally, you discuss family support and the importance of mental health. Those two go and in hand so much. We've learned through the years that relying on family support - emotional, physical, encouragement - can make such a big difference. There are some people who don't have a supportive family. That's the time to rely on your friends and use support groups such as this one to walk your journey with you. Thanks for sharing your article and for the very important points you outline.
Labboy Member
What is your advice when the Urologists you are dealing with push everything to email and short phone calls? When I was diagnosed with metastatic Gleason 9 at 52, my only in person appointment was for the biopsy. Everything else was email and phone. I’ve spoken with other guys who have had the exact same experience with Kaiser San Diego Worst medical experience ever during the scariest time of my life. Why should you have to complain to get an in person appointment for a new cancer diagnosis? So frustrating. #kaiserpermanente
Cptncrook Member
I had a prostatectomy in 2012 , since then I’ve had radiation 40x and then 13x and lupron and appilutimude, they say it’s terminal and I will be on this crap till the end , anyone have a clue as to how I could get rid of this? They say it’s on my bladder and one of my seminal vesicles not in bones , so now what?
1. Richard Faust Community Admin
 Hi <inline-mention username="Cptncrook" user-id="4812951"/>. I can't tell you how to get rid of the metastatic cancer, however, I can tell you that we have men here who have been state 4 for quite a many years and are doing quite well, such as Dan (see his bio here: <a href='https://prostatecancer.net/community-advocates/dan-franke' target='_blank'>https://prostatecancer.net/community-advocates/dan-franke</a>) and Tony (see here for his bio: <a href='https://prostatecancer.net/community-advocates/tony-collier' target='_blank'>https://prostatecancer.net/community-advocates/tony-collier</a>). Also, has anyone mentioned the PSMA PET scan? It is the gold standard for locating metastatic prostate cancer. I understand that they know the location o your cancer, but there is now a radioligand therapy that can be used in conjunction to target the cancer with great specificity (see: <a href='https://prostatecancer.net/treatment/psma-targeted-pet-imaging' target='_blank'>https://prostatecancer.net/treatment/psma-targeted-pet-imaging</a>). New treatments are becoming available all of the time and your doctors should be able to discuss options for your case. Hope is real and this community is here for you. Please feel free to keep us posted on how you are doing and ask questions. Best, Richard (ProstateCancer.net Team)
Jim Early Moderator & Contributor
Richard, your reply to Cptncrook was spot on. In our prostate cancer support group we continuously try to expand the knowledge of our members toward all the diagnostic and treatment options now available. It takes time and effort to understand these issues while the science of prostate cancer is moving at light speed. It is probably too much to ask for physicians and other providers to present a pictorial matrix of possible options to patients; but providers should at least be armed with materials and advice for their patients on finding good information. Organizations like <a href='http://PCRI.org' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer ugc'>PCRI.org</a> are among the resources designed to provide education for both patients and caregivers. Education and knowledge are the only reliable antidotes to the depression and hopeless that unfortunately can come with this disease. Today, prostate cancer is an enemy on the run....let's keep pushing!

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