rcs @rcs I'm 72 and I was 4 + 3 with a PSA of 11.8. In September I had conferences with Radiation Oncology along with Surgery going over my options. After the meet I chose SBRT, Proton Therapy 5 treatments over 10 days. The major reason for my choice was I feared becoming incontinent. I know that's not a good reason, but that was what got me to choose radiation. Treatment was totally painless and you would be amazed and the building that houses the SBRT. 2 months prior to the radiation I had a shot of Eligard, hormone Therapy, to reduce the production of testosterone which the cancer grows on. A few side effects that suck, night sweats in particular. Best of luck.
Dave

79 yr old PSA 5.1, biopsy showed GS 7(3+4) on 6/14 cores, GS 7(4+3) on 1/14 cores, pattern 4 too small to assign %. Had a Decipher Prostrate Biopsy analysis, which is a genomic test of biopsy samples. Results were the following: 0.66 risk rating which means I am slightly above intermediate risk into the high risk zone, mortality risk in 10 years 9.9%, metastasi risk in 5 years 13.2%, risk of high grade disease 35.3%. My urologists recommended treatmnet because of potential of hIgh grade disease. Father died at 82 from heart failure, the atopsy showed metástasis prostrate cancer, younger half brother was diagnosed with prostrate a cancer at age 62, PSA 65 and 85, had brachytherapy with lots of short term side effects. Had to have a catheter for months. Now seems to be okay. Also had cousin on fathers side that died that died of prostrate cancer at 73. My urologists stated it like this: if you are living for 5 years probably don’t need treatment, if living for 10 years you should consider treatment, if living for 15 years you definitely should consider treatment. Anyhow after all this background I have decide to do the proton beam therapy at Mayo in Scottsdale. I am ver yconcerned about short and long term side effects from the treatment; consequently this has been an arduous mental journey to move ahead with treatment. The people at Mayo are positive about the outcomes so we will see what happens o this journey.