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3+3 - others' experiences and questions I should ask doc?
Prostate Cancer | Last Active: 1 day ago | Replies (27)Comment receiving replies
My Mother said my Dads started in his early sixties. She doesnt know anything else about it. say he was 62 that was in 1993. He opted for radiation treatment to prevent losing his manhood. It was good for about 10 yrs. Then cancer came back. I think he had removal, radiation, chemo just about everything over the next 15 yrs. Died at 87. Just seemed he spent a lifetime fighting it. I had clear margins with 1 out 12 with cancer. Just thought at 68 and a family history I wanted the best shot at getting rid of it without having to go through much else in the way of treatments. My urologist advised me to monitor it. I selected removal and he agreed. He gave me 85% chance of no incontinence and no ED problems. I ended up with both. I am not sure if I am done with it. 4 1/2 yrs now. No cancer in the margins. Clean PET scan. Hopefully.
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Some research shows removing prostate has little impact on life expectancy. You really need to look at quality of life (Continence, erections, and cancer). Some do not think irregular cells (3+3) should be called cancer. Remember you have likely had irregular cells or cancer for decades. My surgeon suggested that since I was a young 57 that removing my prostate after surveillance for half a decade when a small 3+4 lesion appeared because it gave me the best chance for survival. I told him that since I was young keeping my prostate would be a priority. When pressed my 10 year survival rate was around 86% with removal, and 84% with HIFU. I elected what was for me a greater quality of life (Erections, continence, and a greater chance of dying from cancer). Your quality of life decision may be different, but ask a lot of questions.