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Do you regret having had a prostatectomy vs. radiation, or vice-versa?
Prostate Cancer | Last Active: Aug 18 1:23pm | Replies (64)Comment receiving replies
I had my prostatectomy in December 2010. Fortunately, my prostate cancer was still localized as it was detected early. I became worried when my erection slowed down without reason. When the PSA was done, it was high and kept going up. Over time, there were no side effects that raised much concern, as I have no incontinence, the erection was satisfactory, although not 100%, and with some meds, I could perform. This year, the erection raised the alarm again, and the PSA was also fluctuating. I did the PET scan, and the recurrent localized prostate cancer was detected. I was recently put on hormone therapy, enzalutamide and leuprolide.
I'm not quite sure how this hormone therapy treatment will treat me, as I started it recently. I'm also not sure if it was the right choice. I'm struggling with whether I should do radiation instead of hormone therapy or whether to do both.
Replies to "I had my prostatectomy in December 2010. Fortunately, my prostate cancer was still localized as it..."
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Generally prostate cancer cells have testosterone receptors and are activated by testosterone. The inhibitors block these receptors and are often successful at stopping, or at least slowing growth of cancer cells. However, if the cells have multiplied many times they become less like normal prostate cells and can lose their testosterone receptors. then this approach stops working and PSA goes up. This may take many years. Personally I would prefer radiation therapy in this situation.
I also had a robotic prostatectomy in December 2010 at age 60 and had all the usual side effects which I have described elsewhere in this thread. Fortunately my PSA is still zero.
My father had a high PSA at age 84 and was treated with hormone suppression with a GnRH inhibitor, and it seemed to work well for about 9 years. Then his PSA jumped and he had extensive metastatic disease and died at the ripe old age of 94. He said he regretted not having been offered radiation therapy or surgery.