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← Return to Gleason 7 (4+3), ECE, PSA 3 – Considering IMRT + ADT vs. Surgery –
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Gleason 7 (4+3), ECE, PSA 3 – Considering IMRT + ADT vs. Surgery –
Prostate Cancer | Last Active: Jul 31 1:03pm | Replies (13)Comment receiving replies
I was 4 + 3 = 7 with PSA going from 4.0 - 7.1 before treatment. My MRI showed no lesions and only 2 out of 17 biopsy cores showed any cancer with the second core at 3+4 = 7. I also had three gold markers + gel spacer prior to radiation start.
I chose IMRT + one high dose brachytherapy "boost" procedure and six months Orgovyx ADT. The only post treatment side effect I had was urinary frequency. No blood in urine, no pain, no incontinence/leakage...I feel fine.
3 Months post treatment a PSA showed me down to 0,.04. Hoping this remains steady near zero over time.
My biggest advice is to get treated at a major university based "center of excellence" with a multi-disciplinary approach to diagnosing and treating PC. I am glad I did this and am hopeful my treatment will hold long term.
I wanted no part of surgery as I understood post procedural side effects up to 50% of patients often permanent
Replies to "I was 4 + 3 = 7 with PSA going from 4.0 - 7.1 before treatment...."
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Congrats on successful and uneventful treatment : )! May your PSA reach even lower levels and stay there forever !
However, I just want to correct your statistic about incontinence - 50 % is absolutely not correct information. People read those statistics half way and than make wrong conclusions. Yes, IMMEDIATELY after surgery and up to 3 months about 50 % of patients will have SOME leaking, but by 12 mos 95% will have FULL continence. The rest will need more time and more exercise and some small % will need surgical help with it.
Going to a "center of excellence" is VERY important for any treatment (RP or RT) , however final results depend of many, many factors beyond doctor's expertise or what a facility can offer.