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← Return to Surgery? Radiation? Can I have an independent suggestion?
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Surgery? Radiation? Can I have an independent suggestion?
Prostate Cancer | Last Active: Sep 3, 2025 | Replies (111)Comment receiving replies
Still undecided between robotic surgery and radiation (the 28-visit type, as Cyberknife is unavailable through my insurance in central Ohio) for my 3+4 Gleason intermediate stage PC. We ordered a Decipher test 4 weeks ago, still waiting for the results, but when they come, I am wondering if the score may dictate whether surgery or radiation makes more sense. Cannot find useful info on the Internet about that question and curious whether anyone knows.
Replies to "Still undecided between robotic surgery and radiation (the 28-visit type, as Cyberknife is unavailable through my..."
7-years out from the prostatectomy.
PSA 2-days ago < .10
70 now
Grateful that I didn't do radiation although we researched it and had advice from 5 buddies that faced the same situation.
They consulted with the best.
My cancer requiered removal of the 'right nerve bundle' as well as the prostate gland which essentially leaves your tool nearly useless.
My very competent surgeon mentioned two things to me that stuck in my head.
1) my job is to keep you alive
2) radiation is the gift that keeps on giving
You can look into what that means.
Advice:
There are deeper meanings to intimacy with your partner than routine intercourse; assuming the bride buys into it.
Kegel exercises. My incontinence was virtually gone in 7-weeks and I was flying cross country with no incidents.
75+ reps a day for a month before the procedure and afterward to a lesser degree. I was doing them while sitting at traffic signals.
Personally, I'm a Christian and turned it all over to my maker.
Went into it with a positive attitude and trust in my Mayo surgeon and team.
Wish you the best on your decision.
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One big factor in whether you do surgery or radiation is how old you are. The younger you are under 70 the more Surgery may make sense since it gives you a better chance of progression free survival. It also allows you to have radiation after surgery. If you have radiation and it comes back in the same area you cannot have radiation again.
Unfortunately, surgery does tend to leave you with erectile dysfunction. There are many ways around it, But it is quite inconvenient.
This doesn’t mean that radiation won’t do the same thing, It just has a smaller percentage of people that it affects right away, but overtime ED. seems to be a problem.