1. < Prostate Cancer
Profile picture for mikeg73

Has Anyone Elected for No Treatment?

Posted by mikeg73 @mikeg73, Aug 26, 2025

If so, how did you make that decision? How long has it been since diagnosis and how are you doing?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Prostate Cancer Support Group.

Profile picture for flabellajr
flabellajr | @flabellajr | Aug 28, 2025

" Denial and fear" aren't going to keep you alive. And there is no easy way out really. No easy answers. Lots of good advice and knowledge here. Some of us may be in different boats, but we are floating on the same sea hoping for, working on survival! Be knowledgable and prepared for this journey. It's the hand we were dealt. We have sucessful treatment options. Don't pass them up.
My late wife was diagnosed with glioblastoma brain cancer...no chance of long term survival or meaningful trestments. Good night, Irene!

REPLY
2 replies
Profile picture for survivor5280
survivor5280 | @survivor5280 | Aug 28, 2025
In reply to @risa6069 "What sort of treatment did you do in the end?" + (show)
Profile picture for risa6069 @risa6069

What sort of treatment did you do in the end?

Jump to this post

Surgery, RARP.

REPLY
1 reply
Profile picture for WingNut
WingNut | @ucfron | Aug 28, 2025
In reply to @survivor5280 "I considered this path as an option, but after doing the research I realized that the..." + (show)
Profile picture for survivor5280 @survivor5280

I considered this path as an option, but after doing the research I realized that the initial treatment was worth it but had some thoughts of no longer seeking treatment once the disease got to a certain point or if the impact of it changed my quality of life so much that it wasn't worth it.

To that end, my research on the matter indicated that prostate cancer death is quite painful and the last month or two is you basically being bombed out of your mind on drugs, incoherent as you then waste away. Of course, during this time someone has to care for you and watch you die a probably avoidable death. That last part is the tough one, I would not want to be a burden on someone.

Having watched several family members die of various cancers, including my mother wasting away for years ON treatment, I decided I would not do that. I told my wife "I'll do one round of treatment but won't spend my life getting treated only to have no quality of life". Well, here I am, 7 months after my treatment and it wasn't so bad and my outcome was poster-child worthy so to me that hit the reset button, I would go another round and another until it's too much to bear and then I might consider other paths.

Consider talking to your family and counselors before you make your final decision on the matter. Many of us grew up thinking cancer treatment was straight from hell, but things have improved greatly since those days.

Jump to this post

what treatment did you decide on?

REPLY
Profile picture for steveapplebaugh
steveapplebaugh | @steveapplebaugh | Aug 28, 2025
In reply to @handera "Diagnosed in October 2023, after PSA of 7.8 PSA & 3, 4 & 5 PIRAD lesions..." + (show)
Profile picture for handera @handera

Diagnosed in October 2023, after PSA of 7.8 PSA & 3, 4 & 5 PIRAD lesions found in an initial mpMRI.

Targeted TRUS found 7/15 cores positive…five 3+3 (5-10%) & two 3+4 (10-20%).

My Decipher score was 0.22 and the GRID report's Clinical-Genomic Model indicated “Low Risk" and recommended active surveillance, to which my urologist agreed.

Increased my running regiment to three 5K’s/wk, along with occasional HIIT, and implemented a whole plant food diet for the first three months to lose 25 lbs and reach a BMI=22.5 by Feb ‘24. At that point, I changed over to what is probably best described as a "heart healthy" diet and have maintained the lower weight/BMI ever since.

My PSA dropped 25% after 4 mths and has stayed at the new (lower) level for the last 18 months. My most recent PSA was at it's lowest since pre biopsy, at 5.6.

A 12 month follow-up MRI, compared by the same radiologist, indicated that the original PIRADS 3 and 4 lesions were no longer visible and the PIRADS 5 had shrunk and its T2 & DWI/ADC signals were reduced from “moderate” to “mild”.

Since March 2025, I modified my running regiment to maintain my long distance running in "Zone 2"....I always run on local track and use Hoka Bondi 8's (extra cushioning) to ensure joint safety.

My general health (other than PCa) has improved significantly, as other chronic issues have disappeared.

Overall, I'm convinced the aerobic cardiovascular exercise has been the key driver to my success (see ERASE randomized clinical trial results).

Disclaimer: I'm not a physician and your results may vary.......

Jump to this post

Outstanding sharing! Thank you. I am similarly convinced as to the immense value of cardiovascular exercise. My high level of fitness helped my recover completely and quickly from open heart surgery 2 years ago. I am counting on my maintaining fitness to encourage best results regarding my prostate issues as well.

REPLY
1 reply
Profile picture for asolidrock
asolidrock | @asolidrock | Aug 28, 2025

My oncologist told me today those stay active have a better response from exercise.

REPLY
Profile picture for handera
handera | @handera | Aug 28, 2025
In reply to @steveapplebaugh "Outstanding sharing! Thank you. I am similarly convinced as to the immense value of cardiovascular exercise...." + (show)
Profile picture for steveapplebaugh @steveapplebaugh

Outstanding sharing! Thank you. I am similarly convinced as to the immense value of cardiovascular exercise. My high level of fitness helped my recover completely and quickly from open heart surgery 2 years ago. I am counting on my maintaining fitness to encourage best results regarding my prostate issues as well.

Jump to this post

Consistent, long term, aerobic cardio exercise (running, elliptical, cycling, swimming, etc) increases VO2 Max, which is the one number that most closely correlates with longevity.

The easiest way to have this measured is the wear a Garmin watch.

For example, I started running in July 2022 (66 y/o) with a VO2 Max of 35 (about average for a 66 y/o).

This week (3 years later) my VO2 Max is 49 (top 5% for a 69 y/o).

There are many good places to get info about VO2 Max.

A great place to start is with this short video by Dr. Peter Attia…author of “Outlive”…

REPLY
2 replies
Profile picture for heavyphil
heavyphil | @heavyphil | Aug 29, 2025
In reply to @flabellajr "" Denial and fear" aren't going to keep you alive. And there is no easy way..." + (show)
Profile picture for flabellajr @flabellajr

" Denial and fear" aren't going to keep you alive. And there is no easy way out really. No easy answers. Lots of good advice and knowledge here. Some of us may be in different boats, but we are floating on the same sea hoping for, working on survival! Be knowledgable and prepared for this journey. It's the hand we were dealt. We have sucessful treatment options. Don't pass them up.
My late wife was diagnosed with glioblastoma brain cancer...no chance of long term survival or meaningful trestments. Good night, Irene!

Jump to this post

So so many people bitch and moan about treatment. Sure, who wants it?? But NONE OF US that I’m aware of, have ever been told: ‘You’ll be dead in 18 months no matter what we do’.
That’s glioblastoma, a relentless destroyer of lives; multiple debilitating surgeries ( they take out pieces of your brain, OK?), radiation and incredibly powerful chemotherapies which make your last days not worth living.
I watched my best friend’s son die this way at age 34. I remember that he had his first brain surgery (of 5) about a month before my RARP.
He never knew that he wasn’t gonna make it - he was an athlete with a never give up mentality - and that made it even harder to watch him go thru that ordeal…
My condolences to anyone who has experienced this firsthand.
Phil

REPLY
2 replies
Profile picture for steveapplebaugh
steveapplebaugh | @steveapplebaugh | Aug 29, 2025
In reply to @flabellajr "" Denial and fear" aren't going to keep you alive. And there is no easy way..." + (show)
Profile picture for flabellajr @flabellajr

" Denial and fear" aren't going to keep you alive. And there is no easy way out really. No easy answers. Lots of good advice and knowledge here. Some of us may be in different boats, but we are floating on the same sea hoping for, working on survival! Be knowledgable and prepared for this journey. It's the hand we were dealt. We have sucessful treatment options. Don't pass them up.
My late wife was diagnosed with glioblastoma brain cancer...no chance of long term survival or meaningful trestments. Good night, Irene!

Jump to this post

So true, "denial and fear" will do very little for anyone. Sorry to read about your wife, Irene -- transitions from this physical life are not particularly easy, especially for the ones with whom with we share love. Thank you for your post.

REPLY
Profile picture for rice
rice | @rice | Aug 29, 2025

I have been on A S for about 4 years. I am a 3+ 4= 7, less then 10% of 4 in one core. PSA around 6.The 4 was so small there was not enough to get a decipher test. I have had 2 biopsies and I get a PSA test every 6 months and MRI/biopsy every 2 years. so far so good

REPLY
Profile picture for steveapplebaugh
steveapplebaugh | @steveapplebaugh | Aug 29, 2025
In reply to @survivor5280 "Surgery, RARP." + (show)
Profile picture for survivor5280 @survivor5280

Surgery, RARP.

Jump to this post

I advocated for my urologist to schedule my RARP this week while we were going over my MRI which showed a "suspicious spot." He did not go for it.... scheduled an MRI fusion guided biopsy instead. I am great with it.... moving forward in any case.

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.