Connect
← Return to Gleason 3+4, How did you treat?
Discussion
Gleason 3+4, How did you treat?
Prostate Cancer | Last Active: 16 minutes ago | Replies (18)Comment receiving replies
thanks for the comments. Why do you think radiation would be preferable?
Replies to "thanks for the comments. Why do you think radiation would be preferable?"
@keithl56 For localized disease, data show that success rates comparing surgery vs radiation are statistically equivalent.
> https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2214122
As that paper concludes, “… the choice of therapy involves weighing trade-offs between benefits and harms associated with treatments for localized prostate cancer.”
So, it basically comes down to one’s quality of life priorities. For me, that clearly placed radiation at the top for primary treatment (and I chose proton radiation).
Also, if (heaven forbid!) I ever needed salvage treatment, primary radiation would leave me with the most options.
> For those who choose primary surgery, if there is recurrence the first salvage choice is radiation - the very thing they wanted to absolutely avoid at all costs.
> For those who choose primary radiation, if there is recurrence there are many salvage options - focal therapy (e.g., cryo), brachytherapy, and SBRT (because they’re all very targetable), and yes even re-radiation in some cases; salvage surgery is a last and distant option (if at all).
Much goes into this treatment decision beyond just “get it out”, with one’s personal quality of life priorities being a major factor.
Connect
@keithl56
I think that RT is much easier on body than surgery in cases when other serious health issues already exist, especially heart issues.
General anesthesia is hard on body and effects both heart and the brain. I suppose you must be on blood thinners now and you will have to stop them to have surgery and that would put you at risk of developing blood-clot : ((.
My husband had surgery and he recovered in record time but he does not have any health issues and is in great physical shape in general.
Many had much longer recovery than him. It is very individual indeed and depends on so many factors. I am not a doctor, I can only tell you my opinion and what I would have chosen for my husband if he had serious heart problems or previously had a stroke. It would most definitely be RT.