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How to choose treatment for prostate cancer?
It is too difficult for my husband to decide on treatment for Prostate Cancer. We have sought 2 different opinions from 2 good healthcare systems. We have met with a radiologist and surgeon from each and they all say he falls right in the middle to choose either treatment type. I would like to present his stats and find out if anyone can help. He is 71 years old and had quad bypass surgery 10 years ago. He has a knee and hip replaced but otherwise does quite well. His Gleason score is 3+4=7. Removal was his initial reaction but was presented with more possible side effects than radiation. The radiation choices are very different, One is hormone shots, radiation 5 days a week for 6 weeks. The other is so different with 5 total rad treatments and uses some different prep procedures. There would be more prep to avoid rectum damage and gold markers placed to help exact rad placement. How in the world do we know what is best? We are not doctors and know doctors are not gods but should know far more than we do! At least to point toward one option or the other based on past patient outcomes. I just wish I could help him more. Thanking you in advance for your input!
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I went through the same thing in 2014 as I did not like the optioned the urologist and oncologist gave me so I researched while researching about 3 months I did 12 hyperbaric treatments and about 48 high dose vitamin C via IV after this I decided on Focal Laser Ablation at the Sperling Prostate Clinic in Florida. You can talk with them and send them your medical info and will let you know if you are a good candidate. I am taking Lupron now and will be off it in one month and I maintain myself also by using marajuana oil (Phoenix tears) you can look up the protocol on the net search Rick Simpson Oil. I take it in the evening and sleep solid through the night with no wake ups. It’s up to you but worth I vestigating.
I know what you mean as I went through the same thing in 2014. I almost decided on brac therapy (radiated seeds placed in you) but when I told him I wanted to delay since my grandson was coming to visit. He then told me that I could not have children near me because of the radiation. So then I asked him well what will the radiation do to my other organs and his response was “there is a 95% chance we cure your cancer” my response was I don’t care about my cancer if you damage my heart, lungs, liver or kidneys. Then I told him I was not proceeding and started my research.
I decided on Focal Laser Ablation with the Sperling prostate Clinic in Florida. You may want to look into that they are very accommodating. They were the only people that actually came back with 3 references of patients I could talk to. My first treatment I did not have a catheter procedure was simple, next day I was in the swimming pool having a drink. About 4 years later I had another treatment (at no cost) and that was more intense and I did have a catheter for 5 days.
If your husband would like to talk to me I am open to that. Please send me a private message and I will share my email address. I live in Canada.
The LDR is a 5 - 8 week, 5 days a week treatment. It's not Proton though. One of the Oncologists is recommending that I do the shorter 5 week LDR and then do the newer version of the HDR where you are put under and these long catheters are inserted through the skin into the prostate at several points. Then they wake you and take you elsewhere and at a certain point they hook you up to this machine that introduces temporary high dose radioactive seeds (not permanent) directly into the Prostate.
There are so many side effects, not to mention the invasiveness of the procedure, that I am considering just telling them I would rather go with the longer term LDR alone.
Hi @semeon please note that I removed your email address. We recommend that you use private message to share personal contact information to protect yourself from getting unwanted spam.
This is new procedure for me. I'd be interested in how it works out for you.
Being that he has had several surgeries and his age I would avoid surgeries and choose the radiation. I had 44 proton treatments at Mayo in Scottsdale, with the 6 month Eligard shot and no SpaceOAR. There is a new alternative to the Eligard shot which is a pill with much less side effects. I am 79 and my urologist told me that his experience with surgeries and older people hasn’t been too good. My GS was 7(3+4). I also had a Decifer genetics test that was worthwhile. Good luck in choosing. Jim
As a result of psa in the .27 range for last 3 months, all my doctors (3 surgeons and 2 radiation oncologists), have recommended 3months on orogovyx( a new adt oral pill) and 36 radiation treatments. I have agreed to this starting tomorrow. What does the group think of this approach.
Jim can you let me know what this pill is. I am on Lupron and I want to take a holiday from it. Thanks
I do not understand why you are taking a treatment approach like what you have described when your PSA is .24. I think you should talk with your urologist and consider active surveillance and what he your PSA every 3 months. I believe you could go many years before needing radiation and they may likely have something much better in 5 years. Once you do radiation you don’t have many alternatives. I would consider FLA it could possibly buy you 5-10 years then you make another treatment decision.
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1 ReactionOrogoyvx, as interactive mentioned