1. < Prostate Cancer

Just diagnosed with PC at 60 years old. Gleason 3+3, PSA 14.92.

Posted by aam @aam, Jul 18, 2023

My Doctor gave me three choices: Prostatectomy, radiation or control medication for life. I assume that either one would work fine for me with regard of getting rid off of the cancer at least for a good while (thank God, no spread to other organs), but I am very worried about my sexual life, which is very active with my partner. I am rather skinny and other than this PC, in very good health. Any suggestions? I am totally lost and would appreciate any good advice.

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edmond1971 | @edmond1971 | Jul 20, 2023

Time is on your side to get educated, comfortable with options, decide on your priorities, choose a path, and find the right professional to move your path forward. I do agree that all PSA information would be helpful, your GS is relatively low (some would argue that GS6 is good candidate for AS, but that depends if you are mentally conditioned for AS) but knowing the velocity of your PSA would help to learn what how the cells are multiplying. Remember that early detection equates to options, and you want options.

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1 reply
groundhogy | @groundhogy | Jul 21, 2023

Here is a good website to compare your odds of cure for the major treatment paths. You have to determine your stage, low risk, intermediate, or high risk (risk of recurrence). So if you are intermediate, pull up the intermediate chart and you can see your odds of 10-20 yr survival, etc. based on the treatment you pick.
https://www.prostatecancerfree.org/compare-prostate-cancer-treatments/
It is best viewed on computer or just print it on paper. Not so viewable on phone.

To make the graphs easier to read, i drew a dot on the endpoints of the elipses, and then drew a line through the dots. This turns the elipses into lines.

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1 reply
aam | @aam | Jul 24, 2023
In reply to @edmond1971 "Time is on your side to get educated, comfortable with options, decide on your priorities, choose..." + (show)
@edmond1971

Time is on your side to get educated, comfortable with options, decide on your priorities, choose a path, and find the right professional to move your path forward. I do agree that all PSA information would be helpful, your GS is relatively low (some would argue that GS6 is good candidate for AS, but that depends if you are mentally conditioned for AS) but knowing the velocity of your PSA would help to learn what how the cells are multiplying. Remember that early detection equates to options, and you want options.

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Thank you very much for your reply.
I don't have any problem at all knowing I have cancer, and therefore I think that I am mentally conditioned for AS, but I don't know if a little more growth of cancer cells, as would be expected, could represent a much higher risk of recovery if I have to get surgery a few months or years from now.
I'll keep studying about it for the next couple of weeks and when I feel that I understand more about my condition and possible outcomes, I'll go ahead with a decision.
It feels good to read someone's else advice. Again, thanks a lot.

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aam | @aam | Jul 24, 2023
In reply to @fuzzy123 "Hi, External beam radiation will destroy the cancer and you ( may never ) have to..." + (show)
@fuzzy123

Hi, External beam radiation will destroy the cancer and you ( may never ) have to worry about it again !! Always the possibility of recurrence. The hardest thing to do is drinking fluids before each treatment and holding it until you have to pee so bad ✌️ Each treatment only takes a few minutes ✌️I went 44 times but you probably wouldn’t have that many treatments. Shouldn’t interfere with your sex life unless they put you on testosterone lowering meds for awhile !!

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Thank you very much for your reply.
I will certainly consider EBR as an alternative. Does this treatment keeps you from going to work? Can it go unnoticed for your work peers?

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aam | @aam | Jul 24, 2023
In reply to @groundhogy "Here is a good website to compare your odds of cure for the major treatment paths...." + (show)
@groundhogy

Here is a good website to compare your odds of cure for the major treatment paths. You have to determine your stage, low risk, intermediate, or high risk (risk of recurrence). So if you are intermediate, pull up the intermediate chart and you can see your odds of 10-20 yr survival, etc. based on the treatment you pick.
https://www.prostatecancerfree.org/compare-prostate-cancer-treatments/
It is best viewed on computer or just print it on paper. Not so viewable on phone.

To make the graphs easier to read, i drew a dot on the endpoints of the elipses, and then drew a line through the dots. This turns the elipses into lines.

Jump to this post

Thank you very much for your reply.
Good information in that chart that I will discuss with my Doctor.
It is great to hear an advice from someone who has had your same health issue.
God bless you.

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