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Radical prostatectomy vs external Beam and Seeds for Inter. risk PC
Prostate Cancer | Last Active: Aug 30, 2023 | Replies (28)Comment receiving replies
"For me the critical factor in deciding between surgery and radiation was the higher incidence of bowel dysfunction following radiation. The rate is fairly low and has decreased as techniques have improved, but it is still significantly higher with radiation than with surgery."
Bowel issues are exceedingly rare now SpaceOAR is being used. Incontinence is a much bigger issue that primarily affects those who choose surgery.
1% for bowel issues vs 18% for incontinence.
Equally unpleasant issues to deal with but the importance of an understanding of math should not be underestimated.
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I disagree with most of what you said in your reply, and I fail to understand the snide implication that my original remarks are the result of a poor understanding of math. Where we do agree is that bowel dysfunction is uncommon following radiation and has "decreased as techniques have improved". In fact, I said just that in my original post. Where we do not agree is on the numbers. I do not know the source of your 1% figure, but it is not consistent with several articles, like this one from Johns Hopkins:
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/bowel-dysfunction-after-prostate-cancer-treatment
Of course, any of these statistics fail to assess the specific risk for a specific patient. That is why I had several discussions with the doctors at Johns Hopkins, where I was treated, to understand the likely issues for my particular circumstances.
I would also take issue with your subjective assessment that bowel dysfunction and urinary incontinence are "equally unpleasant issues." I do not feel that way, and I suspect many others would agree with me.