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Is 76 too old for prostate cancer surgery?
A urologist my brother asked regarding my wondering about surgery vs radiation said that no one 76 years old should get the surgery. Does this square with what anyone else may have heard?
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Patrick Walsh MD the father of Robotic Surgery once said that he would not do prostate surgery on a man over 70 unless he brought his parents in too.
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3 ReactionsI had surgery when I was 73. I’m grateful to be continent and able to embrace an active lifestyle.
Good luck with your decision.
What is more important to you now? Quality or Quantity of years? Make sure you understand the side effect of the treatment that you choose. Once it is removed there is no turning back. Good luck with whatever you choose.
I was 74 when I had robo surgery at UCLA and that was about 4 years ago. My initial prognosis was very poor. I have had good results, G9, locally advanced, CR, aggressive. My treatment was part of the Erleada clinical trial and I am thankful for the results and inclusion in this trial. PSA still undetectable and no salvage radiation thus far, knock on wood!
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3 ReactionsHi Bob, I think depends a lot on your current health they don’t call “radical” for no reason besides the surgery it’s the healing and recovery processes that also takes a toll on our bodies. I would have a second opinion perhaps you could find a alternative treatment, I’m not a Doctor so that is just my opinion
Zzotte
I agree with this comment. I went into PC surgery in really good shape otherwise, but I was pretty much confined to just walking for months after my surgery.
I am 71 and just had prostratectomy. It is no walk in the park however, I would do it at 75.
I would imagine your fitness level, how aggressive the cancer is and how comfortable you are with surgery and then possibly ED and incontinence need to be considered among other things
If you believe you will live longer than the prostrate cancer (in other words putting it off might take away some years you want)then I would go for it
just my two cents
Wow, that’s surprising - 70 is the cutoff for all surgery? Seems kind of rigid since some men would still want it over radiation. But I think it is a very honest, realistic assessment of how far radiation has come in the last 10 years. Thanks for the info!
Phil