pT3b - what were your radiation outcomes after radical prostatectomy?
I would like to read comments from anyone who was categorized a pT3b after radical prostatectomy (RP), and had radiation after their PSA started to rise:
1) At what PSA level did you start radiation, and how long after your RP was it, before your PSA started to rise as a pT3b?
2) How long did your physician wait after that PSA level rising before starting radiation?
3) For those whose cancer came back within the expect 5 years post-RP, "when" did it return (1 year later, 2 years later, 3 years...etc.)?
4) What were short term and long term consequences of radiation? I have heard horror stories about radiation" permanent ED, bladder cancer, severe pain, etc. I heard it is "40" consecutive DAILY sessions of radiation. How did that go for those who had it?
My current status is as follows:
3.5 months post-RP. PSA is now < 0.1 ng/ml. But, I had cribriform glands, EPE, surgical margins, and slight left seminal vesicle invasion - thus the pT3b category. I was and remain a Gleason 3+4 = 7 with only 6-10-% cells being "4", so really was "almost" a Gleason 6.
I really hate that my life has now changed "forever." The first year, I will have a PSA every three months. If it remains 0.1 ng/ml, then in year two, I go to PSA levels every six months, and onward until/if my PSA shows 0.2 ng/ml or higher. That is why my physician said we will very likely start radiation. My life will be a constant worry, especially filled with anxiety in this first year post-RP waiting for my next PSA value, nervously hoping it will still be 0.1 ng/ml.
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They scanned me before every procedure too, but it still happened. I've heard from others currently going through it at the same facility and practitioner that they are now using the gel and providing a bladder prescription as a standard course. I hope to never have to go through it again but will apply hind sight if I do. Perhaps it does do some good to raise the roof from time to time.