Prostate cancer

Hi 60no - I responded briefly to your post on previous thread but will post a bit more here.
My OH was diagnosed with prostate cancer about a year and a half ago, having been referred to a urologist because of rising PSA - I think it was over 20. He had no symptoms at all. He was in denial for a long time and wouldn't discuss it, putting off biopsy for months. Finally he had the biopsy and it showed cancer - can't remember the score but it was fairly high.

Like your DH, he was given the choice of surgery (robot assisted) or radiotherapy - external beam. He rejected the radiotherapy option initially as side effects seemed rather unpleasant. Then he met the surgeon, who was rather arrogant and my OH didn't like him! The surgeon suggested that MRI and biopsy showed that cancer might not be totally removed by surgery so radiotherapy might be needed anyway. After some thought, OH decided not to go for surgery but opted for a course of radiotherapy.

The treatment started with a long acting injection of a type of hormone blocker, then a few months later he had a course of 25 radiotherapy session over 5 weeks. The actual treatments were only about 20 minutes but it took about 2 hours each day as there was some preparation. He only had slight side effects and so far it seems to have worked as PSA levels have dropped right down.

Obviously I can't advise what your DH should do, just thought I'd share our experience. Look at the Prostate UK website and talk to friends if possible. A lot of men have been treated successfully but most won't talk about it!

60ono It's such a shock isn't it? My husband was diagnosed in 2014. He was 68. He wanted the surgery but was advised that he wasn't suitable for some reason.
He had the hormone injections as mentioned by Farmor and then 37 consecutive days of radiotherapy. He had no side effects whatsoever from the radiotherapy and once he got the hang of having to have an empty bowel and a full bladder each time, he was fine. His PSA level was 19. He now has a yearly blood test and his levels have dropped right down to 0.5. It us the most common cancer in men but is treatable if discovered early. Unfortunately the symptoms (going to the loo a lot in the night in DH's case) could be a symptom of other things. I wish you luck.

Following a friends diagnosis after some persuasion dh asked for a check and much to our surprise was diagnosed 6 years ago with a Gleason scale of 7.
After considering options he chose surgery. At that time surgery still left other treatment ( chemo, radio) open if anything returned, which we understood radiotherapy did not.
Our friend had radiotherapy, his cancer returned but thankfully was successfully treated on a trial with something else.
I wish you both well and suggest you get in touch with the Prostate charity who can provide helpful information and support.

What a difficult time for you 60no was brachytherapy suggested? This is what my DH opted for and it worked very well. Do speak to the Consultant or a cancer nurse if you have been assigned one. They will help you to decide what the best options are.

Thank you all so much for sharing your experiences. Always seems to make things a bit better when hearing other experiences. Suggestions are the radioactive seeds for him from consultant but perhaps when he goes for assessment at London Marsden more information will be given.
Thanks again

DH had a PSA of 350, diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer just before the first Lockdown. He had minimal symptoms.
Since then he had chemo, cut short because risk of COVID at the time, then a bit of radiotherapy. Since then he has had hormone implants every 3 months with virtually no side effects, and his PSA is currently 0.04, and he remains stable. We just take things day by day. Stay strong.

Yes 60no the radioactive seeds are the brachytherapy. They are inserted into the prostate usually under anaesthetic, it is a one off treatment. Mr J chose this rather than attending for radiotherapy every day for 5/6 weeks. As I said it worked for him. He had this procedure around 10 years ago and has regular PSA tests and all is well with his cancer. All good wishes.

DH was diagnosed in 2017 when his PSA was 75, it was not operable so he was given hormone injections followed by 37 radiotherapy sessions. The hormones were effective for about two years then other drugs were used, towards the end palliative chemotherapy was tried but was too gruelling. DH lived 4.5 years.
Thing to remember is that every person is individual and treatment is tailored to suit.

Harrigran

So sorry for you. Be strong, enjoy what you can, don't put it off!
When DH was diagnosed, both were suggested. Upon research, we were told that if radiotherapy was used first, it damages tissues in that area and surgery is very difficult, if not impossible. We went down the surgical route, then a few years later had the radiotherapy when recommended.
DH lived for narly 20 years after his cancer was discovered, and he had a Gleeson score of 7, which is very high!
Hugs to you both

Here too, Harrigran. The palliative chemotherapy was absolutely appalling. I wish I hadn't encouraged DH to have it - he only managed two sessions, not even one course!

My Dad had prostate cancer when he was about 75. He had his prostate removed and they also discovered a very nearly strangulated hernia so they had to do that too.

He then had injections into his tummy for several years. He felt fine and was really well. In 2006 he was finding eating difficult and he was always clearing his throat. They discovered he had cancer of the oesophagus which they believed had spread from prostate. He lived another 5 months but he was 85 by then.

My dh was diagnosed aged 56 which is very young. This was 15years ago and he had the operation. Prostate procedures have come on so much since then though. He still has blood tests twice a year but never required treatment after the op. However he developed bowel cancer in 2013 surgery chemo and is now stage 4.

Thank you all again so much for sharing your experiences. .
For the moment just waiting for appointment, hopefully not too long, more time to think.

Please please make sure the men in you life are tested for this . A friend was never tested and now it is too late for any treatment . He is a well educated man who never thought to ask his GP for the test .

My husband gets a PSA test every year.

Had appointment and Brachytherapy is chosen route to treat the tumours. However failed the flow test and now have to have surgery to correct that before treatment can begin. So just means everything will take a bit longer because 1st surgery takes 3 months to heal. So will have this cloud over us for a bit but in the great scheme of things it’s treatable so we are lucky ones 🙏🏽.

All the best. 🫂

A great deal of the fight for my then husband was psychological. His cancer was so aggressive that surgery was not an option, he bitterly regretted this and said he would not have hesitated if it had been offered. He was incredibly young, under 50. Ultimately he was given 5 years, he lived 10 (and did he live!) Each situation is entirely different, seek all the help, support and guidance you can. Do not forget to live, laugh and love x

Thanks again for support and wenmore must of been so hard yet you’re so positive. Thank you for your words x

Good luck to you and your husband 60no. It's frightening but hopefully you will have a good outcome. My DH is now 9 years in remission 🤞