Prostate Cancer

[jim1948]

After a year of watchful waiting, my cancer has now progressed and I need to do something. I am 61 and in good health. It sounds like the surgery is difficult and has many side effects. The external radiation is the other option I have. It sounds like there are less side effects from this and that the outcome for either is the same. Does anyone have any experience or information on both of these. I need to make a decision, hopefully by next week. My job is somewhat physical. My cancer is just in the prostate and mostly on the left side. I am a T2A. my highest Gleason score is 7. Both my Urologist and Radiologist are excellent doctors and say I am good for either procedure. OPINIONS PLEASE.

[ohno]

Have you looked into HIFU? ultrasound treatment....read the thread here "anyone here have HIFU treatment?" I think with a T2 that you will be restricted from the clinical trials, but you can go to Mexico or the Bahamas, it costs $25,000. and worth every penny, if you get a well experienced doctor there won't be any problems or side-effects (side effects are published at 1 in 172 with incontince and 30% ED--however Viagra or Cialis work). Side effects from radiation kick in later, up to 3 years. Call international HIFU to see if you can get in the trials or to book going to Mexico. They are the most experienced. 888-874-4384 HIFU has been used in Europe for 18 years with a 94% success rate. I've sent in several of my friends and none of us has had any trouble at all, it was fantastic, life was back to normal once the catheter was out. Doctors won't tell you about this option because it is still in clinical trials here.

Good luck!

[rkaynan]

I coincidentally finished my radiation treatments today. Like you, I weighed the pros and cons of all the options and chose radiation because I felt it enabled me to go on with life during the process. My opinion; the thought of 70, or how many it was, seeds permanently installed was very unappealing. Surgery; I'd have to be laid up and away from work for about 8 weeks with a catheter for 10 days. These things made up my mind.

There were a couple of surprises that were not in the documents I received from my urologist at my diagnosis. As I mentioned above, I didn't like the thought of anything installed in my prostate but as it turned out, MD Anderson, who took care of the treatments, installed 3 beacons. When I read that was going to happen I almost panicked but as I calmed down and educated myself, those beacons communicated with the radiation beam to made sure it ABSOLUTELY hit the right spot continuously (The system is called CALYPSO (http://www.calypsomedical.com/)). 2nd, and the one I dreaded the most, during each treatment, and I had 40, a balloon was installed in my you know what to move the colon away from the beams reducing the risk of side effects.

I had no side effects for 4 weeks and it wasn't until the last week that they started kicking in. For me, painful urination and the constant feeling there was a knot in my colon.

Just food for thought and I wish you the best of luck. Please feel free to contact me. Rich [moderator note: e-mail address has been removed]

[jim1948]

Thank you both for your responses. The first response is not an option. My prostrate is too large. I am still trying to decide but will take everything into consideration. It is a difficult decision.

[ohno]

The sonablate can treat up to 60cc prostate size. Hormones can be given to reduce the size prior to treatment....

You can call them and ask, they are so so nice to talk to, will give you ideas on other decisions too, as they've all been in this field a long time. 888-874-4384

Cryosurgery is on the table as well....freezing of the gland.

[buckmelanoma]

I would pick radiation over surgery anytime. Any prostate removal will leave side effects. No matter what the doc's say, incontinence and degrees of sexual dysfunction will follow.

[rkaynan]

No matter what you do, there's probably going to be side effects I'm very sorry to say. After being off the radiation for a bit over a week, I'm still not clear as to how I'm going to end up. I do know that within the last year or a bit more, and after the radiation, I seem to have hardly any libido. I really hope that changes because it bothers me deeply. Please post what when you start and how it's going.

[Red Doug]

You need to google Loma Linda U proton department and take a look at one of the best options to surgery out there. I would have used this method but my gleason score was too high and I was advised not to way for my name to be worked into the list.

Imagine no surgery, and being almost normal after treatment. Do the research- you won't be sorry.

[ohno]

"Imagine no surgery, and being almost normal after treatment. Do the research- you won't be sorry."

It's called HIFU. Chance of side-effects is 1 in 172 for incontinence, and 20-30% ED, however Cialis works (after surgery you just get a headache with Cialis).

Proton beam is radiation and I understand side-effects come later on, within 3 years. It costs up to $275,000. A good reason why our insurance is so high. If they'd approve HIFU our insurance rates would crash....but they won't until thousands of us are leaving the country, no money for the industry in HIFU. Proton beam didn't have to go through clinical trials, neither did any type of radiation.

[Red Doug]

There are side affects with cancer, too. Yes, proton is expensive. But worth looking into.

I have had a few men come to me and tell me their stories of the effects of their radiation and I would think just about anything would be better.

Seeding? I know two men who had seeding and the cancer is back.

This is nasty stuff we are dealing with - men die from it all the time.

That is way some men just take the surgery as their best option. I got stuck with a break-out problem so surgery was not enough. I consider the proton beams as my best option. I'll worry about the money part afterwards.

I know some men who are having adaquate sex after surgery. They shoot blanks, but at least there is something. But if the proton beam works the sex would be better than after surgery- that is what I have heard.