Surgery or radiation?

Bizzione · New User Joined: 21 Jul 2005 Posts: 8

Hello to everyone! I am 68 years old and in very good health but....... 2 months ago I was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Tumor is very small and encapsulated and Gleason score is 6. I am reading as much information as I can but more I read more confused I am. I want to make my decision of treatment as soon as possible. Please, can you give me your opinion on surgery and radiation treatment? Thank you. Sad

gonogo · Regular Joined: 18 Jun 2005 Posts: 25

If it is contained the surgery will cure you. You may have to deal with erectile and urinary problems but the major worry is over. As far as radiation goes, it may cure or it may not. Lots of pros and cons about which is the best way to go. That is where you have to make the decision, read all you can about both options then pick one. If it does not turn out to your satisfaction, just move on and don?t second guess your self , you made the best decision you could at the time. Good luck

Bizzione · New User Joined: 21 Jul 2005 Posts: 8

Gonogo, thanks fo your reply. I am still undecided which way is the right way for my case. I have so many info in my mind that frankly.... by now I am overwhelmed. I understand that radiation as much as surgery is promissing great outcome in cases like mine. I was almost ready to choose the surgery but spoke to many men who had the radiation and it looks like both treatments are "ok" for men of my age and size of the tumor. Oh my! Decisions, decisions!

gonogo · Regular Joined: 18 Jun 2005 Posts: 25

Age sure has a lot to do with it, being that you almost 70 makes deciding even harder. Radiation has gone a long way in the last 10 yrs. Just one thing to keep in mind, a surgeon will rarely do a RP after radiation. More information to think about. Good Luck

Bizzione · New User Joined: 21 Jul 2005 Posts: 8

I understand that once radiation is performed then the surgery in the future is ruled out. That is exactly where I am stumbling with my decision. I am trying to reazon with myself, thinking that if the radiation is effective for at least 6 or 7 years and IF? the cancer comes back I still may prolong my life with the hormonal therapy for few more years. So, living to my eighties will be great achievement.
I am finding out that radiation and surgery are having more less the same survival index.
So, here I am still undecided ...
Best wishes!

gonogo · Regular Joined: 18 Jun 2005 Posts: 25

To perfectly honest, if you have RP, they won't know until the patholgy report comes back will you know if it was contained. All kinds of tests from the outside will not show up microscopic cancer cells. I hope I am overloading with too much information. I have picked up a lot in the last 7 years.

Bizzione · New User Joined: 21 Jul 2005 Posts: 8

That is a good point, Gonogo! In that case I wonder how they can find any microscopic cells when the radiation is chosen?

gonogo · Regular Joined: 18 Jun 2005 Posts: 25

That is the reason a lot pick RP, even with the possible side effects the patient would know if any Pca is still there. They check what is called the margins, the edges of what was removed, if the margins are clean you are golden.
As you have probably read, radiation has side effects too. I think after you read enough, you will come up with the treatment you feel is best for you. Good luck

Bizzione · New User Joined: 21 Jul 2005 Posts: 8

Thanks for the explanation. I read about it a lot but there is so much controversy that one can get very discouradged with both treatments. I started to take the CASODEX 50MG already and was sure that radiation will be the way in my case. Now I am debating it...... darn!

LindaTN · Regular Joined: 23 Apr 2005 Posts: 42

My husband had a psa of 60, he could not have surgery so had whole pelvic and then 16 radiation high dose to the prostate. Two years later psa is .8 We have changed our diet, he takes a lot of herbs. He refused the lupron but for when he was in radiation. No other problems from the radiation. He will be 65 soon. Radiation if done at a high tec hospital has the same rate of cure and a lot less problems as a rule. Might as well confuse you further and tell you that in some cases a change in diet alone will keep the psa way down after you decide on what treatement you want. Linda

gonogo · Regular Joined: 18 Jun 2005 Posts: 25

Why did he refuse to keep taking lupron, I understand that med can hold of the the Pca for a long time?

LindaTN · Regular Joined: 23 Apr 2005 Posts: 42

If the cancer comes back he will then take lupron, lupron has many many unpleasant side effects one being hot flashes, importence always, bone loss, high blood pressure, loss of muscle, weight gain etc Look up lupron on the internet and side effects. Then there is what it costs. Linda

gonogo · Regular Joined: 18 Jun 2005 Posts: 25

I have read all about hormone therapy, I have been at this 7 yrs, I was diagnosis with Pca in 1998, its been a long haul. I see his PSA is .8, at what point will the Pca be considered back? The problem I have with Pca is I know too much about it, I know what can and can?t be done.

LindaTN · Regular Joined: 23 Apr 2005 Posts: 42

He was told at Vanderbilt with the radiation they did it would bounce around for 2 and a half years. If it doubles in six months it probably is back. I had breast cancer three years ago and have spent a great deal of time studying what can be done with herbs, vitamins, diet etc. I have no idea if any of them will work but sure easier then chemo in my book. Hope you are doing okay, not sure if psa is the proof of anything. Linda

gonogo · Regular Joined: 18 Jun 2005 Posts: 25

I am doing ok, next step is hormone therapy, might be this spring, waiting on my next PSA test. In one year it went from .14 to .31. I will be checked in 7 months, I fit doubles again then hormone therapy.
About 2.5 years is when it comes back for me after treatment, they hit that on the nose. I take multi vitamins, calcium, vit C, baby aspirin, and fish oil. I to don?t know if they do any good but I feel better about it. I also had a heart attack about 6 yrs ago, that?s why the baby aspirin and other odd stuff.
Pca and breast cancer in the same family, lots of stress there. How are you doing with your cancer?
As far as PSA goes it means a lot, after surgery that?s all they go by to see if the Pca is advancing , we all wait on our next test. I have programmed myself to worry about the results 2 weeks before the test and 2 weeks after then I just forget about, like not thing is wrong with me. Take care.

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