Husband Dx Prostate Cancer Friday

[Guest guest]

My husband (57 yrs old)was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer on

Friday. His Gleason is 6, and according to the Urologist is a slow

growing type and is unlikely to have spread beyond the gland

itself. We were sent home with instructions to decide on treatment--

surgery or radiation. I am slightly confused though even after

reading so much info! Questions I still have:

Does Laproscopic Surgery truly have less negative post op symptoms

such as erection, urinary problems than the regular more invasive

procedure?

Is Laproscopic procedure as successful at " nerve sparing " ?

Does radiation seed implants or typical radiation therapy have the

same post op symptoms? (His Urologist said it had the same post op

symptoms with the exception that it would happen more gradually. How

gradually?)

The Urologist also said that radiation would not make him sick--I

never heard that before-I thought radiation would have all kinds of

side effects!

Thanks for your help in making this difficult decision! We have

been married over 35 years and he has always depended on me to sort

things through and help him with difficult things like this one--no

pressure huh?

Thanks again-Donna

[Guest guest]

Donna

From the info you have given there is one thing you should use before a decision - that is time! If it is slow growing nothing is going to change quickly!

One option that you have is to use something called active monitoring. That is having no treatment - hence no side effects, but keep a close watch on the beast. This will involve regular PSA checks and occasional scans. A modification of diet towards a good heart diet would help!

Of course this is not for everyone as some folk don't want to risk the escape of the tumour even though the risk is very low and will put up with any side effects.

Ii is a difficult time. I made a list of pros and cons. It often comes down to the cons you both can live with.

Laproscopic is less invasive, though one surgeon said that robotic is more accurate than working with long knitting needles!

With seed implants side effects vary from patient to patient, some have rectal problems and some have urinary problems. Though reports are that as techniques have improved the side effects are less and many get away with minimal effects. My experience of radiation was that I worked throughout, some get tired but I coped by going away to a quiet Greek Island at the end of it!

Congrats on the 35 years, we should get to 38 in October!

Best wishes

Husband Dx Prostate Cancer Friday

My husband (57 yrs old)was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer on Friday. His Gleason is 6, and according to the Urologist is a slow growing type and is unlikely to have spread beyond the gland itself. We were sent home with instructions to decide on treatment--surgery or radiation. I am slightly confused though even after reading so much info! Questions I still have:Does Laproscopic Surgery truly have less negative post op symptoms such as erection, urinary problems than the regular more invasive procedure?Is Laproscopic procedure as successful at "nerve sparing"?Does radiation seed implants or typical radiation therapy have the same post op symptoms? (His Urologist said it had the same post op symptoms with the exception that it would happen more gradually. How gradually?)The Urologist also said that radiation would not make him sick--I never heard that before-I thought radiation would have all kinds of side effects!Thanks for your help in making this difficult decision! We have been married over 35 years and he has always depended on me to sort things through and help him with difficult things like this one--no pressure huh?Thanks again-Donna