Treatment Options

robert1

Hello VGamma and others:

I can't tell you how much I appreciate the information and links you gave me. Everyone at this site has been so helpful. I am close to completing my homework now and a decision is in sight. I just met with Dr. Vipul Patel in Celebration, FL and will visit the Proton facility in JAX in the next three weeks. I may visit Loma Linda also, as business takes me to CA often.

My research has taken me to many places and has covered combination therapy (brachyterapy & IGRT), high dose brachytherapy, cryotherapy, HIFU, CK, open surgery, robotic surgery and proton therapy. What a journey! While I don't feel particularly lucky, it is amazing how many choices there are and how high the success rates have become.

While my PSA and Gleason scores are relatively low, the mass and desinty of my PCa is such that the surgeons have suggested a partial nerve sparing procedure on the left side and a full nerve spare on the right. My right side appears to be clean although you never know. Dr. Patel is very confident, but I am fairly certain that leaving the left side nerve bundle in 75% shape will leave me with sexual side effects for many years, so I am leaning towards a radio therapy solution even though the surgeons have suggested that the mass and density of my PCa may present a problem here also.

I'm scheduling an MRI now assuming it may help with my decision. I would like to know if there is any obvious extracapular extension before deciding on a treatment. My bone scan was clean.

I only have one chance to beat this the first time, so any wisdom you guys can impart on me is very much appreciated.

Thank you again for helping me along. It really motivates me to help others.

Best wishes to all,

Robert1