looking for treatment

hopeful and optimistic said:

MCJ

When we are diagnosed, we all go through intense anxiety, and all of those negative feeling. This usually lasts two to three months. During this time we are faced with making a potentially life changing decision , that is choosing the best treatment option with the least side effects.

It is very important for you make your decision based on all the facts that are and can be available about your case. Since PCa is a slow growing disease two or three months in not critical in this decision making process.

Since the side effects of doing more than one treatment choice are cummulative, you want to avoid this choice (surgery), if the cancer has already escaped the capsule, since the cancer will still spread and you will still need to treat with another treatment choice.

Previously I posted to you on this thread, "have you had any other diagnostic tests, ie a multiparametric MRI with a T3. If extracapsular extension is found this can preclude certain treatment types" Basically what this means is that you want to know if the cancer is already outside the capsule; if this is so surgery is not appropriate. You really need to have this test before you undergo this surgery.....(while surgery is effective in curing cancer in the prostate, it can have major side effects to include, but not limited to incontinence and ED. Why undergo this if it will not be effective in curing the cancer.Additionally surgery is age dependent: a surgeon can do the exact same operation on a fifty year old and have excellent results and have negative results for a seventy year old.

The above is my laymans two cents. Hopefully Vasco and others will provide more information tha t will be useful for you.

MCJ

Deciding on a treatment for prostate cancer is not easy. None of them can assure the perfect outcome and all got attached side effects that could become permanent nightmares in one’s life time. You should read firstly about the risks each treatment entails and then choose the one you most feel confident with, independently of the Gleason you got.

I think that choosing surgery because the treatment may fail later is not proper. Surgery is good if the cancer is contained, providing high rates for cure. When the case is very “messy” then surgery may be chosen for debulking. Your doctor should be highly experienced to provide the best possible clinical stage. If in doubt then you better get second opinions from several specialists.

Wishing you luck in your decisions.

VG

CJ613 said:

I had cyberknife. Now I have

I had cyberknife. Now I have not much control of my bowels and urine. Forget about ED, Viagra is a great thing. IMO, I would look into that robot surgery. Just my opinion. You have to make your own choice. Just get a good doctor and facility.  Good Luck!

I haven't heard of many men who have had any negative side effects after treatment w/CK.  I believe you are the 1st man who has been treated w/CK who has reported a negative experience.  Just noticed that you reported elsewhere on the experience and I will comment further there.