Help! I was diagnosed last week with prostate cancer. I’m 55 years old and a very active triathlete. After discussion with my urologist, we have decided to go with IMRT treatment. My question is has anybody else had this done because I’m not sure which way to go with marking my prostate for the radiation treatment. There’s two ways. Place 3 markers in the prostate to guide the radiation or use CT scan to decide. Anyone have experience with either method?
Thanks
I haven’t been there or done that, yet. Your post makes me wonder why the decision for aggressive treatment right after diagnosis. Most of the time, the plan is watchful waiting to see if it progresses. Usually it does not. Of course, if it does, it can be fatal.
I am going to guess there are aggrevating factors. If you haven’t already, ask lots of questions about why doing nothing for a while isn’t a plan.
All men get prostate cancer, if they live long enough. My grandfather had it for about 20 years before he died of old age at age 100. It is usually harmless, but not always by any means.
Best of luck.
2 guys I worked with had the same treatment (the markers). One of the guys breezed though it (at least it seemed that way), the other guy had good days and bad days. He would sometimes be able to get a treatment in the morning and then come into work, but the other days he would just pack it in. Both guys were successful as far as recovery.
Good luck. Stay strong.
Bernie
2nd and 3rd opinion maybe?
Hi Rod,
Sorry to hear about your diagnosis. My father-in-law (also named Rod) was diagnosed with prostate cancer in the fall of '99 and opted for aggressive surgery to remove the entire gland. Afterwards he wished he’d gone with the radiation instead. His recovery has been remarkable - his biggest complaint is the loss of “function”. He’s no Ironman, but is by all means a fit guy.
Prostate cancer can sit dormant or it can do nasty things - metastasizing into nearby bone (the pelvic girdle) and leading to a painful, drawn-out illness. Think Frank Zappa. If you were my dad, husband, training partner - don’t just sit on it.
If you go to 10 different oncologists, you will get 10 different answers unfortunately. The literature only has outcomes data for the older cohort as that is where it is most prevalent, and for them, the survival rates are ~10yrs, which for a 70yo, gets you to 80, when most people start to die (based on ages in the studies, not current life expectancies).
For you, who are comparatively younger, there is very little literature out there. Someone close to me recently was diagnosed at 58 and after about 12months of watchful waiting and PSA scores at very low levels, decided for laproscopic. He chose that over radical prostectomy as he knows some peers who are wearing diapers and didn’t like that option. He feels great right now and will be skiing Whistler this Christmas.
There are some options, and oncologists who operate 200 times a year for the newer treatment guidelines. If you are in the US, and your PSA is low, you may consider visiting some different treatment centers for opinions and latest and greatest. If you are in Canada, you have a bit less choice as you would have to pay US$3-6k to get to some of the specialist centers in the US, which is currently where the major cutting edge stuff is being tested and developed.
This is a very difficult decision, not least of which due to the distinct lack of data for your age cohort. Learn as much as you can and make the decision you feel most comfortable with. Even if you love your urologist, unless he is a very highly respected Key Opinion Leader in the field, you owe it to yourself to speak with others. Good luck.