Prostate cancer options

[Ben Zioner]

31 minutes ago, Ben Zioner said:

I'd second that. For localised PCA the "Regret rate" for those who have chosen surgery or radiotherapy is twice as high as for those who elect active surveillance. The gain in life expectancy of prostatectomy patients is about 3 months.

 

I am now in the 7th year of active surveillance.

 

"Results showed that after five years, 279 of the men (13% of the entire group) had regrets about what they had chosen. The surgically-treated men were most likely to voice unhappiness with their decision; 183 of them (13%) felt they would have been better off with a different approach. By contrast, regrets were expressed by 76 (11%) of the radiation-treated men and 20 (7%) of men who chose active surveillance. Men in the low-to intermediate-risk categories were more likely to regret having chosen immediate treatment with surgery or radiation instead of active surveillance. The men with high-risk cancer, however, did not regret being treated immediately."
 

[Yellowtail]

It 

3 minutes ago, Ben Zioner said:

 

"Results showed that after five years, 279 of the men (13% of the entire group) had regrets about what they had chosen. The surgically-treated men were most likely to voice unhappiness with their decision; 183 of them (13%) felt they would have been better off with a different approach. By contrast, regrets were expressed by 76 (11%) of the radiation-treated men and 20 (7%) of men who chose active surveillance. Men in the low-to intermediate-risk categories were more likely to regret having chosen immediate treatment with surgery or radiation instead of active surveillance. The men with high-risk cancer, however, did not regret being treated immediately."
 

I am amazed that the percentage of people that regretted a particular course of treatment five years later is that low. 

 

 

[Ben Zioner]

3 hours ago, Yellowtail said:

It 

I am amazed that the percentage of people that regretted a particular course of treatment five years later is that low. 

 

 

I think it matches largely the toxicity of the chosen treatments.

[newbee2022]

On 10/12/2024 at 8:35 PM, sidjameson said:

In the UK at the moment. Mid 50's. Had a couple of PSA tests. 3.9 and 3.6 Then an MRI which showed a 12mm lesion. Went for the biopsy, getting results on Tuesday 15th. The Dr already said that given my age and health (generally pretty good) he would recommend a prostatectomy!!!!

 

Haven't had results yet, but preparing for the worst. Would appreciate others experiences. Willing to have treatment here on NHS or pay back in Thailand.

 

Just want the best decision based on survival and quality of life. This is part of my research. Thanks.

Get the biopsy results and go for a 2. or 3. opinion.

[helloagain]

On 10/12/2024 at 8:35 PM, sidjameson said:

In the UK at the moment. Mid 50's. Had a couple of PSA tests. 3.9 and 3.6 Then an MRI which showed a 12mm lesion. Went for the biopsy, getting results on Tuesday 15th. The Dr already said that given my age and health (generally pretty good) he would recommend a prostatectomy!!!!

 

Haven't had results yet, but preparing for the worst. Would appreciate others experiences. Willing to have treatment here on NHS or pay back in Thailand.

 

Just want the best decision based on survival and quality of life. This is part of my research. Thanks.

Why pay in Thailand if you can still get it free there. And if you can't have sex anymore why come here.

[TigerandDog]

On 10/13/2024 at 11:54 AM, Sheryl said:

At your comparatively young age, and assuming a localized cancer,  main choice would be between prostatectomy and radiation.  And within thise categories there are additional choicese.g. conventional vs robotic surgery, widebeam radiation vs. Implants (brachytherapy).

 

Precise biopsy findings would help guide this. And indeed since you don't yet have biopsy result, possible you do not even have cancer. 

 

If results come back malignant suggest you get more than one opionion in UK. Note that possible to get consultation  privately, you don't have to limit yourself to NHS for that. (Indeed, even private treatment in UK is similar to costs of private care in Thailand.) 

 

Where in UK are you? 

 

 

If the biopsy comes back malignant, even if the cancer is localised within the prostate the OP's PSA readings are too high for Brachytherapy. My PSA readings were in range but also around the same as the OP's and Brachytherapy was immediately ruled out by my urologist as an option on that basis alone. For me the choice was conventional radical prostatectomy (robotic wasn't available when I was treated) rather than radiation.

[StraightTalk]

1 hour ago, helloagain said:

And if you can't have sex anymore why come here.

That's quite a prejudiced comment.

[saintdomingo]

On 10/21/2024 at 12:45 PM, Jonnapat said:

Had a protastectamy here in Thailand in 2008 followed by radiotherapy. Still here to tell the tale. Would strongly recommend Siriraj government hospital  who have all the best equipment and surgeons.

 

 

 

Have da vinci robot also to assist. Excellent treatment for 16 years

Also had mine in 2008, at St Thomas in London but I went for the radiotherapy.

16 years later all is well last psa check gave 0.254, it did once go to 0.4 but only the once. Reminds me I must be due for another.

[nana kid]

From experience I would say that Prostatectomy should be your very last choice.  Good possibility of no sex and diapers 

[Ben Zioner]

47 minutes ago, nana kid said:

From experience I would say that Prostatectomy should be your very last choice.  Good possibility of no sex and diapers 

Near certainty during the first year following the treatment. Prostatectomy should only be offered to patients with more than 15 years of life expectancy. And then it has become even more questionable with the advent of SBRT.

[wolf81]

On 10/12/2024 at 8:35 PM, sidjameson said:

In the UK at the moment. Mid 50's. Had a couple of PSA tests. 3.9 and 3.6 Then an MRI which showed a 12mm lesion. Went for the biopsy, getting results on Tuesday 15th. The Dr already said that given my age and health (generally pretty good) he would recommend a prostatectomy!!!!

 

Haven't had results yet, but preparing for the worst. Would appreciate others experiences. Willing to have treatment here on NHS or pay back in Thailand.

 

Just want the best decision based on survival and quality of life. This is part of my research. Thanks.

 

You should research alternative treatment options, such as using Ivermectin, Fenbendazole, Mebendazole, ...

 

Various studies (e.g. lab studies on mice) have shown success when treating cancer with this medication. Also people have successfully treated themselves. These are just a couple of such studies, many more can be found online.

 

- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7962607/#:~:text=Fenbendazole was also cytotoxic against,mebendazole (36–38).

- https://www.researchgate.net/publication/260343692_Effects_of_fenbendazole_and_vitamin_E_succinate_on_the_growth_and_survival_of_prostate_cancer_cells

- https://www.worldwidecancerresearch.org/news-and-press/news-and-press/game-changing-treatment-for-prostate-cancer-could-become-available-to-patients/

[wolf81]

P.S.: see also this: