Radiation Therapy Vs. Surgery

I am 58 and have just been told I have prostate cancer.
I have told that Radiation or Surgery are my options.
I really do not want to go through more surgery but do not know how well the Radiation works.
Has anyone done the Radiation, and how are you doing.
I am T2b N0 M0

Hi. Yes, I had cancer of the prostate around 8 years ago and I had radiation. It was tough but not as bad as I thought it would be. It burned when I urinated and I bled some, but the results were that I am still alive. The cancer has spread to my lymph nodes in my upper legs and my bladder. The doctor that did my treatments was very good. I have had low grade problems ever since, but now I have a lot of infections and still have trouble urinating. I am glad I chose radiation, because my brother went through the same thing at the same time I did. He lived in a different state and had different treatment. Surgery, no radiation, No he has been given 3 months and is very ill. I believe that the radiation has been the best choice for me. I hope that your choice was the right one and that this finds you OK. I am a new member and just read your notice today. Keep in touch and let me know how you are. I am also looking for more information on this, because I am having some problems that may be connected to cancer.

Merrill

My husband was diagnosed with prostate cancer in late 2001 and had a prostatectomy. He is 53 now and the cancer is coming back. He had cancer in one lymph node at the time of surgery. His PSA stayed down until last fall when it began to rise and he is currently doing an alternative treatment. They have had amazing results with their protocol for prostate cancer.

What is the atlernative therepy that your husband is taking?

I am 67 years old and will start IMRT Radiation in about two weeks. My cancer is a T1c Gleason 6.
I was told all treatments would be more difficult because I have a very large prostate down to 93ccs from 166.3 after eleven months of lupron. I expect to be impotent, I expect to have bowel and bladder problems, skin irration and fatigue. These problems will clear up except for the first one.

My prostate will eventually shrink, and I expect to be cured of cancer. I hope I will not have lingering bladder or bowel problems.

I will be posting on my progress. Good luck to all of you.

Bud622

Hello James. After reading your post I decided to post to you, telling you about my situation and ask you a question or two. I was diagnosed with prostate cancer about a month ago. Gleason score is 6. The tumor is very small. I am in the crucial time to make the desicion what kind of treatment I should have. It really is not easy decision. I am reading so much information about both treatments and am truly confused. The surgery seems to be very aggressive action and frankly.... I am concerned of possible complications during and after.
The radiation seems to be less aggressive move but I am still concerned about all the side effects the hormonal pre treatment can cause. I understand that you are already receiving by now your radiation treatment. Can you fill me in how you're doing and what kind of side effects (if any) are you experiencing?
Wishing you the best!

If you have a tumor that can be felt or seen by sonogram, I would recomend Radiation with IMRT, and or brachytherapy. I have talked to several men who have had radiation and are doing great.

I would never have hormones unless in advanced stage. You can refuse the hormones. I had eleven months of Lupron to shrink my prostate. I was nervous, lost muscle, became anemic, lost all sexual desire, who needs it on top of your main treatment.

I did not get to have IMRT, I have the marks !
When I had a CT scan with contrast, it showed lots of problems. My huge prostate was grown into the bladder, the bladder was distended and damaged, my kidneys were damaged. This was because of my huge prostate, not the cancer.

The Radiation Onocologist sent me back to the Urologist for an emergency Radical Prostatectomy.

My surgery was July 18, 2005. I lost a lot of blood, but did OK. I have complications of a flaccid bladder, and the space left by the removal of the prostate caused my penis to pull back into the cavity. This will improve somewhat. The Lupron, I had been on for eleven months caused the outside of the prostate to be more fiberous and sticky, the surgon couldn't find the nerves on the right side, but did manage to save the left bundle.

Sex will not be possible unless my penis can be retrived from inside. I now have a little turtle head peeping out.

I am glad to be alive, the urologist said he didn't see why my kidneys hadn't shut down. The pathologist report showed one tiny area of high grade PIN on the left side. I didn't have prostate cancer at the time of surgery. I had only had less than 5% in one of ten biopsy cores.
The Lupron may have destroyed the few cells or the biopsy may have removed the whole cancer.

I had a PSA of 8.9 and a prostate of 166.3 cc at the time of biospy. The size of the prostate more than accounts for the PSA.

I wish I could tell you first hand about Radiation. My brother in law had it and did great and has no readable PSA. My friends have also done great. I studied cancer treatments for 1 1/2 years when none of them were possible for me. If you haven't had a CT Scan insist on one, then you will know what treatments are really available to you. Good luck- God bless

James

Dear James! I thank you for your informative post.
I can see that my situation is quite different from yours. I had done all the tests and scans available and there in no sign of cancer anywhere else in my body. I am still taking "in" all the info I can and will make my final decision very soon.
Best wishes to you,
Erik

Hi Bud! I made the above post to you but made the mistake and address it to James. Sorry about that! I am still trying to learn the posting system but I think I got it finally...... I hope!?

Hi James. Yes, it is confusing to decide which method of treatment is best. I have posted on this site under Harmone. You may want to read it.I had surgery first because in most cases after radiation once, it cant be used agin. Surgery followed by radion kept my PSA down for almost 10 years. I did not have any complications after surgery but after Radiation the only problem I had was impotentency and nothing helped that problem. Of course now my psa has doubled from 00.50 to 1.10. in 8 months. It looks like Harmones are my best choices at this time. I will make a decesion
in Sept.
Best wishes . keep me posted to your progress.