On 2/27/2008
ventana110 wrote:
I'm 57y.o. just diagnosed with pc. My cancer is extremely small, my prostate is extremely small based on rectal exam, cancer in one quadrant and has not spread, my Gleason is 3+3, and I had biopsy because PSA went from .6 to 1.3 in one month. I obviously have been seen by my urorologist who insists I do something and reccod brachy. I saw a medical oncologist who reccod active surveillance as did the chairman of the urology department at Univ. of Miami. I have read about proton therapy and hifu. With radiation I was told that it could give me other types of cancers. With hifu, i was informed that a downside is that the cancer may simply go into remission. I have no idea regarding side effects of this treatment which is a question in itself. Plus, i'm learning that the cost is astronomical and not necessarily convered by insurance. I have additionally talked to other pc patients and they had surgery. My niece who is brilliant and in med. school feels strongly that the only answer is surgery (by the way, she is not going to become a surgeon).
So, there it is. My head is spinning. I want to feel comfortable with active surv. however I dont know if I will become anxious by virtue of doing nothing and knowing that I have cancer in my body. Also, I read articles that are not in favor of this approach. I am emotionally drained and having a hard time focusing on my work-i am a clinical psychologist. My wife says she understands what i'm going through however she tends to minimize illness and bury her head in the sand. If I hint at being down/depressed, she questions why seeing as the cancer was detected early and the doctors don't appear to be that concerned if they are suggesting active surv., etc. I realize I have to make my own decision about what to do. It's that there are so many options which is both good and bad cause lit eads to a lot of "mental masturbation" that in turn gives rise to anxiety, depression, and confusion.
I welcome feedback.
I have PC, PSA 76.41 and Gleason 9. I had radiation. I have not heard of other cancers caused by radiation, can you explain? Thank you