Diagnosed in April. MRI done, consult with three doctors. One recommended RP. Two recommended Proton Therapy.
I also had 3+3 cancer and decided on Proton Radiation. I am now two years out from my treatment and could not be more pleased. I have had little or no effect from the treatment. It is a long process but I feel it is worth it. My wife called it radiation vacation since we were very active every day including sports. No loss of appetite and energy during the treatment. My PSA is now .45 and trends lower with every blood test.
With that score, it could be argued that no immediate treatment is necessary. However you are relatively young, so it might be a long time living with the awareness that it could be a potential threat to life. I feel lucky that for several years, Active Surveillance has been all I've required, however, recently my psa went up from 8 to 12, so it gets harder to manage the anxiety. It certainly seems that full removal would be a hasty move.
I agree with managing the anxiety. I have decided to get Proton Radiation. Then the real anxiety starts, hearing the PSA every 3 months.
I am glad you are doing well! Thank you for the reply.
Have you decided on where to go for treatment?
Provision in Knoxville
Ok, I am sure they all are good. I had mine at the University of Florida Proton Center in Jacksonville, Fl. They were great. They had activities going on almost daily for the patients and spouses.
How far did you have to travel?
Your best option is probably Active surveillance. I say probably because I don't know your specific circumstances (and I'm not a doctor). If you are not experiencing any urinary problems, and your cancer is located in an area not likely to spread, then you might be better off with active surveillance. Eventually, because of your age, you will probably have to take some other action in the future. But by that time, perhaps they will have new and better options or have perfected the options they have now so the side effects will be even less.
From what I have read, RP would probably be over treating your situation. From what I understand, regardless of the radiation treatment available, they will all cause some amount of impotence five years after the surgery. (In most cases, Impotence does not show up right away with radiation treatment).
If I were you, I would check into focal laser ablation (FLA) or high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU).
Just my thoughts. I'm not a doctor and I don't know your specific situation. I've just done a lot of research because I'm in the same situation as you.
600 miles. I rented a nice apartment with pool, hot tub, and work out room. I also found that 6 others were in the building going through the same treatment so had people to associate with for dinner and entertainment.
You are yojung, and your numbers are low. You should slow down and catch your breath. Your situation certainly gives you many options. Active Surveillance is an option too. But at your age a treatment might be good because you can expect to live many more years. I was diagnosed last October with the 3+3 gleason score. PSA was at 5.2. A biopsy indicated adenocarcinoma which is a slow growing cancer. I am 65 and in good health other than the prostate cancer. I had no symptoms at all. The PSA was discovered in my regular annual physical. My primary care doctor sent me to the urologist. So I researched options, and with the low risk numbers there are many. And many are good ones. You just have to weigh the pros and cons of each option. I decided on Brachytherapy - low dose seed implants because it is a one time treatment. Once and you're done. I decided to get treatment even though my urologist said I was a candidate for the active survaillance. I felt that if I waited a year or two or more, I would be older and may have other health issues to deal with. I figured it would be better to treat it now and be done with it. There are many good websites with lots of information. Here is one that I ran across recently. It shows many treament options and their side effects. It is worth a look for you.
http://www.prostate-cancer.com/index.cfm
Good luck to you... and take some time to do some research.
Charles
May I ask if you suffered impotence or incontinence from protontherapy?
as a general rule, 3+3 lends itself to active surveillance, BUT this assumes you have nothing else medically going on. If you do, and what you have may impact on the PCa then you should consider treatment. I am not saying be treated, I am saying look at the options. I would agree with those who say that at 3+3 radical surgery is overkill.
i recall you saying you were pleased with U Florida. May I ask
what was the cost?
why did you choose it over say MD Anderson, which I was considering, and
what is the estimated time before further treatment, if any, may be required. I i ask because I understand most treatments are not " set and forget" but have a limited span of a certain number of years before more treatment is needed.
I visited both MD Anderson and UFProton Center. I chose UFPC since they seemed more aggressive to assist patients in adjusting to treatment and living in Jacksonville, Fl. for 2 months. They were very patient friendly with activities for both the patients and spouses. UFPC seemed like a smaller environment which I liked. I am sure both centers could and will do a great job.
I made friends with a great guy from England that had a brain tumor. I found out that GB is sending many patients to UFPC since they do not have a center there. Many children with tumors are being sent from GB to UFPC.
I had medicare and a secondary insurance policy and within 24 hours UFPC informed me I probably would not have to pay anything other than living expenses and they were correct.
Thank you for the reply. Good to hear that you are happy with the treatment. I have a good mind to visit UFPC for a look see before committing to it. Assuming of course that my biopsy confirms what the MRI indicated. The biopsy will take place in 3 weeks.
When did you have the treatment?
Did you suffer I continence or impotence as is common with " traditional" therapies?
I am coming up on my 2 year period. If you decide on UFPC I had Dr. Nichols and nurse Tracy. Both were great. Looking forward to seeing them in August at my annual review.
I have had no adverse reactions. Even during the treatments the only problem was urinating frequently and I attribute that to all the water they want a patient to drink daily.
That is great news. Good for you. I am leaning to proton thereby given I read that it often results in less incontinence and impotence which is almost a given in most surgeries or conventional radiation treatments.
Same with me. Just had TURP on June 1st and pathological report came back positive for prostate Ca Gleason 6 (3+3). Since I am fresh post TURP my urologist recommended to wait 3-4 months before he will do prostate biopsy. Just to mention, I am 51 year old.