re: Calling OT docs- prostate cancer

My hospital does a lot of Brachytherapy?

Google that for details. You get a device (a multi cath port) inserted in your taint. Then 3-6 treatments with meds and chemo treatments directly to the prostate.

50 radiation treatments sounds awful. So does taint surgery. But it is less treatments.


At a certain age, taking that fricker out just makes sense. Your prostate is like a man’s “lady parts” if you live long enough it will betray you.

Was diagnosed with prostate cancer 3 months ago. 62 years old, I’ve had no problems but PSA kept rising. I am now in active monitoring, really unsure of my next move when it starts rising. Quality of life is very important to me, so the impotence is a game changer. Lift up a prayer for me for discernment. Kip

Can I ask how old are you? My Gleason score was similar, we monitored it for about 3 years before md Anderson, Mayo Clinic, and 2 other urologist recommended removal. I was 58 at the time

If this is the case, I’d focus on more palliative care and make his next year or so more pleasant. A sick late 70s doing any therapy like this will make him live slightly longer at much worse health

I've wondered about this. How painful are prostate biopsies?

I had an elderly neighbor that nearly went into shock getting one.

I had the typical prostate biopsies & had zero issues other than just a bit of uncomfortableness initially. Far from "brutal". I had 32 sessions of radiation, twice a week my call, & other than trying not to piss on myself while waiting to be scanned each session, had no side effects at all. This was 4+ yrs ago, so mabe the radiation treatment has changed? Both my urologist & cancer doc told me the same thing, at my age, 70, I'll more than likely die with it, not because of it.

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,I feared he was going to get septic sooner

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Correct me if I'm wrong but aren't they penetrating your colon into your prostate? How the hell can that be a good idea?

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I had cancer 3 months after him and opted for prostate removal.

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Does it stop you from having to pee in middle of the night and after every single beer? If so, I'll have mine pulled next week.

I was diagnosed in 2006. Stage 1 3+3. I have been on an active surveillance protocol at MD Anderson since. I have no symptoms and the disease is, from all indications, not spreading and not progressing. 18 years is a LONG time to be on active surveillance but mainly because people over react to the word cancer. Every case is different but in my case any treatment options are far more damaging than 90% of prostate cancer is. I even managed to knock up my wife 4 years after diagnosis. And had a vasectomy shortly after that. Prostate cancer is one of the leading causes of death in men but it is far and away the most treatable cancer and survival rates are excellent for all forms of treatment. Late stage and aggressive prostate cancer is, thankfully rare, but it is a killer like most cancers. Get that fricker checked...it ain't pleasant but it beats the alternative.

As far as his treatment goes if they are doing radiation only it is most likely early stage and not progressing. Unless he has some sort of other issues that prevent more aggressive treatment this is generally true. Prostatectomy is the gold standard but the immediate side effects are more likely to occur and be severe...but they subside with time. Those side effects also happen with radiation but usually it takes some time, often years, before they present themselves. Depending on his age and health those side effects are probably going to come visiting eventually anyway. Most likely, if radiation is the plan of action, his prognosis is excellent.

Finally, seriously, get that fricker checked. It is not fun having some sausage fingered fricker plunge his finger up your arse and having some blood drawn but it could save your life. And for those who do find they have prostate cancer do not lose your mind...it is very treatable in most cases and you can live normally for a long time...I have. I will probably have surgery this year because the side effects are not that unthinkable at 59 as they were at 41 and it is, by all accounts, only a matter of time before ANY cancer progresses.