Help with treatment

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User

Posted 10 Apr 2020 at 17:19

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member

I don’t doubt what my NHS consultant has said, but it’s completely opposite to the consultation I’ve had with my private consultant!

I’m still trying to work out why he would say this.

Well, the fact that he would be able to charge you for it might be a bit of a clue?

"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard

User

Posted 10 Apr 2020 at 18:02

Do you genuinely believe that someone in the position he is in would do that?

I have found him very professional and very knowledgable. I would say exactly the same of my NHS consultant.

I think I’m a good judge of character, my own professional life required that as a minimum starting point. I want to end this conversation now. Thanks again.

User

Posted 12 Apr 2020 at 22:09

Hi Westride, I had a prostatectomy 3 weeks ago and pre operation was given a diagnosis of gleason 3+3=6 and stage T2, however after the op the histology showed a gleason score of 3+4=7 and T3a. I had a huge dilemma pre op as to what treatment I should have and seriously considered HIFU. I had a discussion with a private surgeon in London who provided surgery, RT and HIFU options. His opinion was that HIFU is only really effective if the cancer is in one area only of the prostate and a good mri scan should be able to determine this. As mine was in various places then HIFU was not an option as a high probability of cancer re occuring. I wish you well with whatever option you take.

User

Posted 12 Apr 2020 at 22:20

Hi AndyEv.

Thanks for your reply, this is exactly the type of information I’m looking for.

My MRI Scan has been looked at by my private consultant along with his own radiologist. They both think they can offer me Hifu because the MRI Scan shows cancer on one side.

Do you think you would have opted for Hifu if your cancer had been on one side only?

User

Posted 13 Apr 2020 at 09:09

I was Gleason 7 and T3a at diagnosis. I was recommended surgery by both oncologist and urologist. My age was a major factor in this - I was only 46. After surgery, pathology was pT3b and Gleason 9.

Ulsterman

User

Posted 13 Apr 2020 at 09:23

I spoke to my private healthcare and they were prepared to offer HIFU. I researched every area I could on it and the Specialist Nurses on this website sent me some research papers and gave me some really useful other information on it. It was a serious consideration of mine, however I would have had a discussion with the professor in London who cant be named on here who specialises in HIFU treatment before deciding. My only reservation with HIFU is that it is not as well researched as RT or Prostatectomy and although some of the research looks good I would have wanted to see more of the longer term success rates. Also in hindsight my prostate histology showed a higher grade and gleason score and some cancer in areas the MRI didn't quite pick up. It is a difficult decision for you and until my options were reduced I was in a similar position to you. I weighed up every option, spoke to family, took good advice on this community, spoke to the specialist nurses and importantly had a couple of professional opinions from specialists I deemed very experienced in the field. For me it was between HIFU and RP. RP won due to the extent of cancer in the prostate. I wish you well.

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