Options following recent diagnosis

The fact we had choices blew our minds too when my husband was diagnosed with a large G6 (3+3) following a PSA of 3.56 a Mp MRI showing something abnormal ans a 46 core template biopsy under general anaesthetic . A later biopsy regraded him to G7 (3+4). Our options were:

AS

RT

RP

But as a result of fear of ED and in continence we explored focal options ( no offers of cryotherapy) but were offered back in 2016

Whole gland HIFU

Focal Laser Ablation ( USA)

The decision to go focal has been an interesting and bumpy journey starting with that trip to the USA but unfortunately 2019 saw a reoccurrence now at that higher grade but focal HIFU in the UK was now on offer ( or an RP still) so Feb 2020 the focal HIFU wax done but needed another go in September.

So three focal treatments ( he is in in 50s ) and if it reoccurs he will have to have a removal but last scan was clear so fingers crossed.

Recovered quickly from all 3 procedures with no incontinence and help with tablets only needed for a few weeks before a full recovery of functionality

Not a standard journey - he still has his prostate but orgasms have been dry since his first treatment. Other than that QOL is unaffected but PSA anxiety is a real thing whatever treatment you opt for it seems.

Good Luck

Claret.

Transperineal biopsy, my experience:

Visit hospital in the morning as a day case. Go to operating theatre. General anaesthetic. Wake up wondering if anything has been done (it had). Recuperate in a room with tea and biscuits. Go for a wee and blood streaked urine feels like pissing razor blades.

The bloke in the bed opposite was in agony as this was his second biopsy after a TRUS (buy one get one free, remember?), and a lot of doctor attention behind the bed curtains, and I think he had to be catheterised, and certainly wasn’t leaving hospital any time soon. I think he had a bad dose of cancer/reaction to the anaesthetic/problems with his catheterisation during the biopsy.

Off for second wee, felt like pissing slightly blunt razor blades. Felt absolutely fine, and a child of a doctor came to see me and I told him I was ready to go home (around 2pm). He told me I could not. So I asked for a form to discharge myself. There was a bit of a kerfuffle as he’d never encountered anyone who wanted to discharge themselves, and didn’t know what forms were involved.

Eventually they were produced, and he was still a bit flustered, but signed me out and they gave me a course of antibiotics to take to prevent an infection. Left about 2.30. A bloody massive big blue, yellow and purple bruise the size of a grapefruit had developed on my perineum where the forty two needles had been inserted.

No further pain on subsequent micturition, but pink semen for about two weeks. I told Her Loveliness it was strawberry flavour, but she didn’t believe me, sadly.

I had already twigged I had cancer before the biopsy, and the surgeon who came to see me before the biopsy procedure admitted as much when I asked him straight out.

So all in all, the transperineal biopsy was no problem for me, and an interesting day out. I doubt if the gentleman in the bed opposite would say the same.

So, go and get one. Then consider the result and your future plans in conjunction with your doctors. If you do decide on any treatment, have as much sex/orgasms as possible beforehand, as they will never be the same again.

I hope your biopsy goes as well as mine did!

Cheers, John.

Edited by member 07 Nov 2020 at 03:31  | Reason: Not specified

Hi Richard,

Please visit my profile, albeit it's maybe a little cryptic in places.

I'm 6 years from Dx. PSA 0.02

Lots of info already posted, other to add to mix. 6 weeks recovery min. re. Surgery. Are you in a manual job ?

Distance to hospital re. RT etc

I only joined this forum about 1 yr after op.  I realised how little I knew or was told.

Key.  Don't rush..   Cross each bridge  as you need to.

All the best

Regards Gordon

Thanks for everyone's replies

I'm new to this site and had no idea how helpful this would be. It's great that there's a community out there which is so willing to engage and offer advice and thoughts, as well as sharing experiences

It means a lot to me knowing that I'm not alone with this

I'll return to these pages once I have made a decision on my next steps

Thanks all