My father was diagnosed with prostate cancer?
My father was diagnosed with prostate cancer. He is in the early stages of it. I don't know exactly what phase or much about it for that matter. Nonetheless I am worried and scared and so is my mother. He has two options to remove it either chemo or surgery.
Does anyone know which option might be better and does anyone have experiences where someone in their life had this and was fine afterward?
Cancer - 8 Answers
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1 :
I had this ca 14 yrs ago and had surgery @ Mayo. I ask for nerve sparing but was told post surgery that the nerves were in a thickened area so the surgery was radical. I have been ca free, great health, no problems with urination or anything else except I have permanent ed. I guess this is a small price in the scheme of things. I know they can do much more today but time is of the essence. I will suggest a second opinion as well. Good luck to your dad.
2 :
Most cases of prostate cancer are 'slow growing' and often require no treatment (most prostate cancer patients die of something other than their cancer!). However, if your father has an aggressive form of cancer, he will need some type of treatment. His oncologist should explain all the treatment options, their pros and cons, and your father and the doctor should make the decision together about what type of treatment to pursue. And, a second and third opinion is never a bad idea (especially before pursuing any invasive form of treatment). Best wishes and good luck.
3 :
One aspect is the treatment, that I am not aware of. However, the second one is to know if there is an active cause for the cancer to develop and has a potential to make it worse. Depending on where your father works, there may/not be ionizing radiation. If you think it is worth the peace of mind, you can invest in a personal dosimeter (he carries wherever he goes) that detects and produces an alarm in the presence of ionizing radiation. When choosing a detector, make sure it does not have wireless link to external devices (computers, readers etc.) since devices in that category give false +/-.
4 :
Your whole family should discuss the options over with the doctor. It is very hard for anyone to advice which treatment option is best. You also need to assess risk of complications vis-a-vis chances of recovery, etc. Here is a site that gives you more information about prostate cancer and how to get improved prostate health http://www.prostate-cancer-treatment-hub.com
5 :
The most common treatment for early stage prostate cancer is Surgery or Radiation. Chemotherapy is most often used as a salvage therapy in late stage prostate cancer. I am sorry to hear about your father's diagnosis. I know how hard it must be for you and your family right now. I was diagnosed with prostate cancer in July. It is hard to explain how devastating hearing that you have cancer can be. The support of family and friends is crucial, I would not have been able to confront this disease and make a choice for treatment without that. I would recommend that your father get a second opinion, from another Urologist, and also from a Radation Oncologist. Urologists generally perform surgery, so usually recommend surgery, a Radiation Oncologist performs radiation treatment, so usually favors radiation. The patient should make the decision about what is best for them in consultation with their Doctor. Prostate Cancer is different for each man that is diagnosed. So much depends on the age at diagnosis, other health issues that may be present, the size and stage of the tumor, whether it is thought to be contained within the prostate gland, or thought to have spread to other parts of the body. In early stage prostate cancer, a small tumor confined to the prostate gland, there is an excellent chance of a cure. (95% for Radiation and the same for Surgery.) The problem is that along with the treatments come the potential for serious side effects, most commonly, urinary incontinence and/or impotence. Each treatment option and the risks and side-effects should be explained in detail. The patient should be able to make an informed decision about what is best for them. After much research I chose a newer form of surgery called Robotic Laparoscopic Prostatectomy. For me this was better than the traditional surgery because it is less invasive, there is a shorter hospital stay (usually overnight) and a shorter recuperation at home (usually three weeks.) There is also a better chance of reducing the severity of the side-effects. I am happy to say that my Dr. is confident that he removed all of the cancer during the surgery. So there is a good chance that I am cured and can return to a more normal life. There is hope. Prostate Cancer is a slow growing cancer, and if caught early there is an excellent chance for a cure. It is important to be educated about all treatment options and decide together as a family on what is best. I wish you and your family the best of luck at this time.
6 :
I had prostate cancer. It's a slow growing cancer, so your lucky if you catch it early enough. I had my prostate removed, and am now cancer free. Been so for four years. I recommend the operation. Chemo tends to kill some of the good cells. And who needs the sick feelings from chemo? The results of the operation wear off quickly.
7 :
Sad Wifey, many men have been diagnosed and done well. To help your husband make the best choice, help him understand the basics: grade (expressed as Gleason score) and stage (using the TNM system). Once this is done, mix in general health: age, illness, smoking history, medications. Then take all this information to a doctor who specializes in prostate cancer and review the options. To get a better sense of men who have been through it, have a look at the Patients Speak page at the link below. Many of the stories are written by the wives. You should find comfort in these. Look also at the video in the TV section (Helping your man with prostate cancer) and the editorial (Hope Intervenes). I think they'll help you.
8 :
Best ot get surgery, than chemo depending on cancer grade. Highly curable in early stages
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