posted by Doyle
16 February 2023
Prostate Cancer
Last reply:
20 February 2023 15:26
I was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer. It is Gleeson score 7 (3 + 4). I have been told that my two options are surgery or radiotherapy. I have researched both but I am struggling to decide which is the best option. I think I may have to make this decision myself although my urologist will be coming back to me in the next week or so. Both treatments seem to be equally effective but I am struggling to decide which to choose.
Any advice would be welcomed.
Hi Doyle,
Thank you for posting. I'm very sorry to read about your recent diagnosis, I hope you are keeping well otherwise.
When diagnosed with prostate cancer, many men are faced with making a decision about their treatment. We have a lot of men contact us on the supportline about this, it is a very difficult and individualised choice to make. There is no wrong choice, you need to consider what works best for you and your lifestyle.
As you mentioned both treatments are equally effective. Things to consider in helping you make that decision might be the recovery time, the invasiveness of the treatment, the side effect profile for the different treatments and the distress they may cause.
It can be helpful to speak with family, friends and other men who have had the treatment to help you make that decision. We have a peer support service where we could put you in touch with other men who have had those treatments to discuss how they came to their decision and their experience in having the treatment. Many men find this helpful and gives them the reassurance that they are making the right decision for themselves.
Please do phone us on the supportline on 1800 200 700, we can chat through your options and get you in touch with one of our peer support volunteers.
I hope this information is helpful.
Kind regards,
Cancer nurse.