Physically: There is a big conflict between fast healing minimal external scarring and the internal major surgery. Needed to take things easy for a good couple of months. Probably not back to a real ‘normal’ for a year. Mentally: the impact is huge and hits in waves. More emotional, more detached, anxious, frustrated, angry. Depressed at times. Still not over it two years later.
Yes
At the time I wanted the best chance of getting my PC removed. As it turned out, positive margins put paid to that, but no-one has a crystal ball.
Mentally: Salvage RT was somehow different to my first treatment. It seemed like a last chance at cure, with lower likelihood of success (time will tell). The wait for PSMA scan, planning scan and then treatment start date seemed like forever: Physically: It was disruptive for a couple of months - appointments, scans and then daily trips (45 mins each way) to the hospital.. Staff were great and symptoms were okay for first 8 days. Then the proctitis started and still continues now, 16 weeks later.
Yes
Needed salvage treatment due to slowly rising PSA. Three monthly monitoring gave 12 months post surgery at <0.01, then 0.04; 0.04; 0.08; 0.1 … and then jumped to 0.2 within 28 days. Oncologist bolted on hormone therapy in parallel to RT as a belt and braces approach due to my risk profile (pathology adjusted to Gl.4+3 with tertiary 5; 2x positive margins; fast PSADT).
Mentally and emotionally more than I expected, but known side effects of HT. very emotional, would cry at the slightest thing! Physically: tiredness and loss of muscle strength but again these effects are known. Tamoxifen countered breast growth. Gained weight but tried to counter this with diet and exercise.
Yes
Needed the best chance of killing off the PC. My own research tells me this combined with RT is probably only a 50-60% chance of cure, so realistically I’m just hoping to still be around in 10yrs time. I’m only 56 (just after 54th birthday when diagnosed).
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