Prostate questions

[THS]

I know this might be a touchy or taboo subject, but it is something that I do need to ask questions about now.

My father just found out yesterday that he has prostate cancer. He's only 61 years old, and as you can imagine this is hitting him pretty hard. He's been given essentially 3 different scenarios on how to treat his cancer:

1) Leave it alone, which has least amount of side effects (at least until the cancer has progressed to the point that he needs pain meds daily)
2) Treat it with radioactive "seeds", but that tends to leave scar tissue which would make a later operation near impossible if the seeds did not kill the cancer all the way.
3) Have surgery to remove it, which carries the possibility of other side effects, one being incontinence, which I think is one that Dad is dreading the most. I think the impotence side effect is the least of his concerns.

My question is this: Is there anybody on this forum that has personally dealt with prostate cancer? Did you have surgery or are you living with it? The doc said if Dad were in his 80's, he'd probably advise him to just live with it, but since he's still a young pup, surgery may be the way to go.

Just trying to get a little piece of mind. He's VERY depressed with this news. He lost his mom to pancreatic cancer, both his sister and her daughter from breast cancer, his other living sister just got treated recently with ovarian cancer (if I recall), his (favorite) brother was killed 3 years ago almost to the date when a skid steer loader rolled over on top of him, and his latest family death was only a month ago when another one of his brothers died from sleep apnea/heart attack. We're also fresh off of a scare in our own family when my sister developed blood clots in her brain (apparently from birth control pills) about 5 months ago and almost died, and my mom had a tumor removed from her brain about 2 years ago, but that turned out ok too. (geez, it sounds like my family is headed for extinction....)

I was the first one that my mom called when they heard the news from the doctor yesterday. Come to think of it, I was also the first one when my sis had her clots and seizures, the first one when my mom had her tumor. They seem to take a little solace maybe in the way I approach things so calmly. So if I can help my Dad some way in making his decision on what course of action to take, it will make me feel better.

Anybody care to share stories? Thanks for your time.

 

[themichelob]

THS,
At his age, assuming he's in fairly good health, go for option three right away! He'll get over the side effects of the surgery. Otherwise, even though it is a slow growing cancer, it will eventually spread to other organs and kill him. (No nice way to say it). Of the three people I've known that had prostate cancer, the two who had the surgery are still alive....
Regards and good luck, Mike

 

[midlf]

My uncle had the radioactive seeds done about 8 years ago. He was 76 at the time. Took care of the problem. He was a dentist in NC and asked around his acquaintances in the medical community what method they would use if they had to. The seeds won. My former boss had it done about the same time. He was 65. I do not know the specific outcome but I know he is still alive.

 

[Egon]

One of my Great Uncles had prostate cancer treated when he was 57. He passed away some years later at the age of 86.

Egon

 

[TheKid]

My brother-in-law was diagnosed with it about 5 years ago when he was 52. He went with the radioactive seeds method and everythig worked out great and he's been given a clean bill of health.

The only down side of the treatment for him was that he could not hold his new grand daughter on his lap for a few months after the seeds were first planted.

 

[dmccarty]

THS,

When it rains it pours....

My Uncle had the surgery 10? years ago. I'm not sure of his age at the time but he would have been in his mid 50's to early 60's. He has other health issues but the cancer was removed. His problem with the surgery is the incontinence and impotence. He used a docter that had not done many of the surgeries supposedly and that caused his problems according to family lore. I certainly would lean toward the surgery after finding out the odds of having the side effects and finding a doctor that has done many of these procedures.

Later,
Dan

 

[scott_vt]

Mornin THS,
At that age it has to be treated, no question about that!!! I would think that a good amount of research would need to go into option #2 and #3. When I saw prostate on the threads it caught my eye. Unfortunately I just had to start taking medication for an enlarged prostate, getting up 3 times during the nite to pee, was not working out well for me. So far this medication is helping, Im down to once during the night

ps As a side note, everyone over 50 should be getting a psa test every year! Good prevention against prostate cancer and early detection!

 

[Thurd Ferguson]

Ah, yes. The ol' digital rectal exam. Uncomfortable but necessary.

 

[Bird]

I, too, have an uncle who went with the radioactive seeds a few years ago; don't remember just how long ago. I know he's 85 now.

 

[goaliedad]

No first hand experience here, but my thoughts... you are doing the right thing- RESEARCH. I am a firm believer that we should be medical consumers, not patients. Talk to people- get a second opinion, read whatever you can get your hands on. Keep in mind that everything you read or hear is not always the gospel truth, but educate yourself. My wife is an RN in the operating room- I can certainly tell you that there is a big difference between surgeons- if you go that route make sure to find out who is good, and who is great.
Best of luck!