Great news is, the cancer hasn't decided to leap out from the initial site and take up residence in other bits of me, which is always a plus. Apparently, the next favoured place for it to set up camp is the skeleton, which is definitely much less fun than it sounds.

The next good news is, because of this, and the fact it's not an otherwise aggressive form, treatment is definitely viable, with a very good chance - they never say perfect - of a full recovery.

Now for the bad news...

There are three different sorts of treatment available. The first and simplest is surgery, where they dig right in and chop that sucker out. Works just about perfectly, just about every time. Unfortunately, there's a very good chance it can leave the patient with lifelong incontinence and feeling like they have a stone in their shoe. That is to say, it makes you limp. Ha bloody ha. Basically, there's a very good chance the surgeon chops through all those lovely nerves that make a gentleman's anatomy do what it was made to do, leaving it like the sad, flaccid neck of a deflated balloon. Thanks a lot but no thanks.

The second option is something called External Beam Therapy. Simple version is the victim, erm, patient is face down on a table and has hig intensity X Rays fired at their nether regions. This usually zaps those naughty cancer cells. There are, however, some seriously horrifying caveats to this one. First of all, there's a 6-8 week course of hormone suppressants to shrink the prostate. This can leave the patient weak, tired and generally not feeling up for a game of Football, or mountain climbing. Additionally, the treatment itself can cause impotence, incontinence and what we'll call "Distress in the lower tract". Another downside, if you need more, is the treatment is not always a rip roaring success but it also means other treatments are, as they say "extremely difficult", which is the nearest you'll hear a doctor come to say, "Not a fucking chance, mate". Oh, and did I mention, should any of the side effects appear, they're pretty much irreversible? Again, that's a no thanks.

This leaves the third option, Permanent Seed Brachytherapy. Gee, I'm excited already, just from the name. Anyhow, this particular bundle of joy involves having lots of tiny radioactive particles injected into the site. It's a very effective treatment, with - at least compared to the others - minimal downsides, or at least, there are fewer people affected long term and of those who really have it bad, there are remedies, but... it hurts like buggery. Literally like buggery. One guy compared it to feeling like he had a hedgehog shoved up his arse. That's probably not as enjoyable as it sounds, either. The other, huge downside to this one is, introducing radioactive materials into your tender self is generally not a great idea, and can lead to all sorts of strange and most likely unpleasant outcomes in the future.

Anyhow, they are the options. All things considered, though, I'll probably go for the hedgehog up the arse. We shall see. :D

Now, did the doctors say that they have these medical hedgehogs, or do you have to catch one yourself? Inquiring minds want to know.

You are in my thoughts and my heart, my friend, dearest fortune be in your favor.

hborre posted at 2:40AM Thu, 19 August 2021 - #4425608

Now, did the doctors say that they have these medical hedgehogs, or do you have to catch one yourself? Inquiring minds want to know.

I believe they are specially bred for the job. :D

@ Boni, many thanks and I'm sure everything will be fine.

I've got a hedgehog in the garden, but I can't see it volunteering to visit to your nether regions.

I thought there was some sort of laser therapy nowadays - or is that the invasive x-ray you mention? None of these options sound much fun. Hope they can come up with some other (more pleasant) therapy!

Radiation therapy seems to be the most effective although it is basically a shotgun approach for treatment. But consider this, we are constantly bombarded by different sources of radiation of one kind or another. Solar radiation, Americium 241 (AM-241) or Radium 226 (RA-226) found in smoke detectors, microwaves, etc are all part of our lives. It's just a matter of how long you are exposed to it. Lasers are very effective on pinpoint targets like tumor masses but not very practical for treating wide-range areas.

Well, folks, these are the three treatments available for me. Granted the first one is robotic, teleoperated by a very experienced surgeon but even so, they admit there's a significant risk of snipping something that shouldn't be snipped. It's very effective at getting rid of the cancer, though. The X Ray one is somewhat more complex, and as I noted, a damn sight less pleasant both in the short, and potentially long term. The hedgehog up the bum is at least as effective as the others, and seems to carry fewer risks to the old wedding tackle.

Nobody mentioned anything about laser surgery. Maybe it's not considered an option in this case.

I've been advised by two senior consultants that they believe the hedgehog approach is the best option, and one they'd go for, and two who said they wouldn't go near it. So, even though there's a risk of things going bad due to radiation effects later in life, I'm seriously considering it. After all, I'm 62, so how long could I expect to be around anyhow?

You know, at 62, by the time something crops up from that treatment, you'd have other health problems that will overshadow those end results. Good luck to you. I know you will make the best decision on the options offered to you.

I am 67 and already a type 2 diabetic, and hborre is on the something as the health problems continue to mount, what my pharmacist describes as a side effect of staying alive.

hornet3d posted at 2:07PM Fri, 20 August 2021 - #4425709

I am 67 and already a type 2 diabetic, and hborre is on the something as the health problems continue to mount, what my pharmacist describes as a side effect of staying alive.

I was pre-diabetic a while ago but having changed my diet considerably, I'm no longer at risk. So far. Other things continue to mount up, though. It's great fun getting old. If I ever bump into Rabbi ben Ezra, I'm going to kick his arse. :D

That's quite a choice, Sam. They all sound horrible, but I'd probably take the hedgehog, too. I hope all goes well for you, whatever you decide.

Here you are ... https://youtu.be/rkXkZ-NQ-58

Lovely, thank you for posting. We get plenty of 'em round here. Our outdoor cameras pick them up from time to time.

SamTherapy posted at 7:34PM Sat, 21 August 2021 - #4425727

It's great fun getting old. If I ever bump into Rabbi ben Ezra, I'm going to kick his arse. :D

Grow old along with me!
The best is yet to be [...]
— Stanza I, lines 1-2

Take it one day at a time Sam, and you'll do fine.

A little update:

Since I last posted here, I've had a further consultation with the Urology department, because the Brachytherapy team (the 'Hedgehog up the bum' guys) have said it's going to be difficult at the moment.  Anyhow, the Urology gang want to do more tests to see if they can improve or mitigate my flow, as it were.

Personally, I think they're taking the piss.  ;)

That's not great :(

Torquinox posted at 3:19 PM Sun, 26 September 2021 - #4428140

That's not great :(

OTOH, it's not terrible, either.  I saw a Urology doc last week who told me, that as things stand, I could - if I wanted - hold off on treatment for a lot longer, since the cancer is relatively low level and behaving itself.  I'm not going to do that, though, since it's been about 2 years since my diagnosis and I want the damn thing out.  Although it's not putting me in any immediate danger - which is very good news - the sooner it's dealt with, the better.

SamTherapy posted at 12:26 AM Mon, 27 September 2021 - #4428156

Torquinox posted at 3:19 PM Sun, 26 September 2021 - #4428140

That's not great :(

OTOH, it's not terrible, either.  I saw a Urology doc last week who told me, that as things stand, I could - if I wanted - hold off on treatment for a lot longer, since the cancer is relatively low level and behaving itself.  I'm not going to do that, though, since it's been about 2 years since my diagnosis and I want the damn thing out.  Although it's not putting me in any immediate danger - which is very good news - the sooner it's dealt with, the better.

That certainly is good news but I can well understand your decision to continue to press on with the treatment.....Good Luck.

SamTherapy posted at 12:26 AM Mon, 27 September 2021 - #4428156

Torquinox posted at 3:19 PM Sun, 26 September 2021 - #4428140

That's not great :(

OTOH, it's not terrible, either.  I saw a Urology doc last week who told me, that as things stand, I could - if I wanted - hold off on treatment for a lot longer, since the cancer is relatively low level and behaving itself.  I'm not going to do that, though, since it's been about 2 years since my diagnosis and I want the damn thing out.  Although it's not putting me in any immediate danger - which is very good news - the sooner it's dealt with, the better.

Yes. Best wishes for most successful treatment, Sam!

SamTherapy posted at 12:26 AM Mon, 27 September 2021 - #4428156

Although it's not putting me in any immediate danger - which is very good news - the sooner it's dealt with, the better.

I agree.  Good luck with whatever decision you make, and I'm hoping you have a speedy recovery.

After more tests with the Urology people - I told you they were taking the piss - they reckon I'm just fine and dandy for the hedgehog up the jacksie option, and they've written to 'em to say as much.

I await the outcome of that with antici... pation (Frank N Furter reference).

In the meantime, I've been advised to contact the XRay gang for a one to one with the head honcho, even though it's a treatment I'd rather avoid.  

It's all fun.  For a given value of "fun", that is.

((((HUGS))))

Sending my good wishes to you Sam.

((((HUGS)))) from me as well.

Hey, now... hugs from two very lovely ladies.  How could I ever resist?  Thank you so much.  

As for what's happening, I have every confidence it will all work out well.