What is the truth about prostate cancer? Is radical surgery really always necessary?

Hi, I unfortunately do not know enough to fully answer your question. I will, however, add my opinion.

Firstly the old age factor. I believe you are exactly right. At around 40-50 our sexual potency, in terms of erection strength and ejaculation thrust, significantly diminishes. And the doctors say nearly all old men at death have the beginnings of Prostate Cancer. My maternal grandfather did, when he died aged 83. We knew he had to regularly urinate, but nothing more.

I honestly do not know about needing complete removal. However, in America and Germany, probably elsewhere, many cancers are now being treated with 'Proton Therapy'. This might be a valid alternative.

I do know you are correct about Breast Cancer. It is now believed large numbers of complete removals need not have been done. An over reaction!

Hopefully I've helped somewhat....

I hope I can help a bit here as I have recently been treated for prostate cancer at the age of 67.

Symptoms began with unnatural urgency to pee. I saw my doctor who said that I had an enlarged prostate and, although it was no guarantee of cancer, I should get a PSA test and see a consultant.

The PSA test was not exceptional, though a little high. I had had a prostate examination in my 40s and I was told then that my prostate was large, but PSA was not taken back then, so I had no idea whether my level showed an increase or not.

I visited the surgeon who did the DRE exam again and wrote me a prescription for a further PSA three months later.

At the same time, I began taking a prostate care food supplement (called Prostanol). The pills took all my symptoms away and when I went back for a further PSA, the level had declined a little. The consultant though was an enthusiast of surgical over-reaction and was quite determined to take away my prostate and anything else he could find!

He sent me for further tests which included every kind of x-ray and scan available including one where a radiographer stuck a camera on a stick up my back passage. Interestingly, the scintigraph identified that I had a worn hip joint and would need a replacement some time in the future.

Finally the consultant arranged to perform a biopsy and managed to find the cancer he was seeking. Maybe because he was so enthusiastic or maybe because of its position, he was determined to rip the whole lot out. It ended in quite a heated debate and I opted to seek a second opinion.

What a difference! I could not deny I had prostate cancer, but this consultant was calm and charming and proposed a course of radiotherapy. It was completed in 39 consultations and I have suffered virtually no side effects. Where the first consultant assured me that sex would be impossible once he had performed his operation, the second told me that while there would be changes, I should be able to maintain a sex life. I am delighted to report that he was right.

In the first few weeks I had to rush to the toilet for No1 and No2 but that urgency subsided pretty soon. I still get an erection and if anything, I ejaculate with greater intensity than I did. The semen however is clear and less thick. I gather that this should recover over the months as I had been 'super-heated' inside and it takes a while to get back to normal. Initially, I did ejaculate back into my bladder, but now it is back to going in the correct direction, even if flowing out as opposed to shooting out. This is down to a muscle, I understand, which will also take time to recover fully.

I stopped taking the Prostanol during my treatment and for six months after. I then asked my consultant about taking them again and, having read the ingredients, he said that while he could not recommend them he could see nothing in them which would be harmful and several things which could do me good, so I am still taking them.

My PSA is now much lower than before the radiotherapy and continues to fall. It is good enough now that I have been told I don't need to go back for six months as opposed to three.

I know many people who have had the surgery and all have suffered complete loss of sexual function and other upsetting conditions such as double incontinence (although this does seem to get better after some months). In all of those cases, the cancer has been in either younger men, where it is more aggressive, or the PSA levels have been through the roof, so surgery was possibly the only option.

I should finally add that I live in France and I was treated in Montauban by Doctor Redon. I have no doubt that equally superb treatment is available in all countries, but check out the attitudes and history of wherever you will be treated. It is your body and you have a say in what happens to it!

I had/have prostate cancer, and I understand that when most doctors hear cancer, they sharpen their knives. I was fortunate to have a wise doctor who took out the half of my prostate that he found cancer in. He could not find cancer in the other half, but speculated it would be slow growing, like most down there are, and told me to keep getting yearly exams for the disease.

That was when I was 52 and I am now 70 and have so many other ailments that my prostate is the least of my worries. It is true that to be a male means YOU WILL DIE OF prostate cancer, not like breast cancer odds, but the usual form grows so slowly, other things will, as you say, get you first.

I have normal sexual function.... even at 70 (just not every hour)... but ejaculate most all ejaculate fluid into my bladder instead of shooting out. That is harmless due to urination and bodily reabsorption.

My girl friends have thought it cool and lots less messy, so like it. I spontaneously scream upon orgasm, so few gfs think I did not orgasm even if only a very small amount comes out.

It is a crap shoot about is it fast or slow growing. Mine is slow. Get several doctors opinions. If any doctor already has a tray of scalpels laying out, move on fast.

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