if you were.......

And your point.................

“ I am in perfect health for a 45 year old man”

Right. I’ve heard you don’t look a day over 70

I'll play along as if you are asking for a friend. I would have a hard time with that decision. Sex is a very important part of my life. So the potential of not being about to do that again would be very problematic. But in the end, cancer is not something that will just Go Away. So in the end, I would choose to live. If you are 60 and get it, the cancer is going to kill you well before anything else will. So I would choose to fight it as much as I could.

IDK, as brilliant as many of us TUSCLers are, I would follow the recommendations of at least 2 well qualified doctors

Since my daughter works for Cancer Treatment Centers of America she would encourage me to get the treatment so that I could watch my great grand children grow up. But when I see people all around me, much younger than me, dropping dead from many causes and many more living lousy lives with debilitating diseases, I don't think that I would want to continue going on. Of course a lot would depend on what my life expectancy would be. Right now I have an enlarged prostate and it is causing me some minor problems but I know there is no cancer involved. And the girls love my retrograde ejaculations. Nothing to spit. :)

Although I am in perfect health for a 45 year old man I wouldn't care if I looked 70 because I will be 61 this year. I just look 45. I am actually asking because the issue came up at poker last night and out of 18 players I was the only one who chose the option of dying from something else and doing nothing. Everyone else, some older than me some much younger, thought not doing drugs/surgery was bizarre and I was curious about the opinion of others. I appreciate the response by Warrior, feel bad for Dougie and also admit I am an idiot to expect much of value on a normal subject here. No point 25 just asked a question, which as the previous sentence explains, was a mistake.

Ty Shadow. Excellent response.

I would get treatment. I think I would consult with several doctors to understand my options.

Would Viagara not work post prostate treatment?

Well in that case my recommendation would be talk to a Doctor then get a second opinion
Shadow has a fair point as well. My own response is to get legitimate medical advice.

I would have a long talk with my doctors. My life expectancy and life quality would make all the difference in the world. I’ve lost too many friends and family even with all the treatment and I also know too many survivors to make this into a simple decision. I’ve personally had to make such a decision, although not with regard to prostate cancer. But impotence would be the least of my concerns at that point.

You make that decision based on age, stage, and Gleason score. I have friends that had Da Vinci with no ill effects. There are clinics in Germany that have been using HIFU for years with remarkable success. Again, there are too many variables to answer your question, unless you are just asking whether you would rather die or have a limp dick.

its depends on how early its diagnosed. if its early enough treatment, if its too advanced i would rather die without the radiation.

Shadowcat, I had the same problem a couple years ago, if BPH is your situation. A little outpatient surgery with a laser knife and it’s just like the old days except for the retrograde ejaculation. I was recently in a club in the Atlanta area, not your favorite, and got a very satisfactory relaxation treatment. The girl, however, wouldn’t believe I had cum because there was nothing to spit!

Happened to my Dad in his early 70s. He went the radiation route and so far so good.

I’d seek qualified doctor who specializes in prostate cancer treatment.

I know there are different names for the procedure - but I’ve heard cyberknife treatment can provide positive results with minimal side effects.

Also, with certain men, depending on how slow moving the cancer might be, watchful waiting can be an option.

I wish your friend the best. It can be an overwhelming choice - due to all of the options one might see.

Array - giving meds one last chance. There are 2 procedures available and it looks like the new meds are not going to do the trick. So I'll opt for the UROLIFT. It is the least invasive.

Watching my dad die from this now. I’ll type details this evening.

Fuck cancer

I would take the treatment reluctantly...i know about retrograde ejaculation too, though it ok only hits me sometimes depending in the level of straterra in my blood.

I couldn’t answer this without detailed medical advice and my own independent investigation. But my initial inclination would be to have surgery. I know several guys who have faced that choice and I think all have chosen surgery.

I would choose initial treatment but I wouldn't prolong it.

My dad was diagnosed in about 2002/2003 with prostate cancer. He elected to have prostate surgery at that time. They removed the prostate and did lymph node biopsies...all clear.

About 8 years later cancer returned. Went through a few drugs, then radiation treatment. Knocked down the PSA and things were good for a while.

A few years ago his PSA started climbing. More drugs, more treatment options, shots, a semi-experimental treatment (radium 223) that I do not recommend after watching him go through it.

During all this, his PSA went from around 20 to over 13,000 at one point.

And then finally chemo. He's been on chemo about a year. They found a brain tumor during his last PET scan, on a fluke no less. Had brain surgery in February to remove the tumor, then had follow up radiation to help kill the remaining 5% of the tumor last week.

He'll start a new chemo drug tomorrow. This is the final drug option for him. When this one loses its effectiveness there are no more treatments.

Watching my father go through this has been living hell.

^ how old is your dad?

He’s 73 today. Diagnosed at around 56-57 I think.

Two years ago during a trip here to see me he left his golf clubs here. Said he didn’t think he’d play anymore. That crushed me.

I forgot to include.

It’s spread to his liver, spine, rib cage, brain, etc.

Abqspencer - I’m very sorry to hear your fathers story of a horrible battle with cancer. It sucks when treatment seems to make things even worse.

Thanks Cashman...I know my dad is an outlier with prostate cancer, even his doc 10 years ago said he'll die of something else first. But it's tough to see him go through it. He's not the same person I knew...

Also very sorry about your dad, @aqspencer.

I always insist on a nationwide PPO so that you can locate the best specialists if some serious health problem occurs. . There are many articles about "active surveillance" of prostrate cancer with biopsies and frequent PSA testing. I would sure give that a try before surgery or radiation.

Abqspencer - it’s a very difficult disease to deal with. In certain cases - it’s not the disease - but dealing with the side effects of treatment - and the psychological effects.

It’s different with your dad - as his body is getting ravaged by the disease - and the brutal effects of treatment as well.

Close to somebody that went thru this. Waiting is dangerous. While prostate cancer often is slow growing, it can suddenly spread more aggressively and becomes horrible bone cancer. Just look at Katie Couric's husband who died in his 40s. As to treatment, I know three guys who had radioactive seed treatment and it turned out bad for all three: one had the cancer come back and kill him, another lost control of his bowels and has to wear a diaper, and the third has to wear a catheter all the time. Go with surgery. My friend did and his junk works fine (except no more money shots since the thing that makes the goo is gone). Vitamin V cures all.

for me it would depend on just how early the cancer would be noticed. I’m 68 and after I liquidate my assets I’d rather not live handicapped, disabled, a burden to my children.

"Waiting is dangerous"
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I think that's not always the case. Mayo Clinic and Johns Hopkins probably have the best urology departments in the country. This is probably not a condition that should be treated by your local HMO. Here's a summary from Mayo Clinic on the topic of when "active surveillance" might be the best choice:

https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedu…

It depends. I know you guys say money can't buy happiness, but with cancer, fighting it is expensive. One of my first questions would be, with my insurance, and with my assets, can I afford the treatments and care?

Having already gone through cancer (all of this this calculus) with my late mother, there's certainly a lot to think about. And sometimes the best course of action may not to fight it. I can see where skibum is coming from.

Update to this...

Dad had a small seizure, fainted, fell yesterday. Ruled out stroke, did brain MRI and a bunch of other tests.

Found 2 masses in his brain again, from the cancer...recommending Gamma Knife radiation next week, in lieu of surgery. Then he’ll go to an inpatient rehab facility to regain strength and motor skills (he lost feeling on his left side).

^ Darn - some folks don't get a break - hope everything goes well for dad and can recover fully