# Ongoing Prostate Cancer Treatment **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 14, 2025, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ongoing-prostate-cancer-treatment/1019625 "2025-06-14T13:54:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2025, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ongoing-prostate-cancer-treatment/1019625/221 "2025-11-05T13:33:12Z")
Good luck with your recovery as well. Fingers crossed all around for good results for everyone. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2025, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ongoing-prostate-cancer-treatment/1019625/222 "2025-11-05T14:27:50Z")
Prostate cancer; what a pisser. A great and good fortune to all of us experiencing this crap! ---
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2025, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ongoing-prostate-cancer-treatment/1019625/223 "2025-11-05T16:56:58Z")
> [@smithsb](#): > > Was this your surgeon? A da Vinci surgery robot is a bit bigger than R2-D2 but not nearly as cute. > **[da Vinci Robotic Surgery: A Less Invasive Alternative](https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/16908-da-vinci-surgery)** > > The da Vinci robotic surgery system allows surgeons to do a wide range of procedures in a less invasive way. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2025, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ongoing-prostate-cancer-treatment/1019625/224 "2025-11-05T21:58:53Z")
Again, to all those bravely working through their treatments, a bow of respect and a salute of hope. As if we didn’t all have enough to deal with these days, without the betrayal of our own bodies! Now excuse me, I’m on the line with a Dr. Frankenstein, I think I may need more parts soon. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2025, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ongoing-prostate-cancer-treatment/1019625/225 "2025-12-14T15:04:29Z")
Some nice pre-holiday news: My latest PSA remains ultra-low at 0.04, so still no signs of recurrence. Which is nice, since I had a Gleason 4+5 lesion which was fortunately confined to the prostate. Did the radiation/hormone blocker treatment back in 2023. My 10 year chance of dying from this cancer is around 12%, so most likely something else will get me first. I’m ok with that. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2025, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ongoing-prostate-cancer-treatment/1019625/226 "2025-12-14T15:05:45Z")
Love to hear great news ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2025, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ongoing-prostate-cancer-treatment/1019625/227 "2025-12-14T15:08:00Z")
This is great news. How many times a year do you get tested? My blood test in January 2nd, hopefully the results will be available fast and bigger hope, the number will will be very low. I only started getting any anxiety about this again, in the last few days. I guess now that it is getting closer to the test day. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2025, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ongoing-prostate-cancer-treatment/1019625/228 "2025-12-14T15:39:26Z")
Glad to hear this! 👍🏽 You’ve always been one of my favorites. 🙂 Off topic: When are you going to write a book about your life? Especially your experiences as a prison doctor? I can see potential there as a TV series – calling Dick Wolf! ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2025, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ongoing-prostate-cancer-treatment/1019625/229 "2025-12-14T15:47:11Z")
My update is I’m 6 weeks post-op, and pretty well healed up. Recovery has been uneventful and somewhat brisk but I’m on the young side (50) for this. The biggest annoyances were a week of the catheter, and now I’m still peeing about ever hour and a half in the middle of the night. Luckily, I fall back asleep quickly. Pathology came back: lymph nodes, vesicles, etc., negative for carcinoma. The cancer in my prostate was actually downgraded from a 4+3 Gleason to a 3+4 Gleason. So yay. That was the big thing! Other than the urinary stuff which is more an annoyance than a real discomfort, I’m fine. I even have erectile function already and everything works down there. That was a big stressor for me and why I put off surgery for a year to “wait and see,” but I still opted surgery over radiotherapy as in my specific circumstances, it seemed the rational thing to do with all the information available, and this was the guidance of my urologist. Got my follow-up PSA test three days ago and 0.01, which is to be expected given the lack of a prostate, but it’s not a given, and scores can tick up suddenly or over time and indicate something going on. Good news, @Qadgop_the_Mercotan, and sending support to everyone navigating through treatment and recovery. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2025, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ongoing-prostate-cancer-treatment/1019625/230 "2025-12-14T16:42:41Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Some nice pre-holiday news: My latest PSA remains ultra-low at 0.04, so still no signs of recurrence > [@pulykamell](#): > > Pathology came back: lymph nodes, vesicles, etc., negative for carcinoma. The cancer in my prostate was actually downgraded from a 4+3 Gleason to a 3+4 Gleason. So yay. That was the big thing! Yay for good news! ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2025, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ongoing-prostate-cancer-treatment/1019625/231 "2025-12-14T19:22:34Z")
Hooray indeed! ---
**Author:** ![LH75](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lh75/32/4438_2.png) [@LH75](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LH75)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2025, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ongoing-prostate-cancer-treatment/1019625/232 "2025-12-14T19:40:06Z")
This is good news is, if you remember from the other thread, my diagnosis and treatment has been the same as yours. I have six months left on the hormones ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2025, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ongoing-prostate-cancer-treatment/1019625/233 "2025-12-14T23:12:27Z")
Let’s keep the good news coming! And while I don’t share similar medical concerns with @What_Exit right now, I totally get how the anxiety rises as events approach. If it’s far enough in the future, you can just keep the worries _over there_ somewhere. Even mundane things can assume massive proportions as they approach. Lots of sympathy for that anxiety from me. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2025, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ongoing-prostate-cancer-treatment/1019625/234 "2025-12-15T00:49:51Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > How many times a year do you get tested? I’ll go every 6 months now that I’m over 2 years out from the end of radiation and 9 months out from hormone blockade. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2025, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ongoing-prostate-cancer-treatment/1019625/235 "2025-12-15T00:57:14Z")
> [@LH75](#): > > if you remember from the other thread, my diagnosis and treatment has been the same as yours. I have six months left on the hormones I remember it well. Congrats on your progress. I really started feeling better once the hormone blockers ceased. By 6 months after stopping them, my androgen levels had returned to normal. I also returned to my previous level of near baldness but my beard came in thicker. Body hair is slowly returning too. Other things have returned too, gladly. ---
**Author:** ![LH75](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lh75/32/4438_2.png) [@LH75](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LH75)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2025, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ongoing-prostate-cancer-treatment/1019625/236 "2025-12-15T01:15:40Z")
Thank you my friend ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2025, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ongoing-prostate-cancer-treatment/1019625/237 "2025-12-17T03:14:38Z")
I believe I said this upthread, but I’ll repeat because it’s that important. Thank you all for taking the time to go through the difficulties of treatment, as well as all the appropriate followup. I have family who are too reluctant to do this, and it’s a pain-point in our family. So thank you for giving your friends, family, and internet weirdos like us the continued benefit of your existence. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2026, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ongoing-prostate-cancer-treatment/1019625/238 "2026-01-07T18:26:54Z")
**Good News** I had my PSA test done on January 2nd and just got back from the Doctor. The PSA test was a 3.11 which is a good read. With the treatment I got they expect to see a gradual decline, especially compared to surgery. I’ll be retesting every 3 months and should see it drop further. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2026, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ongoing-prostate-cancer-treatment/1019625/239 "2026-01-07T18:51:26Z")
Congrats! Refresh my memory so I don’t have to scroll through 200 messages - what was your PSA pre-treatment? ---
**Author:** ![JackieLikesVariety](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackielikesvariety/32/296_2.png) [@JackieLikesVariety](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JackieLikesVariety)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2026, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ongoing-prostate-cancer-treatment/1019625/240 "2026-01-07T19:30:17Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > The PSA test was a 3.11 which is a good read. yayyyy! (yay is too short, apparently) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ongoing-prostate-cancer-treatment/1019625.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ongoing-prostate-cancer-treatment/1019625.md?page=13)