hi ed - we have some folks here who have had cryosurgery done.  i'm sure
they can shed more light on the subject.  among other things, one thing
is for certain, you will be impotent.  that may or may not bother you.
this is what the people who has had it done say.  probably because the
nerves are damaged from the freezing.  

~ curtis

knowledge is power - growing old is mandatory - growing wise is optional    
"Many more men die with prostate cancer than of it. Growing old is
invariably fatal. Prostate cancer is only sometimes so."

Ed, before you decide, at least have a look at some various types of
radiation treatments, I think they are equally effective as cyrogenics.  

Dale J.

Cryogenic therapy has not had a good track record in the past.  Many
authorities recommend against it.   There may be recent progress in the
area I'm not aware of, but I would be careful before deciding on that
type of treatment.  Consider either surgery or radiation, either of
which would be standard treatment for a case like yours, and is usually
curative.  At least seek additional opinions.

Hi Ed -
Hi Ed -

Due to my age, (75) on my doctors advice I went the cryosurgery route.
He told me that 70 was about the cutoff limit for a radical RP
although there were young 70's as well as old ones.

I came home the next day and was up and around all I wanted to, which
was not much. It is now 15 months later and everything checks out fine
as far as the tests go.

I'm stuffable standing, and enjoy a good sex life with the aid of a
good pump which Medicare paid for.  As I understand it I'm fortunate
to still experience orgasms as intense as before.  Many of our members
report that is not the case for them.

Long term cryosurgery outcome figures compared with other procedures
vary, depending on the article and study.  If I had it to do over I
would opt for the same procedure.

Cryosurgery can be repeated if necessary an advantage over some of the
other methods.

You are welcome to write me privately if you wish.  My signature is
self explanatory.

Bob Austin

Age 75
PSA 7 Free PSA 12
1st round of biopsies clear, 2nd. 2 positives
Gleason 9
Cryosurgery 03/11/03
Post Op PSA's 0.4
6  Months 0.1
9  Months 0.2
15 Months 0.21

robertbob.austin@NoSpamearthlink.net

Welcome to the club, Ed.  Though I'm sure you'd rather join almost any
other.

Your question is an interesting one.  At 68, you probably have a shot at
every option there is for PCa treatment.  Surgery is widely believed to be
an option for those who want to take it out.  All the others are based on
destroying it while it is inside.  One problem with destroying it inside is
how to do a sufficent job on the cancer without destroying the urethra and
surrounding organs.  If you solve that problem with compartmentalizing
treatment or marginalizing it, then how do you know you've gotten all the
cancer inside the prostat.  Of course, surgery doesnt' guarantee all the
cancer outside the prostate, etiher, but then no treatment does.

However, of all the mainstream treatments, if you want to include cyro amont
them, I'd count cryo as being the least known as to it effeciency.

That said, here are three who have tried it.  I haven't heard from Jack or
Robert in a year, but Scrapio is doing well after three years.

jsshp@earthlink.net Jack in Phoenix
RobertBob@Att.Net Robert Austin
scrapiro@comcast.net scrapiro