Sorry to hear the news, but numbers like that are generally considered
quite hopeful.

Some additional factors that would come into play are your father's age
and health, and the availability of highly skilled practitioners,
especially for the surgery option.   Even with that information you
won't get a cut-and-dried answer here, but there are people who will
give you pointers to information that can be helpful.

JohnG

hi ray - you may have thought you gave enough information but there are
still some important stats left out.  age was one, general health, stage
of cancer,  previous psa readings if possible.

can his health stand the operation?  the RP would physically put the
surgeon up close and personal with the cancer and he could tell exactly
how much and where the cancer is.  

radiation will not give you that info, but is open to treatment if
health is an issue.  

does he have BPH problems now, if so, how bad.  RP will cure that.  

i could go on and on discussing the plus and the minus of each
treatment, but the bottom line is this,  research, research, research.
and what does you dad feel comfortable with?

hope this helps.

~ curtis

knowledge is power - growing old is mandatory - growing wise is optional

Hi Ray,

welcome to another Aussie and sorry that circumstances have led you to
look for this info.  As the others have posted there are many variables
that need to be considered and you (and your old man) have lots of
reading/research to do.  In the end of course the decision is his.

Where in Oz are you, I'm in Townsville and there is only one urologist
within cooee of here so there are additional considerations of travel
for treatment etc?

I hope all works out well.

Dave

His age and expected lifespan if he did not have PCa are key factors in
deciding what to do.

jimhoney

Ray,

Sorry to hear about your father.  We will give an opinion, but you have to
remember, none of us are giving it as a medical professional.  We just
learned a lot about the disease.  As your father should and as you should if
you're going to help in the decision making process.

But, before any of us can opine as to the best course of treatment, we'll
need his age and life expectancy without cancer.

I have had surgery, radiation, and hormone+chemotherapy.  I wouldn't recommend
hormones at this point, except the possible use of Casodex to reduce the PSA a
little- my radiation oncologist wouldn't do radiation until the PSA was equal
to or less than 0.5
I have a gut feeling that radiation would be enough for you.  There is always a
chance that  PCa cell has escaped and survived somewhere, so you will drawing
blood for PSA readings for years.

Lots of good info here: http://www.phoenix5.org/

My father and i would like to thankyou all for your quick response.
We live in Melbourne, Australia.  He is 67 yrs. old and in very good health.
The doctor could not feel anything so a biopsy was undertaken.  My father
believes he must therefor be a T1a. He is a fast healer and is not a
bleeder.

History: PSA  2/12/98 -      1.5
                    10/1/2000 -   2.6
                    17/10/2000 - 2.8
                    20/8/2003 -   9.2   Cholestarol also high
                    6/1/04      -    10
Biopsy :  6 samples taken. As mentioned above 2 found with cancer  1 - 1mm,
1 - 3mm.  Gleason 6.  The doctor believes the cancer to be contained in the
prostate and not too active.

I hope this gives you all a clearer idea where we stand.  My father was
originally looking at Brachnotherapy? but is now leaning towards have the
prostate fully removed due to his age and the possibilty that all the cancer
is contained in the prostate.  Your views are most welcome.