useful web site for comparing different treatments with os

[Jancapper]

I am still relatively new here and find myself reading the posts here each and every day. Yesterday, I received my HDBT treatment. 18 needles inserted with a dose of 15 Gy. Next week I will start my 25 days of EBRT and continue on with two years of ADT. One thing that I have often searched for is life expectancy nomograms or calculators for my given disease and my selected treatment plan. I have made probably hundreds of search inquiries but never happen to run across this site. My RO shared this with me a few weeks back. I have found it useful, perhaps you may too.

Prostate cancer free.org

[timotur]

Nice website, thanks for posting. Congrats on completing HDR-BT and good luck on IMRT/ADT. Good choice! I did the same 2 1/2 years ago with a good outcome.

[maley2711]

Yes, that is an interesting look at outcomes. Did you look at the MSKCC prostate nomograms, and also the PREDICT prostate nomogram used in Britain I believe.....also UCSF developed something that is called CAPRA and they argue strongly for its usefulness....it relies on data from a large variety clinics, not just academic institutions. Of course, there are also non-randomized studies that don't include large numbers of men in the studies, but put together I think are meaningful. thinks Docs have still not agredd on the "best" treatment for high risk cancer ......though seems to be a trend toward studies showing surgery and brachy boost as most successful......but probabilities of various side effects make it an individual decision of course.....some men might give up something in probability of success for the lower probability of possiblle side effects? At 74, I have that debate with myself...a long story.......

[maley2711]

many moons ago found that same website, and someone warned me about the advertiser's and supporters.....radiation Docs?

[Darryl Partner]

Unfortunately (and a bit ethically challenged), you need to make a "donation" in order to download their material.

[Jancapper in reply to Darryl]

Yes, I had a similar thought process. However, the “calculator” is free and available to all. My RO did share this site with me as an aid to my decision making process. He did tell me, as Marley pointed out, not all of the data were supported by RCS.

[maggiedrum]

Good luck on finding any mortality charts or nomograms or ??? I have been looking for the last two years. I did find something but haven't seen it again over 18 months ago. And, it did not specify anything about any treatment. One of the issues putting some like that together is it all depends not on the treatment you are getting now but the combo of everything before and the combo now. When they the results on some trials they will develop the estimates on mortality with a gain or loss of years from the treatment.

Another reason why you can't find any useful nomograms or charts is that the trials are usually fairly short term, as in one or two years. Rarely they will keep the trial going for 5 years. I would like to know what the odds are for no treatment which I would expect will not be available ever. Docs are required to try something if they can and usually no one opts for nothing.

[CAMPSOUPS]

One day at a time. Aside from averages, our individual response to treatment, and parameters of our individual cancer dictate our survival. For stage 4 anyway.

[Bythetree]

Thanks Jancapper for your input.What was your Gleason score,percentage of highest grade, psa ,etc?