First post -

[tcp5071967]

Hello - I have been diagnosed with PC with a Gleason score of 7. I am 50 years old. I am scheduled for prostate removal in 3 weeks. I have been pretty tired and was wondering if the prostate removal will increase my overall energy once I have recovered from the procedure?

[Roger2Dodger]

I am curious regarding your Gleason score, you said a 7, was it 3+ 4= 7 , or 4+3 =7? 4+3

"Tumors with a Gleason score of 4 + 3 are more aggressive and predictive of advanced disease at the time of surgery, compared to Gleason 3 + 4 tumors," What was your PSA at diagnosis?

I believe these numbers are important on deciding what treatment one takes.

I cannot tell you any thing about prostate removal, however I can discuss EBRT (External Beam Radiation.) I had 43 fractions done, and I am happy I chose radiation. My PSA was 6.86 and Gleason score 4+3. 8 months since I had the fractions it is now .0.8

I am doing very well, side effects are gone, I do not have ED, so my experience with radiation worked well with me.

Prostate removal has its Pros and Cons. My advice to you would be DO YOUR HOMEWORK research procedures, do not decide on just one treatment. You have plenty of time to do so.

Some folks go the AS (Active Surveillance) route. So, what I am advising is... read about each procedure and even get an second opinion. YOU HAVE TIME. Hopefully some one will reply to you that has had prostate removed. But, you can do all of this yourself, if you just research!

G' Luck

[tcp5071967 in reply to Roger2Dodger]

I had a 12 core biopsy which yielded positive for each core. They were split 6x6 4+3 and 3+4 with perineal involvement (?). ( don't have records in front of me)

PSA was 15 at diagnosis

[Dr_WHO]

I do not think that the source of you being tired comes from your cancer. You will feel a bit tired after surgery, but that is normal. Your body is trying to heal itself. After my surgery (T3N1), l was walking about a week later and riding a bike six weeks later (the soonest the doctors would let me).

You could have fatigue do to worrying about the cancer. It is a hard thing to ignore. In fact I think that everyone here has felt it. If that is the case, then hopefully you will regain your energy level after surgery and when you are on the mend. Please note that there are some forms of treatment that will definitely put a hurt on your energy level. So far I have had three phases of cancer treatments (with one still ongoing). As stated, the first phase (surgery) did not effect my energy level.

It was not until I started phase two treatment (hormonal therapy) about two months after surgery that fatigue really hit me. Then, during phase three (radiation) I was so tired and fatigued that I could not do much of anything. However, about two weeks after radiation ended this fatigue left me. I still have issues with the ongoing hormonal therapy, but considering that I am still here, it is not that bad.

[djk1]

Your situation caught my eye as we have similar ages and very similar diagnosis of Gleason and PSA score on initial diagnosis. I was 50 when first diagnosed with a Gleason of 6 and a PSA of 14.4. I am going strong 10 years later with a PSA of .5 just recently this month. Are you definitely going for surgery? I can't comment on surgery as I didn't have any surgery or radiation. For me I have treated non invasively with all natural supplements and natural hormone reducing therapy....and homeopathy ......with great success.