Side Effects of Surgery Vs Radiation for Prostate Cancer

Surgery and radiation are the two most common treatments for prostate cancer but the treatments for prostate cancer risks can have some series risks. In this video we go over the new literature describing the side effects of these treatments so you can be informed and make the best decision possible.

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Our goal at Cancer Better is to provide people with the best possible information to help them make the right health decisions. When it comes to big decisions like cancer treatment, you should know the facts so you can be in control of your health.

Creating these videos takes many hours of research by experts in their field.

[tomas]

I'm 61 and just had my first treatment at Stanford with SBRT. I'm Gleason 7 3+4 in one spot only, very small. Was getting HDR brachytherapy at first but after many scans and tests, the doctors there felt I only needed 5 sessions of the SBRT. I'm so lucky and happy that I went for physicals and blood tests every year and caught this when i did. My team at Stanford is awesome, very encouraging and with humor thrown in. The SBRT session is no big deal just holding a full bladder is uncomfortable but tolerable. I go in tomorrow for my 2nd session and again 3 times next week. My last session is on march 1st and im done and will ring that bell. :)
look into all your options and get second opinions, if in calif go to Stanford.
Oh and a nurse gives you an enema to clean you out, i swear its a firehose filled with glacier water, lol!😃

[SinnerSince]

What we need, doctor... is a candid study on the psychological effects of each type of surgery. Telling a man he will lose his intimacy with his partner immediately after surgery is devastating news for both parties. There are divorces after these surgeries, especially when the spouse may be in the peak of her sexual life. Telling a man he'll be possibly wearing diapers or pads for an extended period of time rocks a man's feeling of masculinity to it's core. There are instances of severe depression and even suicide. So... regardless of the "physical" forensic evaluation of the damages, and the seemingly narrow differences in the outcomes, the mental aspects can be a far greater indicator or how "success" is measured. That's just my 2 cents.

[francesglasgow]

My Husband never got told any of this, he had 24 Radiotherapy, then 2yrs of hormone jabs, he got all in January, he will be 80yrs old this year, this doesn't give me a lot of faith about what was the best, information he got in the beginning, thank you for your help, ❤❤❤

[mikemahon]

Great information!! I’m 54 yrs old and diagnosed with prostate cancer last month in August. I’ve met with my urologist who would do the surgery as well as a radiation specialist who would do the radiation treatment. Many of the points you made both doctors have told me, as well as the point of younger patients, my urologist said surgery would be more beneficial since I am younger… under 60.

[drycleaners]

I chose SBRT radiation and I found that to be a great alternative to radical surgery. I was 56 when I had the procedure done. My cancer is gone but of course we never know the future, but in the present my side effects were tiny.

[YousefFiroozan]

What a great video Michael, not only this one but all your videos around prostate cancer as far as I watched, one of the most unbiased I have seen on YouTube which is not easy to find to be honest, thanks for that!!

My Dad is 75 years old, he lives in Bay Area california, he has high blood pressure and is pre-diabetic with heart stent and family heart attack history, the prostate biopsy showed Gleason score of 5+3 with Perineural Invasion identified in one area and 3+4 and 3+3 in other two areas (cT2aN0M0), PSA never more than 4 (currently 3.7), PET/CT scan that showed no regional or distant metastasis though mild radiotracer uptake in a small 4mm right external iliac lymph node.

Both his urologist and also oncologist recommanded up to 2 years ADT plus EBRT and Brachy both, a second opinion (urologist) confirmed that this was a good suggestion but also proposed robotic surgery. Appreciate to have any insights/comments from you, It is quite obvious that you have a wealth of knowlege and experience in this domain.


Appreciate heaps
Yousef from Sydney, Australia

[larrylarosa]

Good straight up information. Thanks.
I'm 4 weeks out from Surgery and glad I went this route. Going in for my 6 week check up with a PSA check. Hoping for a Zero

[davidshedden]

Very well done video. I teach clinical radiation oncology at the university level and try to incorporate videos into my classroom whenever possible, but it is often hard to find content that isn't overtly biased. This video is well-balanced, and accurately discusses the risks in a way that matches our textbook content.

[makeibalove]

Hi my husband is trying to decide. With your information it makes sense he is 57 with a PSA of 9. I did tell him Surgery was better option for him. After watching your video convinced me.

[kenstephens]

Ok so I’ve had to start looking into this stuff I’m 60, 2yrs ago my psa was 3.4., last year 4.7, this year at 60 7.4 . I have a urologist my first biopsy last year was I like to say iffy, going in in a few for next one mri guided with ultrasound to get a better look . And in one month with another psa it’s raised slightly again . SO thank YOU this video helped me . And I have no enlarged prostate or infection. So I’m hoping for the best preparing for the worst . Lol thanks . Listening to a doctor in the office is well kinda hard . This on the other hand wasn’t.

[dalek]

I am in the pre-biopsy stage… MRI indicted a Pi Rad 4 lesion and a targeted biopsy is scheduled in a little over a week.. There is so much to take into account when making such a potentially life changing decision and I have been doing as much research as I can before I get the biopsy results… Surgery will be my choice ONLY if I have no other viable options… Your video was very helpful and much appreciated…

[clementwen]

Greetings! As a retired neuroradiologist, I can really appreciate your excellent discussions in your videos discussing prostate cancer & treatments. Thank you.
I just turned 69, with well controlled type 1 DM (HgbA1C 6.2). Otherwise healthy and actively playing Pickleball! I have a 46cc prostate with MRI in early 2022 showing ill defined 5x5 mm suspect area at posterolateral mid gland peripheral zone (PIRADS 3). However TRUS biopsy with additional samples at suspect area was negative. Repeat MRI in 7/23 was PIRADS 2 with no visible lesions. Standard TRUS biopsy was positive 1 out of 12 with Gleason score 3+3 at left lateral specimen. Had Decipher genomics done on specimen with score of 55 (intermediate risk not good for active surveillance option). After going thru your video, I had decided to go for Retzius sparing RARP as I hope to have incontinence risk minimized. Am I eligible for this procedure because of the prostate size?
I have primary residence in Austin, TX with second home in Baton Rouge, LA. I know I need to go to high volume/experienced places like MD Anderson Houston. Do you know of any Urologist experienced with rsRARP in Austin, Baton Rouge or New Orleans otherwise?

[alliaj]

my road : 65y, 182cm, 72kg, no symptoms - PSA 9 - MRI Pirads5 - biopsy 8 positiv from 12. (3+3, 3+4, one 4+3) - Da Vinci prostata removing incl 17 lymph nodes, prostata size 50ccm, score 4+3, T3a - PSA after 1 month 0.02, PSA after 4 months 0.018, inkotinence middle, orgasmic. expect 15-20years of survival😅

[MrCarlnatalizia]

Thank you Doctor. Your video's are extremely helpful and presenting the risks and benefits of treatments in an unbiased way.

[snozcocram]

7 months ago I had Kalypso IFDR implants and moderately high radiation. At the same time they used the space OAR. These implants are meant to make the radiation accurate and limit scatter to the rectum by creating space between the rectum and the prostate. The Kylipso helped the radiation spatial accuracy to limit scatter to surrounding tissue. Hormone therapy includes Lupron and Abiratarone. My PSA is <.03.
It’s all been difficult but the side effects are easing every day.

[justjames]

Diagnosed with Gleason 9(4+5) 2 weeks ago. I am 61 years old, and very healthy other than the cancer. No symptoms, and my PSA hasn't been over 4.6. I don't like the long term risks of radiation therapy, so I am going to have my prostate removed as soon as possible.
Bone scan and CT scan both were clear.

[arnoldzipper]

How does Cyberknife or MRIdian radiation affect side effects? They purport to be much more precise

[MrTomad]

I had a biopsy May 12, 2023. Gleason 3+3=6. I am 72. Next appointment with radiology oncologist is June 21 followed by my urologist. It seems like I’m living ‘active surveillance already’. Thanks for info on radiation.

[robertkoretsky]

An excellent and informative series comparing surgery vs. radiation, thanks! I’m 74 yo, Gleason score of 8 in one biopsy core, 7 in a couple more that were identified in an endorectal coil MRI, bone scan shows no metastases, and am now waiting to confer with my urologist about what to do next. I’m scheduled for a Pylarify PET scan to see if the metastasis has actually spread outside, but watching your videos has biased me towards radiation, IMRT, SBRT. Thanks again!

[louchown]

i was diagnos with prostate cancer at 60 had it removed then after 2 years i noticed my PSA started to rise.now i'm going through the whole process again regular blood tests now have to wait till my PSA rises too .20 to have PSMA test then i can only be treated by Radiation.my PSA at the start was 4.5, i still suffer from incontenence only at work and ED had one nerve removed.