Is surgery or radiation better for prostate cancer at age 50?

Not your age, I’m 78. My dad had prostate a cancer and I was exposed to Agent Orange daily in Vietnam in 68’. A double whammy. 2 years ago I had a similar Gleason score, PSA went from 2 to 7 in one year. MRI found 4 cancer lesions on my prostate that thankfully were localized. I chose not to have surgery because of the irreversible side effects. Treatment was 45 radiation sessions over 3 months, concurrent with hormone therapy for 6 months. Plan on being tired, urology issues, and nada sex for a while. You’ll bounce back. Also make yourself schedule and follow a weight training routine and walk/run daily. 2 years later I am still cancer free, but have testing periodically and sweat bullets while awaiting results. I am thankful for life and have a goal of dancing at my granddaughters weddings and eventually playing with my great-grand children.

I just finished Radiation therapy and hormone therapy if you are under bmi 35 surgery removes it but there are potential risks as there with radiation or any other treatment. It is uncomfortable and painful at times with radiation but I have had enough surgeries to tell so are they! If you have surgery the one advantage is they can do a postmortem on prostate and can make sure they know what stage and how aggressive the cancer is but you might have urinary issues for rest of life so talk over with more than one urologist. Get second, third and fourth opinions then make an informed decision.

54 year old with Gleason 3+4 and PSA 10. PET scan showed metastasis to one pelvic node so radiologist recommended 6month ADT in addition to 28 proton sessions. I felt the side effects were perhaps too overwhelming associated with surgery and wanted to minimize possibility of long-term incontinence. Starting next week.. so remaining positive and hoping for the best of results. Best of luck with your treatment!

Making treatment decisions at a younger age brings unique considerations, and it's completely understandable to feel worried about potential side effects while weighing your options. Both surgery and radiation have evolved significantly with newer techniques that aim to minimize complications, and connecting with others who faced similar decisions around your age could provide valuable insights into their decision-making process and recovery experiences.

Get the Decipher test-it’s another tool which will help guide your Drs treatment plan as to move aggressive vs maybe a different therapy. It sounds like you are in a good oncology system. There are more possible side effects with surgery vs radiations-depending on which type they do. More telling is what type of cells did they find in your biopsy and the Decipher will help look at genes at the cellular level to help determine the aggressiveness. I’m choosing radiation as a more conservative treatment, I can always have it removed if needed later. Once it’s gone, it’s gone. Wish you well. Keep posting as you walk through your steps.

Gary I am in the same situation Iam 63 is hard to decide between surgery or radiation

Iam 62 years old and psa 5.2 gleson 4+3=7 and Iam thinking about the surgery