I figured I should give a follow up since I posted it in the open forum (prostate biopsy)

[sandyut]

My Gleason score is presently 7 (3+4) 30% of the cancer cells are level 4. If it progresses to the next level (4+3) radiation and hormone treatment comes into play, which is why my doc recommends treating rather than watching and waiting. His opinion is pretty much in line with all the research I have done since being diagnosed.

Each case Is different. My old neighbor went straight to removal of his prostate. I would follow the doc I trust…like you are. Praying for you!

 

[DougE]

Since I know it happens, I posed the following question to the doc yesterday: If you elect to go with total removal, how can prostate cancer come back if they took it out?

His answer:

"Even with radical proctectomy, the cancer can still come back on, top of all the other negative issues the procedure can cause. If some cells get left behind during the procedure that happen to be cancerous, they will start growing again".

 

[DougE]

If you opt for radiation therapy, you still have a prostate afterwards that can develop a new cancer. Neither option is foolproof. Just a matter of weighing the pluses and minuses of each treatment.

 

[sandyut]

Ugh. Hang in there F Cancer!

I like clear and obvious answers. These situations are complicated. Gotta trust your provider to give the best way.

 

[DougE]

Ugh. Hang in there F Cancer!

I like clear and obvious answers. These situations are complicated. Gotta trust your provider to give the best way.

I think we hashed out that the 5 high dose radiation treatments are the best option in my case. I have a 6 week follow-up to give my decision, but I can start treatment sooner if I choose. Waiting the 6 weeks isn't going to change anything.

 

[sandyut]

I think we hashed out that the 5 high dose radiation treatments are the best option in my case. I have a 6 week follow-up to give my decision, but I can start treatment sooner if I choose. Waiting the 6 weeks isn't going to change anything.

I hear you, the MDA doc told Kristin she could think about it. Took about a second to know what to do. Waiting just lets the evil grow longer IMO.

 

[DougE]

Waiting just lets the evil grow longer IMO.

True dat. In my case, the 6 weeks won't matter. From there, I will have to back to the urologist to have the markers inserted for the radiation machine to target. They do it the same way my biopsy was done ........ awake and aware, so not really in a hurry to get the ultrasound probe shoved in the back door again lol.

 

[pineywoods]

Doug glad you hopefully got good news just hope it was actually good

 

[Gonna Smoke]

Also a reminder to all you gents, once you hit 40 or 50, get your PSA checked as part of your yearly blood panels. It's the surest way to catch prostate cancer early.

I've been on this soapbox for 9 years and can not emphasize it enough...

 

[DougE]

Doug glad you hopefully got good news just hope it was actually good

Thanks, Jerry.

I don't know that there is actually "good" news when it comes to cancer ...... more like lesser degrees of bad, if that makes sense.

 

[DougE]

I've been on this soapbox for 9 years and can not emphasize it enough...

Preach it, brother. If your doc doesn't insist you need yearly PSA tests once you hit 40 or 50, you need a new doc.

 

[sandyut]

Preach it, brother. If your doc doesn't insist you need yearly PSA tests once you hit 40 or 50, you need a new doc.

third on the soapbox! I ask for it every time and make sure they know I have family history of prostate cancer.

 

[DougE]

My PSA is only slightly above normal for my age. The thing that triggered all this is that it went from 2.8 to 4.5 over a year, so my doc felt that further investigation was in order and referred me to a urologist, thus the importance of yearly PSA tests. It wasn't that my PSA was slightly elevated, it was the jump over a year that had them looking deeper.