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Prostate Cancer Outcomes - Report Card
Prostate Cancer | Last Active: Feb 17 11:45am | Replies (32)Comment receiving replies
Handera, thanks for publishing this link. The report is one of the clearest presentations on treatment versus outcome for PCa that I've read. My particular condition falls squarely on the average: being a 72-year-old, diagnosed in October 2023 to be Stage 4a, Gleason 7 4+3 unfavorable, and PSA currently at 12. (Intermediate Risk.) The spread has been to a nearby lymph node. This report gave me much more confidence that I will see at least ten more years (and likely more) of life ahead. My appointment for treatment selection is this Monday, when I meet with my MO. My PSA five years ago was 6. It's doubled in five years to 12. I figure I have slow-growing cancer. I'm going to opt for EBRT (IMRT/IGRT) and a short course of ADT (6 months). I plan to have a SpaceOAR installed. I'll probably opt for ADT (leaning toward Orgavyx) in alternate years to keep my PSA below 4 while maintaining as healthy a body as possible. (Hoping to get concurrence from my MO and RO, (lol)). Presently, I'm in excellent health with no symptoms at all due to PCa. I'll try to make regular posts of my experiences as I embark on my own battle against this insidious disease.
Replies to "Handera, thanks for publishing this link. The report is one of the clearest presentations on treatment..."
God I do wish you luck. I am sitting my recliner writing this now.
Before this happed I was working on my “bucket list”. Already had a black belt in Go-Ju karate. Decided to get an advanced under water scuba certification. Got a certificate to captain and sail sailboats up to 51 feet. I could and did about anything. But one error in judgment that led me to falling for a doctors sales pitch on robotic Prostate surgery led to my current condition.
I am not saying this may not be a good choice for many. But be sure the person doing the surgery is a real surgeon and not a eurologist that got some training how to operate thaw robotic machine.
Good luck and God Bless
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When one is diagnosed with “cancer”, the most immediate questions and concerns are usually regarding mortality.
As you indicated, this detailed, large sample size report, indicates that even the “worst case” (high risk PCa) still has a very high probability of 10+ year survival.
Closer to home, these data indicate that intermediate risk men have probabilities that range between 97 - 99% as to NOT dying from PCa within 10 years, no matter what treatment they select AND even being diagnosed as late as an average age 76!
This is stunningly good news and virtually takes the mortality question off the table for low and intermediate risk men.
IMHO low and intermediate risk men are only left with the “negative side effects of treatment” issue.
This ends up becoming a personal decision based his doctor(s) recommendations, the treatment center available and the ability to apply what is known (by doctor and patient) regarding the negative side effects of the selected treatment to a particular individual’s PCa stage, location and propensity to later metastasize.
Personally, I am not bothered about my favorable-intermediate risk classification, as it relates to mortality, and I think the data overwhelmingly support such a conclusion.
I personally think our culture has had the word “cancer” imbedded into our collective psyche as an irreversible and often immediate death sentence. This can cause men to make quick treatment decisions out of fear or perplexing uncertainty.
That’s why I have an understanding empathy for those who feel they must choose an immediate course of treatment, even if it has a significant risk of “negative side effects”.
Of course, the data also suggest that some (or even many) will end up in the camp of low to minimal negative side effects, no matter what treatment type they select.
All that said, this report card informs as to the “odds” of the potential negative side effects, one year after treatment. So that men, in all risk categories, can make an informed decision. One important caveat of this report card is that it DOES NOT INCLUDE men with advanced/metastatic prostate cancer.
The last point I would make, from this report, is that it’s clear ADT has the longest (and most severe) list of potential negative side effects. So I think you are making a wise decision to try to minimize that part of your treatment regiment.
All the best regarding the outcome of your treatments!