1. < Prostate Cancer

Trying to get perspectives on what comes next

Posted by shep247 @shep247, Apr 18 6:03pm

I'm 59 years old. During the past 8 months, my PSA has gone from 4 to, most recently, 8.5. Urologist advised getting MRI which was done last week and found one lesion. He said it was PI-RAD 5 so I'm going in for a biopsy in a week.
Previous digital exam last fall didn't reveal anything unusual but I am alarmed by the drastic doubling of the PSA and being on the 5 end of the scale. I've been extremely active my entire life and have always had a clean diet so this hit me like a brick in the face.
Currently rifling through medical info, and this particular section of the forum, which has been very helpful. I'm a bit panicked at times as I still have images of my father coping with Myeloma (at 82) and the debilitating effects of chemo so I'm trying to keep things in perspective, and wondering what others have experienced with getting treatment and their physical recovery. Granted, everyone is different but any feedback would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance!

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shep247 | @shep247 | May 1 11:27am
In reply to @hammer101 "Shep247 - A lot of great advice already given, so I will be brief. If your..." + (show)
@hammer101

Shep247 - A lot of great advice already given, so I will be brief. If your biopsy comes back positive, please make sure you do thorough research on the best possible center of excellence and doctor to use for your treatment. I was diagnosed with PC (Gleason 7-4/3 PC) at 55. Based on my age, I opted for a radical prostatectomy. I am now 57, PSA has been undetectable, and good return of all body functions. I attribute my good results to taking the time to choose the best possible center of excellence & doctor for my treatment plan, following through with required therapy after the treatment, and God's grace.

Best of luck and I pray that your biopsy comes back showing no cancer!

Jim

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Thank you, Jim! Glad you had a good outcome from the surgery. Just playing the waiting game right now but doing lots of reading and research. I will be looking into centers for excellence for sure dependent on outcome.
Thank you again!

REPLY
groundhogy | @groundhogy | May 2 1:29am

Here is a good website to compare odds of cure for the major treatment paths. You have to determine your stage, low risk, intermediate, or high risk (risk of recurrence). So if you are intermediate, pull up the intermediate chart and you can see the odds of 10-20 yr survival, etc. based on the treatment you pick.
https://www.prostatecancerfree.org/compare-prostate-cancer-treatments/
It is best viewed on computer or just print it on paper. Not so viewable on phone.

To make the graphs easier to read, i drew a dot on the endpoints of the elipses, and then drew a line through the dots. This turns the elipses into lines.

Also be aware the the graphs don’t show any salvage radiation benefit. This would boost the surgery odds up a bit.

And, this is a very dysfunctional industry from my view. Loads of bad info mixed in with the good info. Same with the docs. Some of them are more dangerous than the cancer.

REPLY
groundhogy | @groundhogy | May 2 1:30am

Also realize, the moment you were diagnosed, your insurance card just got charged up with say.. $200k in medical dollars. There are lots of docs that will be happy to run you through their cancer regimen and swipe the cr@p out of that card.

Your job is to have something good at the end.

REPLY
groundhogy | @groundhogy | May 2 1:36am

Also get yourself an good MO as your guide through this.
Most uros have a biased interest and you see them online bragging about it.
Read some books. Maybe scholz etc. the fanous hopkins surgeon.

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