Connect
← Return to 46 year old, two lesions. Pirad4 Pirad3
Discussion
46 year old, two lesions. Pirad4 Pirad3
Prostate Cancer | Last Active: Aug 30 3:06pm | Replies (18)Comment receiving replies
Thank you, retireddoc. I know I have to wait for the Biopsy results, but the writing’s on the wall. My age, PSA, Free PSA and Pirad4, and pirad 3, results. I’ve already spoken to my family about the possibility just to prepare them. I know I have to come up with a plan for treatment, so after they give me the results locally, I’m going to send them out to Mayo for a second opinion. This issue is really F’n with my head, Im still a father, provider, and to think I may not be around in a few years kills me inside, and I top with all of this, I also have to work. And the possibility of having months of recovery, incontinence at work, and just the stigma of being that GUY with “C” also screws with my head. I know, but we’re all complex beings. . Thank you for your time.
Replies to "Thank you, retireddoc. I know I have to wait for the Biopsy results, but the writing’s..."
You are right in the middle of this, so it is hard to have an objective perspective. I know; I've been there. From what you have said, even if you have prostate cancer (certainly not a given at this time) there is no evidence of spread outside the gland. The likelihood of metastatic disease at this time is low. Either RP or Radiation has a good chance of being curative. If you have surgery, recovery time is in weeks, not months. You are very likely to be completely continent within weeks at your age if you choose surgery.
Again, good luck.
Connect
Again, I'm so sorry. This is a shock, and it's natural to feel pessimistic and a bit hopeless in your first few months.
By all means, make reasonable preparations, but don't assume the worst. From what you wrote earlier, I understand you're still at stage 1, which has something like a 99% *cure* rate when caught that early.
But let's say you're unlucky and fall into the 1%. Not being "cured" isn't a death sentence; it simply means that you now have a long-term, chronic condition to manage, just like people with HIV or Parkinson's have. It might mean life changes, and maybe less energy for work and childcare, but it's doable.
Even those of us already in advanced stages of prostate cancer may be able to keep going indefinitely with modern treatments. You'll find many of us here who've been living good lives with stage 4 prostate cancer (the most-advanced kind) for years. You've contracted a bad disease, but at a good time in the history of cancer treatment. More here (I don't remember if I shared this already):
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/treating-prostate-cancer-at-any-stage/