Alternative to prostate removal surgery

Posted by murpdill @murpdill, 1 day ago

So, my PSA is 8.5 but I am on finasteride and Tamsulosin which I'm told doubles the true PSA level. I'm looking for an alternative to surgery, some other treatment or medicine that will help me control the PSA level. The surgery is very untasteful for me to go through with.

Does anyone have any ideas to at the very least slow down the rise in my PSA level over the past two years. I'm 68 don't smoke or drink and have been going to the gym religiously for 8 years. I'm desperate for any alternative to removal or radiation.

Thank you

Dillon

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Prostate Cancer Support Group.

@jeffmarc

I did tell you about three different other ways of doing treatment that are not radiation or surgery. Check out the first paragraph of my first reply. Some people here really like Tulsa-pro.

Did you get a PSMA pet scan showing you had three tumors, Or was that an MRI? Have they spread beyond the prostate. Did you have cribriform or intraductal?

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So, I read every response. I'm looking for guidance. I've done some homework on this I've been to three separate Dr's the 40 treatments the 28 treatments and now im at the end the 5 Cyberknife radiation treatments.

Trust me I appreciate all you people answering my posts. I'm nervous and I'm not the nervous type. However, I've had knee replacement and spine surgery and neither went well.

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The whole thing is untasteful. Not a group of guys you would pick. But here we are. I opted for surgery. That gives me the option of radiation down the road. 5 years cancer free. But with all the complications. I was 68. I think jeffmarc is pretty close to right on. More things need done to determine the best plan.

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@jeffmarc

There are three types of radiation IMRT, cyberknife SBRT and MRIdian SBRT and then the non radiation techniques HIFU, cryotherapy, TULSA-PRO or more (others here may recommend).

If your PSA is really 4.25 and you have never had treatment then drugs would make sense. Have you had A biopsy. Have you had any tests that show that you have cancer? Do you know what your Gleason score is?

You could go on Lupron, which would stop your PSA from rising and probably get it down to very low levels. There are other drugs you can add to it that would even get your PSA down more. The thing is, they don’t give you those drugs unless you provably have cancer , You’ve given us no indication here that you have any proof that you have cancer.

Maybe you have BPH and that’s why you think your PSA is a little high.

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My PSA was 8.5 three weeks ago and that is on the medications so if what I'm told is true that the meds disguise the real number x 2 then I'm at 17

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@murpdill

My PSA was 8.5 three weeks ago and that is on the medications so if what I'm told is true that the meds disguise the real number x 2 then I'm at 17

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You are right I stated that incorrectly in my original message to you. If you could answer the questions below many of us could give you some guidance.

Did you get a PSMA pet scan showing you had three tumors, Or was that an MRI? Have they spread beyond the prostate. Did you have cribriform or intraductal?

Do you know your Gleason score, it’s really important.

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@jeffmarc

You are right I stated that incorrectly in my original message to you. If you could answer the questions below many of us could give you some guidance.

Did you get a PSMA pet scan showing you had three tumors, Or was that an MRI? Have they spread beyond the prostate. Did you have cribriform or intraductal?

Do you know your Gleason score, it’s really important.

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PSMA: No
MRI: No
Beyond the prostate: I don't think it has.

Did you have cribriform or intraductal: No

I had a biopsy in April due to the rise of my number from 4.5 to 5.5.
That biopsy clearly showed 3 tumors one a Gleason 7
I'm not sure if it means anything however three different dr's with three different radiation treatment times: 40, 28 day and now a Cyberknife 5 wanted to do the radiation as soon as they saw me. But that might be the norm.
My PSA number went from a 7.5 to 8.5 in the last 6 to 8 months. And it's a x 2, seeing I'm on medication. My head is spinning.

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As long as the Cancer has not spread past the prostate then cyber knife sounds real good. Your PSA is not really rising all that fast, they are looking for doubling times, Yours isn’t doubling very quickly so you don’t have to worry about it spreading too soon, It is very slow growing. Don’t panic you’ve got something that’s treatable and you’re planning on Treating it.

A biopsy collects a number of core samples. You seem to be saying three of them showed cancer one of them a Gleason 7 And the two others Gleason 6. They are not referred to as tumors, That’s why I was confused. A Gleason 7 is more slow growing. Is it 3+4 or 4+3?

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@jeffmarc

As long as the Cancer has not spread past the prostate then cyber knife sounds real good. Your PSA is not really rising all that fast, they are looking for doubling times, Yours isn’t doubling very quickly so you don’t have to worry about it spreading too soon, It is very slow growing. Don’t panic you’ve got something that’s treatable and you’re planning on Treating it.

A biopsy collects a number of core samples. You seem to be saying three of them showed cancer one of them a Gleason 7 And the two others Gleason 6. They are not referred to as tumors, That’s why I was confused. A Gleason 7 is more slow growing. Is it 3+4 or 4+3?

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You are correct excuse me I'm new to this. Yes, I have two 3+4 and one 4+3 for a total of three. spots found.

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Hi,
First of all has your doctor recommended any further testing such as mri or prostate biopsy. Must get to the root cause of psa elevation.

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@murpdill

You are correct excuse me I'm new to this. Yes, I have two 3+4 and one 4+3 for a total of three. spots found.

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I have two 3 +3 and one 3+4

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