Active Surveillance proves better for low-risk prostate cancer

@sanway, if active surveillance were an option in your situation, would you have felt comfortable with that choice?

I did and feel it was a terrible mistake. Cancer became aggressive while the doctor at Johns Hopkins was monitoring. So now after prostectomy I am on my second round of radiation.

I thought u could only do one round of radiation after rp. Could u pls elaborate on second round

You cannot radiate the same area. My recurrence was a lymph node just outside previous radiated area.

So I had Prostate bed and pelvic area radiated. So now could only radiate some other area?

Only if it is outside the area that was radiated

First BPH diagnosis in 1976. Concerning comments by doctor at annual workplace physical exams. Fast forward to 2000. BPH + PSA led to multiple to Active Surveillance (Watchful Waiting) for 20 years. Covid happens, my doctor’s office, hospital and lab become restricted, only taking emergencies for 9 months. My prostate cancer symptoms occurred all at once. I end up in the emergency room. CT Scan indicates prostate problems. Biopsy, December 15, 2020, indicates stage 4 prostate cancer. Started treatment right away. I am now on monthly PSA’s and Active Surveillance for eternity.

I don't know how old you are. But has anyone mentioned Lupron to you?

Pretty old thread. Wondering if there is any new data on the AS process. I was DX at 75 and Getting PSA every six months, diagnosed 2+ years ago gleason low and all data points to limited movement of cancer to other body parts. As time progresses, will my PSA numbers continue to climb? Any idea how much (est) they would climb that would let me remain in AS. Number goes from 5.62 to 6.32 and MD wanted to do MRI/Fusion Biopsy. Results of MRI w/contrast show no new lesions. Now back to regular biopsy. MY question is there a road map for older guys, over 75 on Active Surveillance, that provides a suggested outcomes.

Thanks for picking up the thread again. I'm almost 72, 4 years AS, gleason 6, Decipher low intermediate, PSA low to mid 4s. Seems an annual MRI and 6 month PSA is consensus protocol, but all interested please speak up. Balancing act to buy time for new technology while ascertaining the risk. Active lifestyle, feeling great, no symptoms---all makes the decision to "break something that doesn't seem to be broken" difficult. As an aside, I've had 3 mild bouts of what seems to be low grade prostatitis over the past year and half which spikes PSA--so far antibiotics bring it back down but adds to the dilemma.