Connect
← Return to Deciding between radiation and prostatectomy
Discussion
Deciding between radiation and prostatectomy
Prostate Cancer | Last Active: Mar 19 10:36am | Replies (74)Comment receiving replies
So glad I have found this group of sharing souls.
I really need the support and encouragement, and dare I say, optimism?
I am Gleason 7, 3+4 with favorable for spreading. My radical prostatectamy is the Monday after Easter and I am trying to stay optimistic.
My father survived prostate cancer and had his removed 25 years ago, so I was on the high-watch list since then. My PSA has fluctuated around 4 since then every six months, so there was no alarm. Just regular monitoring. In summer of 2024 the PSA was 3.1. Last summer it was 5 and my new doctor --suggested an MRI, then biopsy. Last April, I ran a half-marathon. This April I am having prostate cancer surgery.
My urologist/oncologist is optimistic, as I guess he should be.
But I'm praying this robotic surgery can get it all? And fearing spreading.
And ready to take on any challenge it is has gotten out.
Thanks friends, for reading
Replies to "So glad I have found this group of sharing souls. I really need the support and..."
@thebeej, you have many reasons to be optimistic. Your doctor gives you a favorable forecast. Your father fared well. There are many men here in the group who have run races post surgery too, like @jerryegge @web265 @ava11 @trusam1 @thehowlingdog.
Being fit will serve you well. This year's half-marathon will be surgery and recovery. And next year's goal?
It's natural to worry about spread and question whether surgery will be successful. I wonder if the tips shared in this discussion will help focus on the things you can do:
- Prostate cancer surgery: What can I expect & prepare for?https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/48-about-to-have-prostate-removal-surgery/
@thebeej To jump on Colleen's post: my Gleason also was 3+4, PSA jumped from 4 to 14 in one year. At 71 ran half marathon on Oct 16, radical prostatectomy on Oct 31. Back running again end of Dec, marathon end of April. 4 years later I log at least one half and one full marahon every year since along with numerous 5K, 10K and 10 milers. You'll be golden. ONE word of advice: do those f'ing kegels, they work!
Connect
@thebeej
With the 3+4 you do have a good chance of being in remission for the rest of your life. Once your prostatectomy is done, they will biopsy your prostate and then you’ll find out what you’re truly Gleason score is, It does change for many people. Mine went from 3+4 to 4+3.
Were any of these things found in the biopsy intraductal, cribriform, Seminal vesicle invasion, EPE or ECE. (Extraprostatic extensions extra capsular extensions). They can make the cancer much more aggressive. Take a look at the biopsy results and see if any of these things were mentioned.
You could get a decipher test, which you could tell you how likely you are to have a reoccurrence and how soon. Some medical systems do that automatically.
My prostatectomy gave me 3 1/2 years before my PSA started rising. I have a genetic problem BRCA2, which is why it keeps coming back. I was 62 when I had my prostatectomy and I was out visiting clients offices four days later. Seven days after surgery, I went back to work full-time as a computer consultant.
Since your father got prostate cancer, you need to get an hereditary genetic test. They are covered by insurance. It could be that you’ve got prostate cancer because of a genetic problem and you want to find out because your children may have the same problem. If you have a genetic problem, there’s a possibility that they have different drugs you can take that don’t work for other people..