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I have a prostate cancer (gleason score 6).
I am diagnosed with prostate cancer (Gleason score 3+3). I have completed both biopsy and repeat biopsy. Still under active surveillance. My PSA went from 10.42 to 11.68 in six months. I am worried about possible progression.
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Did you get a Decipher score?
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2 Reactions@pk52
We can only give you our experiences with this. My Gleason score was 3+4=7 and had a low risk Decipher. I also had negative PSMA.
Per my experience the 3+3=6. Is low I don't think (per my urologist) post a lower Gleason Score.
Regarding your PSA being high (p[er my urologist 4 and below is normal) has your urologist talked to you about having prostate enlargement and or infection? These (again through my discussion with my urologist) can cause the PSA to show high.
If you are in doubt consider getting a second opinion. Normally you can just send your medical information to a second medical institutions who can go over your test results and give you a second opinion. Just pick a major medical one or one that has a lot of experience with prostate cancer.
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2 ReactionsHi,
Have you had an MRI or PET scan yet? One of those tests would be able to confirm an enlarged Prostate(BPH). I would suspect that if your PSA continues to rise your doctor will order one or both of the tests.
Dave 3+4
Since you had a biopsy 2 times I'm assuming you had the MRI first? The MRI would have shown a Pirads score.
The usual protocol is high PSA, DRE, MRI, Biopsy, PSMA
Depending on where the lesion is in prostate and BPH it can produce a higher PSA.
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@copyman I had MRI before the two biopsies. PIRADS 5. No bone lesion.
When I was diagnosed my psa was between 11-12 and I was given a Gleason score of 8. I got a PSMA and an MRI both indicated that there was no spread. After my surgery my Gleason Score was downgraded to a 7 and my Cancer type was lowered by a full grade. The path report PSMA and MRI all indicated no spread, and my Cancer Stage was 1. It is possible that your Cancer has not spread!
Many doctors consider 3+3 to be pre-cancerous.
For a long time, doctors were treating people 3+3, then 14 years ago the medical community felt that was overdoing it and stopped doing PSA tests. Today we’re getting a lot of people with advanced cases because of it.
How many cores Had 3+3? If more than six, then it makes more sense to do something about it if less than six, then active surveillance makes the most sense.
Did anybody ever give you an idea how large your prostate was? I know somebody whose PSA was 50 and had multiple biopsies and they never found anything because he had a huge prostate. Having BPH can also cause the PSA to be higher than it should be.
Here are some videos from doctors that discuss active surveillance for somebody like you
Here is a video with Dr. Laurence Klotz, one of the experts on active surveillance. He can give you answers as to why you would or would not be a good candidate for active surveillance.
Here is a video by Dr. Epstein discussing active surveillance and more
Excellent Fred Hutch doctor video: Dr. Claire de la Calle
Active Surveillance for Intermediate Risk Prostate Cancer w/ Dr. Claire de la Calle | Ep. 288
Well
It's difficult, you hear the word "cancer" and you stat to doomsday scroll. I would expect most men would say that initial consultation, phone call, worse, email with our urologist who said..." you have prostate cancer" conjured up dire thoughts and an urgent need to "do something!"
The "good" news, you have PC, GS 3+3.
The not so good news, you have PCA, GS 3+3 and a part of our life is now different. Active surveillance is not just forgetting about it given the risk, albeit "low" of it morphing into something requiring action on your part.
So, collect yourself, do your homework, then, have a discussion with your medical team about what your active surveillance will look like?
What clinical data do you and they need to know if all mis quiet or, something is gong on?
How will you go about collecting it?
Once you have that hammered out, execute, then, live your life knowing that you have tools in place to monitor and if, when, necessary act.
@jeffmarc gave you some videos which are useful.
This may be of help too - https://aspatients.org/the-pathway-active-surveillance-guide/
Kevin
A good book I've used "You Can Beat Prostate Cancer" by Marckini
I found very helpful to answer questions and show options.
I've beat two stage four cancers, now working on chemo damage.
Best wishes to you.