@johnnyz
My pi-rads score was 4 for both the cribriform tumors. One of them was an existing tumor from my initial diagnosis at age 62 that had been a gleason 6 and moved to a 7 with cribriform. The other cribriform tumor, also a pi-rads 4 score, was new and on the very edge of my prostate. My PSA never went above 4.2 throughout my Active Surveillance timeline and my SBRT timeline. My surgeon that referred me to Dr. David Byun (radiologist - MSK/Cornell Weil) immediately. Dr. Joseph Wagner (Wagner was an early daVinci adopter with over 4k surgeries). I fully expected Wagner to recommend a prostatectomy. However, he was very clear in saying that with my circumstances that radiation would be equipoise, and surgery would likely require longer recover and potentially lifelong changes.
SBRT was not much of anything (fiducial markers were used) - some discomfort that was tolerable, some fatigue. Orgovyx was not all that bad either with the same issues and some hot flashes (very low libido).
For me it came down to the risk of incontinence for long (or lifelong) periods and intimacy (I am 64 with no issues) and that surgery was not a better option (confirmed 3 times over by Smilo, MSK, Tufts surgeons and radiologists). That said, I know of many people that want it out and that is a very good option as well, but wasn't my choice. I am all be back to normal now and realize things may change and have talked about that very candidly with Dr. Byun and have plans tentatively in place should they be needed.
Please let me know if you have other questions. Happy to help. We are very lucky to have this type of cancer at our age and not what I see children and other younger people deal with. Good luck to you and you will make the right choice for you.
@jonathanack @jonathanack thanks again Jonathan, ya it’s not easy to decide as the cribriform scares my wife more than me… None of the doctors who I asked specifically about the cribriform say that it does not impact thier treatment decision. On Sept 24 I meet the robotics surgeon and will weigh what he says. My previous surgeon who did my pathology follow-up in July said there is no difference to cure between radiation SBRT 5 sessions over 2 weeks, compared to RARP. I have worry about future recurrence and impacts of radiation as my treatment now causing future urination issues. I will get treatment still 68 years old and hopefully have many years to live and want to enjoy a life going forward. I do wonder about my longevity for living old regardless since my parents died at 69 and 74 years old. Seems that radiation has better post treatment 5-8 years before impacts set in. For sure I don’t want bowl and waking up at night to urinate etc. so, “cure” chances are equal for both treatments, and pay now or pay later for quality of life impacts… much to ponder in the next few weeks. I will decide on treatment shortly after my RP consult…