← Return to Living with Prostate Cancer: Meet others & introduce yourself

Discussion
Comment receiving replies
@web265

I'm sort of new here as well but wanted to reply. My history is being dumb enough to not get a blood test for a few years, find an elevated PSA 11.5, biopsy, Gleasons of 6-7, prostatectomy, in recovery from the surgery and doing pretty well.

I'm sorry to hear that this is something you have to deal with.

Obviously the biopsy will give you the answers you're looking for, but, 6.49 seems like it could really be anything. Also the history here is a little hard to unpack for me. It sounds like you're saying....you had hematuria in Spring of 2020?, went for an office visit with a urologist who did a digital exam and ultra sound and didn't find anything. I'm absolutely NOT a medical professional but I had this exact thing happen and the concern with my urologist when presenting with hematuria and no back pain was a bladder problem. It seemed to be his diagnostic flow chart if you will. We did a cystoscopy, have you done this? (mine actually did turn out to be kidney stones at that time, they were the rare kind that had zero pain associated and easily passed)

Then it sounds like you're saying things were normal as recent as this April. Sounds like you are being considerably more proactive than I was, kudos.

I was unaware there was a grading system for lesions, so I don't know what the 5 indicates, can't comment at all on this.

With the PSA going up and down, I'd think it could be a lot of things depending on how much it's fluctuating. My PSA started up, and kept climbing. Taking the lesion out of the equation, I'd think it could easily be a recurring prostatitis. I've had that happen after a 50 mile bike ride, ( a change of seat fixed that).

My point for all the storytelling is, there are a few other possibilities. Unfortunately this is going to be a looming factor in your mind till you get the biopsy results. In my case, keeping busy and keeping my mind occupied with other things got me through.

I applaud you're decision to find out for sure. My digital exam found no lesions and the ultrasound showed normal size, we came close to not doing the biopsy for three months, that three months in my case could have made a huge difference in spread.

Lastly, you're having a biopsy on Christmas? đŸ™‚ (what? it was a thought!)

If you have any specific questions, don't hesitate to ask them here. It's a great group and was very helpful to me.

Best of luck to you, keep us posted!

Jump to this post


Replies to "I'm sort of new here as well but wanted to reply. My history is being dumb..."

Thank you so much for your response. Biopsy on Dec 15th but I have asked to be notified of cancellations, so could be sooner. I am gratified to hear you are doing pretty well. Are you a "faith-based" person? If so, curious how your faith influenced this.

I had a 3.3 in Sept of 2020, then a 4.6 in March of this year followed by 6.2, 5.3, 6.1 over the summer and now 6.4. Hematuria was in March of this year. GP thought it was kidney stones. Had some pain in my side which seem to confirm his suspicions. Did ultrasound in early April and no stones, Bladder test was negative. Did office prostate exam and no discernible issues. Urologist advised to keep doing PSA and then have biopsy if scores remained the same or higher. Imaging identified a lesion and graded it as 5 which is a high probability for cancer (B value DWI. (Score 5; PI-RADS: 5). 20% of cases are benign. Findings also indicated: "Mildly
prominent central gland with features suggesting benign prostatic hypertrophy." So, I am a bit confused with the findings. Is it BPH? Cancer? Both?

My doc says "A month here or there when it comes to the possibility of prostate cancer is not usually worrisome as prostate cancers usually grow very slowly, on the order of years, not months. I am comfortable waiting until Dec 15." So my procedure is Dec 15th.

Also: "no definite evidence of invasion or extension beyond the capsule. There are no signs for seminal vesicle infiltration. BLADDER: Unremarkable; LYMPH NODES: No evidence of lymph node enlargement.

The only symptoms I have had is frequent urination, which seems to be the case now for several years. No sexual problems (well, at least not related to erections - maybe technique!).

Regards!