Gleason 8. High risk. Prostate swelling-cancer is contained for now.

Posted by codeblu2 @codeblu2, May 1, 2023

Age: 56.
Physically/mentally: Strong.
Gleason 8 - High Risk.
Stage: IIIa
Cancer tumor: Contained within prostate for now. Tumor protruding outward.
Recommendation: Per radiologists, surgeons, and others relevant to the cancer treatment profession, radiation (40+ treatments) therapy is recommended along with testosterone suppressants (6 months). Surgery is not discounted, rather its said to be more radical with same outcome (cancer killed). However, the chance of cancer return in the future is more probable after radiation, than surgery.
Other: Triple bypass June 2022, 3 stents, prosthetic heart valve installed. 1 heart attack early 2022.

In process of discussing types of radiation treatments with Mayo radiologist.
We've discussed:
1. Markers placed in and around tumor. Radiation injections, either IM or IV. Along with testosterone suppressors.
2. Adding or not adding beam radiation therapy.

This is my first experience with cancer treatment of any type. As for the types to treatments I've mentioned, does anyone have cancer treatment experiences that come from a similar prostate health condition? With same treatment options?

What can I expect?
How will life change during and after treatments?
Should I look at other treatments?
Additional treatments?
Are there specific questions I should ask the radiologist?
Anything you want to add - Advice? Suggestions? Cautions?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Prostate Cancer Support Group.

Gleason 9 here My doctors recommended ADT 6 months with Erleada then RP then 6 more months ADT and Erleada for 6 months (seminal vehicles spread only). A very aggressive treatment at UCLA for a very aggressive cancer. The recommendations were good, I managed it all well and hoping for many more years. Hoping for a cure is a long shot and I hope but think, unlikely. Good luck. Get expert, seasoned advise and make decisions on that as as these are big decisions for you to make. Best of luck!

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Codeblu2: As related to radiation treatments, I had 5 radiation treatments with the MRIdian viewray. It is the ONLY radiation machine in existence that has a built in live MRI with the radiation. Protecting your healthy tissue is really important to minimize side effects. The treatment uses 2mm margins vs 4-6 mm for other types of radiation. That’s is a big difference. https://viewray.com/. I had spaceoar gel inserted to separate the rectum from the prostate. Good luck. Not easy decisions. One step at a time. My PSA was 10.2 and Gleason 3+4, intermediate risk.

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I had a RALP in Aug 22. Gleason 4 + 3. Contained in Prostate. I was 60 yo at the time. No incontinence or other side effects from surgery. So far PSA undetectable (8 months after surgery). No radiation or ADT treatments to date.

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75
Gleason of 7 in 2021
39 radiation treatments Oct - Dec 2021 and ADT for 8 months.
Current PSA running about .1
After 1.5 years (now) the result of radiation is erectile disfunction problem and blood in stool - going in for a colonoscopy this month for first step in locating the blood in stool problem.
As far as advice, suggestions... I made a post on the blog regarding metastatic cancer concerning lifestyle changes and the story of Michael Milken's battle with prostate cancer. I think you are better informed than I was when I decided on radiation.

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I think about Michael Milken often. His prognosis was 2 years, he is my age, he lives in southern CA like me, and he is doing great after more than 20 years of his initial diagnosis. If he can do all that, based upon the standard of care of 20 years ago, then I hope that you and I can do that too! Good luck and best wishes to us all.

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Had a rating gleason 8. Had a elegard shot first to shrink the large prostate then external beam radiation then hdr brachytherapy then another 6 month elegard shot. My first two psa was low .02 but now the elegard shot is over and I am hoping my psa stays low. Good luck with your treatment hope it goes as easily as mine did.

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PSMA PETscan ? In my opinion you do not know the fullest knowledge available about current status until Prostatectomy biopsy results..

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@perrychristopher

I had a RALP in Aug 22. Gleason 4 + 3. Contained in Prostate. I was 60 yo at the time. No incontinence or other side effects from surgery. So far PSA undetectable (8 months after surgery). No radiation or ADT treatments to date.

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Perrychristopher:
Congratulations on your progress.
Best wishes for it to continue.

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Get as much information as you can, from as many types of doctors that you can. Try to find out how much time you have to make your decision. And don't rush your choice, remember RAD therapist want to radiate and surgeons want to cut. Every patient and case is different. I'm on ADT and have been getting excellent results. My PC is undetectable and my RAD therapist is not happy that I want to wait and see how long I can put off radiation. My GS was also 8, 4+4 all on the right side, nothing on the left. 8 months into this and feeling good about my choices so far.

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Since you have gleason score of 8 that means that it is aggressive and indeed it might be 9 ( they thought that mine was 8 and after surgery they told me it was 9). I think that you should seriously consider radiation or surgery now before it spreads Goid luck

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