How are you guys getting Staged for your prostate cancer?

I received this information with the biopsy results, that was 11 years ago. Now, without a prostate and biochemical recurrence and confirmed spread via psmapet scan, the psa is the driver factor.

The oncologist at Mayo looked us (wife and myself) straight in the eye and pronounced "you have AGRESSIVE HIGH RISK PROSTATE CANCER " . The data used was biopsy, and scans . No one has ever given me a stage but my take is "IV A".

My urologist and oncologist said that with gleason 10 I was automatically stage 3. If the scans had shown spread, it would have been 4

I was diagnosed Gleason 4+3/7, stage 1 intermediate.

Staging is a short hand jargon so doctors can easily talk about cases and research. Unless you're fluent in the language, I found it better to know the specifics of MY case. Eg how many tumors, how big, what %age of total prostate, Gleason grade specifics, spread to nearby areas, how many lymph nodes dissected, size of prostate, etc etc. That level of detail is not immediately apparent in the stage numbers. I once knew the stage, I looked it up, but couldnt tell you now 4 months after surgery. Right now, the only thing that matters is the periodic PSA levels. Right now, un detectable x 2. No matter what my stage, there's no promise it will always stay that way...

For me, it started 12 years ago at Mayo with a biopsy and a Gleason of 4+5. Stage 3. Looked at all my options and decided to have surgery after which they found cancer cells in a couple of the lymph nodes. That bumped me up to stage 4 metastasis.

I am Gleason Score 4 + 4 8 PSA 6.9, Biopsy 6 weeks ago full of cancer, CT and Bone Scan said no spread. I am a fit 70, having surgery to cut the little bastard out in 3 days. I have it at the margin, ie. like a basketball with cancer sticking to it on the outside. Took the Lupron shot that last 3 months late June. I am sure more Lupron and radiation after I recover from the surgery. On the Margin means some cancer will escape so want to poison it with radiation and starve cancer cells with Lupron. You are lucky to be above ground this long and hats off to you. Tell me more about your PC journey? My stomach has hurt on Lupron and a few other side effects.

@fuzzy123, staging is a process. To stage a cancer, your cancer team gathers multiple sources of information during the diagnostic phase, like the digital exam, imaging studies and biopsy.

This information may help clarify:
- Prostate Cancer: Stages and Grades https://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/prostate-cancer/stages-and-grades

Have you been told what stage you have in the meantime?

I was just told last week I have stage 4a metastatic prostate cancer. No cure hope, and a 50% chance of living 5 years. I’m already one year in so that means less than 4 years to live!! And I don’t count the last 6 mos to a year because that’s not living , that’s dieing !!!

Russ was diagnosed on Nov 30 2022 ! They gave him 6 chemotherapy ! Lupron shots every 3 months ! Xgenva shots once a month for his bones ! His Psa is under 1 now ! The chemo sucks ! He is 60 years old ! Diebetic 2 also ! Lots of scary things ! 😞 we are on a summer break from the devil drug ! His knees are so bad ! We are living life to the fullest ! Taking vacations and do what we can ! God bless u ! Be strong my friend ! Love Russ and sandi 💙