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Pathology 2nd opinion

Prostate Cancer | Last Active: Nov 13, 2023 | Replies (13)

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@jc76

You are at one of the best care facilities in the world. I had my done at Mayo also. I had multiple areas with cancer with worse being 3+4=7.

You have not met with oncologist/radiologist yet which go over the results and treatments. In my opinion and please it is just an opinion not medical advise it would be good to have the appointments first then second opinions. This is what I did was to meet with Mayo radiologist/oncologist and then UFPTI radiologist/oncologist.

Can I suggest an important test to have as soon as possible? It is called a Decipher test. This test uses your already taken biopsies that are sent to Decipher which does a special lab test that does genetic testing on it and comes back with a low, intermediate, or high risk of metastasizing.

You probably have been told 3+4+7 is intermediate risk. This is what mine was. Then I had the Decipher test and came back low risk. This changed the treatment plan from hormone and radiation to just radiation. A good test to have prior to making decisions.

I had my biopsies done at Mayo Jacksonville but had my radiation treatment at UFPTI as Jacksonville did not offer proton radiation.

I think your reasoning is good. You are at the stage where you will have a lot of questions and worrying about doing the right thing. You are doing to get a lot of suggestions from MCC and all will say you need to make decisions that are best for you. You did not mention your age. That is important in deciding treatments along with any other medical conditions you may have.

Mayo can take care of sending the Decipher test for you. You just need to asked them to do this. My urologist referred me directly to oncologist/radiologist who suggested the Decipher test.

I know waiting is a great worry but most will say prostrate cancer is slow growing and you are not at a high risk Gleason Score is a intermediate one. If it were me (and that is all we can give is suggestion) I would keep your appointments coming up and asked for the Decipher test. In fact I I would asked for Decipher test now.

Then if you are in doubt or just want another opinion then get a second opinion. If you have your appts. you probably will also hear about PSMA test and bone scans. This two are also very important test to have when deciding treatments. If you have ever looked at a slide for prostrate cancer it shows normal, and abnormal cells it is subjective and that is why you will find different opinions.

Can I asked which Mayo you are using?

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Replies to "You are at one of the best care facilities in the world. I had my done..."

@jc76, thanks very much for your reply to me. I’m using Mayo Rochester. Thanks for the info on Decipher; I will explore that.
I am 71 and in reasonably good health. I’ll keep my two upcoming appointments and see what they have to say after answering my questions. On Friday I had Mayo pathology send my slides and biopsy report to Johns Hopkins for a second pathology opinion.
If I may add, last week I attended my first prostate cancer support group at Mayo Rochester, and it was very worthwhile. Coincidentally, the presenter that day was the radiation oncologist I will be seeing November 20. The meetings are held monthly, and I encourage anyone with this disease (family members are also welcome) to consider going if you are within driving distance of Rochester. It’s great to know you are not alone, and much good information is shared.