Just found prostate cancer. Does it normally go to the bones?

I' m sorry to hear about your situation. Can you share your history (age, health, etc...) On the surface of what you have mentioned, I wonder why they are removing your prostate without having the baseline information of where the cancer has spread inside your body. | To your question, recovery time can vary greatly from a few days/weeks to a few years, quite a bit is dependent on your overall health going into it. Keep the faith and please continue to share information so the community can help.

Did you discuss the radiation option with your medical team? In my case, since the cancer had already metastasised to my spine, my medical team and I elected for radiation rather than a radical prostatectomy.

1. I had emergency debulking surgery to my spine at T3, since the lesion had grown quickly and left me temporarily paraplegic.

2. I started on Firmagon and Erleada right after the surgery to shut down both testosterone production and reception.

3. I had radiation treatment to my spine once I'd had a few weeks to heal from the surgery.

4. I had radiation treatment to my prostate 6 months later.

My PSA was 67 when the cancer was discovered; now, 26 months later, it's still holding at < 0.1.

Best of luck whatever you decide. For sure, it's a big life change.

Sorry to hear about your situation. I would assume before they remove your prostate they would take tests (PSMA PET scan, bone scan etc) to determine if your cancer has spread outside of your prostate gland. Have you had a biopsy of your prostate? if so, what was the result and your Gleason score? Have you had any tests? has your doctor talked with you yet about the various test results?
I had my prostate removed a little over 2 years ago using the robotic technique. It wasn't painful. I took Ibuprofen and Tylenol afterwards to help with discomfort. I had a catheter in for 10 days. When they take the catheter out you will be incontinent to some degree for a variable length of time depending on a number of factors including age.

Good luck.

Have a Bone Scan now. It will tell you. I had my prostate removed 4 months ago, had a Gleason 7, but no bone spread and a CT Scan done that said no spread. My first PSA reading last month showed a .0022 and that is boderline undetectable. 1 in 6 men get prostate cancer and most survive and die old of something else if it has not spread.

ddun1953, I was Gleason 7 also. Had Decipher, PSMA, bone scan and cancer within prostrate only. My PSA (I did not have hormone treatment) at 3 months was 1.2 (down from 3.75) and my 6 months was 0.79. In my 50s my PSA was every year .75 so almost back to those days.

Statistics just like you stated say that 1 in 6 will be diagnosed with prostrate cancer and most die of something else if not spread. The statistics also show from autopsies that almost all men will develop prostrate cancer if they lived long enough. They don't die from it but when autopsies are done they find the prostrate cancer.

If you still have your prostrate you will have PSA levels. If it is removed then is should approach the undetectable level. So you are right there. I had radiation only and mine is going down to below 1 (6 months was 0.79 where my oncologist/radiologist wants it to be below 1.
Great outcome on your treatment.

Hi @ltdan23, that is quite a shock to be diagnosed with prostate cancer and to also hear that it may have already spread to your bones.

You asked about what to expect and recovery. You might be interested in the tips shared in this related discussion:
- Prostate cancer surgery: What can I expect & prepare for?
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/48-about-to-have-prostate-removal-surgery/

Do you live alone or will there be someone with you as you recover? Does someone go with you to your appointments to help be that second set of ears? It's a lot to take in.

Itdan23, Have you been diagnosed with bone cancer or are you just fearing it? Many things can cause bone and joint aching. I have degenerative bone disease and almost every bone and joint is sore.

It is not clear form your post if you have been diagnosed with it or fearing it. A PSMA and bone scan would most likely reveal if the cancer has spread outside of your prostrate. Are you having your prostrate removed now or was it done already. What were the tests done to determine your prostrate cancer and their outcomes?

If you are scheduled for prostrate removal was a PSMA and Bone Scan recommended and done? If not I would asked for both. You did not mentioned your age.

Dear ltdan 23,
My prayers, that the most aggressive of prostate cancer cells have not mutated or evolved and become "resistant" to many treatments.
I couldn't get the message from your post: Have you been told by your Doctors and a biopsy has confirmed that your bone pain is the result of cancer? Get on top of your team of Doctors, you need to be informed ASAP! Dr. Patrick Walsh's Book: Guide to Surviving Prostate Cancer, 4th Edition, was an excellent information source for me and my wife as we learned about and rebalanced our minds, emotions and evaluated what medical decision was best for us and help you understand the options the Doctors are proposing to you.
Best Wishes and God Bless,

Sounds like you have had a great response to treatment.

I always found it confusing what the doctors call undetectable. At first y doctor said < 0.01 is undetectable. Later it was any PSA value < 0.100. My understanding is that when the prostate is removed or radiation is given to the prostate the docs like to see a PSA near or < 0.01. If you have a prostate undetectable is anything < 0.100. I'm assuming it is because one might still have a prostate that can create normal (not diseased PSA). I still have my prostate and I am stage 4 do novo - cancer in the bones only. My PSA is < 0.100 and has continued dropping even after completion of chemotherapy.
I agree. Great outcome to your treatment.