1. < Prostate Cancer

Can you advise on prostate cancer?

Posted by cekkk @cekkk, Jun 12 1:27pm

So my biopsy and MRI showed cancer cells according to the doctor. He's not my favorite. He's older and speaks like a surgeon. But mumbles. So I gather that the right side(?) of my prostate has ten years c cells and he states three choices. Monitor it. Radiate it. A procedure I couldn't catch the name of but involves burning the cells via rectal entrance in and out but resume normal activity but with a catheter for a few days. He thinks I should do it now.

As my PCP set me up with routine exams by four specialists plus two I was already seeing, I've been on a visit-test-visit merry-go-round all year and this was the last reminder on my list. I'm not anxious to do anything other than my regular dental visit for a while.

I'm 81 and type II, but aside from minor kidney and liver problems, nothing to prevent me from living probably longer than I need to.

What are you able to say about the procedure or radiation, even monitoring?

And any guess as to what type of c is involved?

I'm going to have his info sent to my PCP for his thoughts, but you all are a good and different source than a doctor. Thanks.

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

groundhogy | @groundhogy | Jun 22 10:57pm

You don’t say what the gleason score of the biopsy was? Also how many cores? Etc etc

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1 reply
bens1 | @bens1 | Jun 23 7:45am

@cekkk you may want to get a second opinion at a center of excellence using telehealth, a decipher test (using your biopsy material) to indicate the aggressiveness and treatment modes, which doctors will use, and if you get radiation, choose a machine that minimizes healthy tissue exposure.

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1 reply
bjroc | @bjroc | Jun 23 8:23am

I think maybe they mentioned HIFU since it is done rectally.

Other options are TulsaPro or a new one in trials called vanquish

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https://tulsaprocedure.com/find-a-tulsa-pro-center/

https://tulsaprocedure.com/

If wondering about Tulsa Pro is from a science point of view, here is a basic Tulsa science overview article
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9231661/

Conclusions:
“As an alternative to conventional treatments, TULSA is safe and effective for prostate tissue ablation in men with primary PCa. There is also evidence that TULSA delivers effective relief of urinary symptoms while treating PCa in a single, low-morbidity procedure. The likelihood of freedom from additional treatment or potency preservation is associated with the planned ablation fraction.”

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Vanquish
Trials
https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05683691
More info
https://www.francismedical.com/tag/vanquish/
a story on it
https://www.mnphy.com/1023-story-one--christopher-dixon

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ava11 | @ava11 | Jun 23 9:43am

CEKKK,
nothing to prevent me from living probably longer than I need to.
From your own assessment you are relatively healthy and expect to live longer. So, the fact your calendar age is 81 is irrelevant to make a decision whether you should get treated or not. I am much older than you and I recently got treated at UCLA. My PCP is an endocrinologist who was my physician for 30 years said I should get treated!
In my opinion you should consider getting advice from centers of excellence, as others suggested. Of course, it is a personal decision!
Best

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cekkk | @cekkk | Jun 23 4:33pm

One step at a time. I'll talk to my doctor first. I don't know as much as I'd like right now. What's my prognosis? Very low, low, favorable intermediate? Does it matter? What's my Gleason score? 6? 7? Does it matter? I simply prefer jumping off one bridge at a time.

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cekkk | @cekkk | Jun 23 4:37pm
In reply to @bens1 "@cekkk you may want to get a second opinion at a center of excellence using telehealth,..." + (show)
@bens1

@cekkk you may want to get a second opinion at a center of excellence using telehealth, a decipher test (using your biopsy material) to indicate the aggressiveness and treatment modes, which doctors will use, and if you get radiation, choose a machine that minimizes healthy tissue exposure.

Jump to this post

I want to do just that. But will speak with my GP first so I have a better understanding of my situation.

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cekkk | @cekkk | Jun 23 4:44pm
In reply to @groundhogy "You don’t say what the gleason score of the biopsy was? Also how many cores? Etc..." + (show)
@groundhogy

You don’t say what the gleason score of the biopsy was? Also how many cores? Etc etc

Jump to this post

Wasn't told. 6? 7? Don't know prognosis. Very low? Low? I hope my GP can tell me from the paperwork from the urology office.
I'd also like to know the effects of various treatments. I've read they can result in problems I may not find acceptable to live with for the rest of my life.

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jackph | @jackph | 6 days ago

Go visit the Prostate Cancer Research Institute. Sign up on line and ask for a support person to contact you. It's free and their support peers are extensively trained. They will help you with the decision process. They have many youtube videos as well that address your questions

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1 reply
cekkk | @cekkk | 6 days ago
In reply to @jackph "Go visit the Prostate Cancer Research Institute. Sign up on line and ask for a support..." + (show)
@jackph

Go visit the Prostate Cancer Research Institute. Sign up on line and ask for a support person to contact you. It's free and their support peers are extensively trained. They will help you with the decision process. They have many youtube videos as well that address your questions

Jump to this post

This PCRI suggestion is most helpful. I'm not wrong in requiring some education about my problem. Thank you.

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