1. < Prostate Cancer

My Gleason score is 7 - 3+4. How long can I live without treatment?

Posted by mayoclinicadvice23 @mayoclinicadvice23, Jun 11, 2023

My Gleason score is 7 - 3+4,. How long can I live without treatment? Since I decided not to get any treatment, because of horrible side effects, I was wondering, if someone who experienced the same condition, will share his experience with me.

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mulberry | @mulberry | Jan 26 2:56pm
In reply to @cianci "Only saw one post from hunter1877. Can you give other info ie Psa, tumor size, tumor..." + (show)
@cianci

Only saw one post from hunter1877. Can you give other info ie
Psa, tumor size, tumor location (is it abutting capsule?), %cores with cancer?
I am 3+4, psa is 13, tumor size 2.1 cm and abuts capsule, 6of 19 cores with cancer all from tumor.
Trying to decide plan, am 78.

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cianci, I'm 78 too! Chose surgery, completed in May 2024. Subsequent PSA at 3 months= 0.009, and six months= 0.006. Not saying surgery is best for everyone but no regrets here. My detailed story in link below in reply to another post. It is a challenging journey! Mayoforums has helped me greatly.
Best
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/76-too-old-for-surgery/?pg=2#comment-1075893

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gkm | @gkm | Jan 26 1:10pm
In reply to @murpdill "You are correct when they say you live this long or that long if, the fact..." + (show)
@murpdill

You are correct when they say you live this long or that long if, the fact remains that the way you die is horrible as it would be in any cancer I suppose. I did watch my father get eaten away by this disease and it wasn't pretty.

I have a question to anyone out there: I have prostate cancer discovered in April with a biopsy precipitated by my Gleason score of 15 and one 3 4. I'm ready to go through with the radiation but I'm not hopeful seeing I will not take hormone shots. Does anyone know of Dr Makis and or Dr Howe and their use of Ivermectin?

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Why won't you combine ADT with radiation?

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murpdill | @murpdill | Jan 26 11:56am
In reply to @rockinat59 "I was also diagnosed with Gleason 3+4. MRI showed tumor contained within prostate gland. Post operative..." + (show)
@rockinat59

I was also diagnosed with Gleason 3+4. MRI showed tumor contained within prostate gland. Post operative biopsy told a different story as the PC had grown through outside of the prostate ( extraprostatic extension) on the microscopic level. Doctor said 70% chance of recurrence. Remember the original biopsy only takes a few samples and it's not uncommon for Gleason scored to be raised after surgical biopsy. ( they could also be lower) As far as longevity, there's no Crystal ball with PC. Even if one lives many years before dying from PC, I can only imagine the last few years would not be pleasant. I personally would not ignore your Gleason 4. I wish you well.

Jump to this post

You are correct when they say you live this long or that long if, the fact remains that the way you die is horrible as it would be in any cancer I suppose. I did watch my father get eaten away by this disease and it wasn't pretty.

I have a question to anyone out there: I have prostate cancer discovered in April with a biopsy precipitated by my Gleason score of 15 and one 3 4. I'm ready to go through with the radiation but I'm not hopeful seeing I will not take hormone shots. Does anyone know of Dr Makis and or Dr Howe and their use of Ivermectin?

REPLY
4 replies
villageidiot | @villageidiot | Jan 26 9:15am
In reply to @hunter1877 "That was the correct decision for me. Just read where these poor guys end up and..." + (show)
@hunter1877

That was the correct decision for me. Just read where these poor guys end up and then read what the chance it will kill you (pretty low). I have gone 13 years with 3+4, I do annual MRIs and regular PSA. Yes it has grown but not much, I was 50 when this started and I have had a great 13 years no facing all the horrible things you can read here. I think a lot of men are scared by the C word or get pressured into treatment that alter their life permanently ultimately face years of pain and further medical treatments. Read Read Read and assume your life will be like those sad stories. No thanks, quality of life over lifetime of regret.

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I'm 55 with a 1.2mm lesion and just got biopsy result with nearly half the cores Gleason 3+4 throughout much of the prostate. Recent PSA was just over then just below 4, with nothing to reference for several years before that. Still waiting to see the doctor, but preparing for the hard sell on removal. Like @cianci I'm curious what your other numbers where like, and how they've progressed over the years.

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1 reply
heavyphil | @heavyphil | Jan 26 9:08am
In reply to @hunter1877 "That was the correct decision for me. Just read where these poor guys end up and..." + (show)
@hunter1877

That was the correct decision for me. Just read where these poor guys end up and then read what the chance it will kill you (pretty low). I have gone 13 years with 3+4, I do annual MRIs and regular PSA. Yes it has grown but not much, I was 50 when this started and I have had a great 13 years no facing all the horrible things you can read here. I think a lot of men are scared by the C word or get pressured into treatment that alter their life permanently ultimately face years of pain and further medical treatments. Read Read Read and assume your life will be like those sad stories. No thanks, quality of life over lifetime of regret.

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Don’t forget the L word….LUCK!

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chippydoo | @chippydoo | Jan 26 9:04am

Cancer cell type? Grade? There are many other factors to consider other than Gleason score. Most side effects aren't that horrible.

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kjacko | @kjacko | Jan 26 8:43am

My Gleason score was 3+4in one core. I immediately decided on removal. The post pathology report showed my core was actually 4+5. So my biopsy seems to be inaccurate. Also after my RP I had zero incontinence issues. My first 4 PSA tests have come back < 0.01. Hope this helps with your decision. Best of luck.

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cianci | @cianci | Jan 26 8:02am
In reply to @hunter1877 "That was the correct decision for me. Just read where these poor guys end up and..." + (show)
@hunter1877

That was the correct decision for me. Just read where these poor guys end up and then read what the chance it will kill you (pretty low). I have gone 13 years with 3+4, I do annual MRIs and regular PSA. Yes it has grown but not much, I was 50 when this started and I have had a great 13 years no facing all the horrible things you can read here. I think a lot of men are scared by the C word or get pressured into treatment that alter their life permanently ultimately face years of pain and further medical treatments. Read Read Read and assume your life will be like those sad stories. No thanks, quality of life over lifetime of regret.

Jump to this post

Only saw one post from hunter1877. Can you give other info ie
Psa, tumor size, tumor location (is it abutting capsule?), %cores with cancer?
I am 3+4, psa is 13, tumor size 2.1 cm and abuts capsule, 6of 19 cores with cancer all from tumor.
Trying to decide plan, am 78.

REPLY
1 reply
hunter1877 | @hunter1877 | Jan 25 6:40am

That was the correct decision for me. Just read where these poor guys end up and then read what the chance it will kill you (pretty low). I have gone 13 years with 3+4, I do annual MRIs and regular PSA. Yes it has grown but not much, I was 50 when this started and I have had a great 13 years no facing all the horrible things you can read here. I think a lot of men are scared by the C word or get pressured into treatment that alter their life permanently ultimately face years of pain and further medical treatments. Read Read Read and assume your life will be like those sad stories. No thanks, quality of life over lifetime of regret.

REPLY
3 replies
smc24 | @smc24 | Nov 16, 2024
In reply to @paulg24 "Hello, I am 72 and this diagnosed with gleason 4+3=7. What treatment did you get, if..." + (show)
@paulg24

Hello, I am 72 and this diagnosed with gleason 4+3=7. What treatment did you get, if any? I am considering no treatment for quality of life issues. Thank you, Paul

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Paul, I'm no doc, but I have stage 4 metastatic prostate cancer which I've been fighting for a decade. Chemo was a little tough, but other treatments, surgery, etc. weren't bad. Your quality of life will be infinitely better with treatments rather than just withering away. There are many options available including standard protocol and experimental. It's 2024, not 1924.

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