Not sure if I explained why I’m asking here about reading an image.
It boils down to the doctor telling me that “ there’s not much difference between your latest scan and the one taken three months ago which was the one my urologist said showed that the cancer had not spread BUT THE MYSTERY IS WHY HASNT IT SPREAD WITH A PSA OF 100 for as long as it’s been that high”
Now the oncologist said “ not much different than your first scan except for a few undefined “ shadowy areas “ that we can zap with pin point radiation “
Then the new oncologist said I’m no longer a candidate for radiation unless I have pain in “ those areas “ I have no idea what “ areas “ he’s talking about? Are those the areas with shadows?
What do shadows mean? Why no longer A candidate?
Can you see why my replies may seem vague?
Does Gleason score translate to “ stages “ not one doctor ever mentioned a stage.
I’m grasping for answers based on what I do know which seems to be NOT MUCH!
Have I confused you all even more now?
Thanks for trying to help
These are all questions you need to ask your oncologist!
None of us have the expertise or familiarity with your scans, labs, etc. to give you a helpful answer.
Make a list of your questions and ask them of your oncologist.
Not sure if I explained why I’m asking here about reading an image.
It boils down to the doctor telling me that “ there’s not much difference between your latest scan and the one taken three months ago which was the one my urologist said showed that the cancer had not spread BUT THE MYSTERY IS WHY HASNT IT SPREAD WITH A PSA OF 100 for as long as it’s been that high”
Now the oncologist said “ not much different than your first scan except for a few undefined “ shadowy areas “ that we can zap with pin point radiation “
Then the new oncologist said I’m no longer a candidate for radiation unless I have pain in “ those areas “ I have no idea what “ areas “ he’s talking about? Are those the areas with shadows?
What do shadows mean? Why no longer A candidate?
Can you see why my replies may seem vague?
Does Gleason score translate to “ stages “ not one doctor ever mentioned a stage.
I’m grasping for answers based on what I do know which seems to be NOT MUCH!
Have I confused you all even more now?
Thanks for trying to help
What type of scan did the doctor use to determine that “there’s not much difference between your latest scan and the one taken three months ago”? How many and where are the lesions?
Prostate cancer is a very heterogeneous disease; many factors determine aggressiveness and risk of spread. Yes, a PSA of 100 is high; but, I’ve known guys with PSAs of 3,500, 7,800, and 11,000 who are still around (yes, there’s was metastatic). I was in a webinar two years ago where the doctor said he had a patient with PSA over 20,000 (that patient did not survive). So, even with a PSA of 100, that’s more than treatable (again, depending on so many other factors).
What are your other numbers and diagnoses related to your grade/stage of prostate cancer? There is much more about your test/scan results that are needed to know in order to be less vague:
> PSA history
> % Free PSA
> PSA Doubling Time
> PSA Velocity
> MRI (PIRADS)
> PSA Density
> Biopsy (Gleason score)
> Some of these terms (from MRIs and biopsies) are indicators: cribriform pattern, extracapsular extension, seminal vesicle invasion, perineural invasion and intraductal carcinoma.
> Biomarker (genomic) tests
> Genetic (germline & somatic) tests
> Results from Bone/CT/PSMA scans
All of these will be in the test reports that you’ve been given. With that information, you’ll have much more insight into the status of your disease, and your questions will be less vague.
@olman
Yes!
Just like all cancers it can go into remission. And other diagnoses of no signs of cancer being present.
Hopefully treatments or surgery removes all cancer. However is some cases where it has metassisied treating the area newly infected can be difficult but treatments and drugs can help keep it from growing.
I know I have experience with prostate cancer but also skin cancer. I have a methond called MOHS. That is where surgeon removes the biopsied skin cancer location and margin and then sends to pathology. If the margins show no signs of cancer surgery is over. If margins still show signs sugery continues until the margins show no cancer present. I included this only to show where above I mentioned no cancer found or present.
So there is/are images. Then there’s a report. Might the report look and sound different depending on the person ( radiologist? ) writing it?
With urging from many of you here I need to collect as much information as possible this week. I just found out that there might be a third PSMA that was done two years ago at a different facility which would meant that IT is the first one every done with the next two done at the VAMC both with in the last 3 to 6 months.
I’m already running into problems with the first hospital who tells me that the doc who’s name is associate with the scan “ is no longer with us “
And that means what exactly?
The oncology nurse just called me back about taking my monthly shot a few days early I’m do to take it on the 8th Id like to leave Florida for NC hoping to get an appointment with my Duke oncologist to ask him to explain the shadows on my PSMA Scan BTW, the nurse today told me that she is not qualified to interpret my scan. She did however say that she didn’t read anything about lesions. I was told shadowy areas small enough to be targeted with cyber knife or proton beam.
Meanwhile I want to know about “ creating new cancers” was never told about that.
Also I understand a new approach to primary care is being tested out in Montana at a new VAMC being built in one of the big town in Big Sky country.
I want to do a bit more research before posting about it here. It might revolutionize medicine especially when AI is part of the new system.
PS she mentioned 9 as a number related to my calcium in the latest blood test.
I have no idea what 9 means? Does anyone have a clue?
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Hug
Jeff can you please private message me so we can connect with the VA sites that you mentioned?
TY
If you have metastasis outside the prostate, you are stage four.
These are all questions you need to ask your oncologist!
None of us have the expertise or familiarity with your scans, labs, etc. to give you a helpful answer.
Make a list of your questions and ask them of your oncologist.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
3 ReactionsWhat type of scan did the doctor use to determine that “there’s not much difference between your latest scan and the one taken three months ago”? How many and where are the lesions?
Prostate cancer is a very heterogeneous disease; many factors determine aggressiveness and risk of spread. Yes, a PSA of 100 is high; but, I’ve known guys with PSAs of 3,500, 7,800, and 11,000 who are still around (yes, there’s was metastatic). I was in a webinar two years ago where the doctor said he had a patient with PSA over 20,000 (that patient did not survive). So, even with a PSA of 100, that’s more than treatable (again, depending on so many other factors).
What are your other numbers and diagnoses related to your grade/stage of prostate cancer? There is much more about your test/scan results that are needed to know in order to be less vague:
> PSA history
> % Free PSA
> PSA Doubling Time
> PSA Velocity
> MRI (PIRADS)
> PSA Density
> Biopsy (Gleason score)
> Some of these terms (from MRIs and biopsies) are indicators: cribriform pattern, extracapsular extension, seminal vesicle invasion, perineural invasion and intraductal carcinoma.
> Biomarker (genomic) tests
> Genetic (germline & somatic) tests
> Results from Bone/CT/PSMA scans
All of these will be in the test reports that you’ve been given. With that information, you’ll have much more insight into the status of your disease, and your questions will be less vague.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
3 Reactions@olman
Yes!
Just like all cancers it can go into remission. And other diagnoses of no signs of cancer being present.
Hopefully treatments or surgery removes all cancer. However is some cases where it has metassisied treating the area newly infected can be difficult but treatments and drugs can help keep it from growing.
I know I have experience with prostate cancer but also skin cancer. I have a methond called MOHS. That is where surgeon removes the biopsied skin cancer location and margin and then sends to pathology. If the margins show no signs of cancer surgery is over. If margins still show signs sugery continues until the margins show no cancer present. I included this only to show where above I mentioned no cancer found or present.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsSo there is/are images. Then there’s a report. Might the report look and sound different depending on the person ( radiologist? ) writing it?
With urging from many of you here I need to collect as much information as possible this week. I just found out that there might be a third PSMA that was done two years ago at a different facility which would meant that IT is the first one every done with the next two done at the VAMC both with in the last 3 to 6 months.
I’m already running into problems with the first hospital who tells me that the doc who’s name is associate with the scan “ is no longer with us “
And that means what exactly?
The oncology nurse just called me back about taking my monthly shot a few days early I’m do to take it on the 8th Id like to leave Florida for NC hoping to get an appointment with my Duke oncologist to ask him to explain the shadows on my PSMA Scan BTW, the nurse today told me that she is not qualified to interpret my scan. She did however say that she didn’t read anything about lesions. I was told shadowy areas small enough to be targeted with cyber knife or proton beam.
Meanwhile I want to know about “ creating new cancers” was never told about that.
Also I understand a new approach to primary care is being tested out in Montana at a new VAMC being built in one of the big town in Big Sky country.
I want to do a bit more research before posting about it here. It might revolutionize medicine especially when AI is part of the new system.
PS she mentioned 9 as a number related to my calcium in the latest blood test.
I have no idea what 9 means? Does anyone have a clue?