Undecided Gleason Score 4+3=7 and PSA almost forty.

Posted by lastminuteundecided @lastminuteundecided, 3 days ago

I know I should have reached out or posted a lot earlier. I’m scheduled to have a Radical prostatectomy in a day and still on the fence. I’m 51 Gleason Score of 4+3=7 (which all but one of the 13 biopsies were positive) and my PSA is rising at a good clip. It has increased from 27.9 to 38.7 in just over a month. PSMA was clear except for one glad that showed some of the trace but they think it’s ok. I’m curios if anyone in the same situation has decided not to da anything and how has it been. Just on the fence of doing anything or not. Just concerned I do the surgery and in a short time being in for radiation.

Just really curious if anyone’s been in sort of the same situation and how does it look now.

Thanks so much!!!

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shayes914 | @shayes914 | 1 day ago

Congratulations on making the decision. I’m 56 and 8 weeks post RARP. Ultimately for me, it was about keeping radiation in the “back pocket” in case it comes back. I firmly believe this was the right call for me and hopefully you will as well. I can tell you 8 weeks post that I feel Completely normal except for the continual urge to pee and the annoying leakage that has me changing pads 2-3 times/day. I believe I was 3+4 before and pathology came back 4+5 so thank God I didn't wait a day longer. Best of luck to you!

jeff Marchi | @jeffmarc | 22 hours ago

In reply to @lastminuteundecided "I’m writing this from my recover room. I decided to go through with the surgery yesterday...." + (show)

@lastminuteundecided

I’m writing this from my recover room. I decided to go through with the surgery yesterday. I have to say your support helped tremendously!!

I’ll give you a quick rundown on my decision. First, your support helped a lot considering I was on the fence the other night!!! I do have a great team of doctors and talked to many from different facilities who are all well known in the prostrate world. Two of the surgeons I spoke with used the Da Vinci Xi. Both said because of my previous abdominal surgery and large scar they were worried about the internal scaring or what they may find in there which may cause them pull out while in surgery. One of them mentioned that I may be a better candidate for radiation because of that. The other surgeon would be amazing although also had a little concern about the current abdominal scar, but thought it was worth a shot.

So then I started leaning towards radiation because I was still hesitant that whoever I chose may still not be able to through my abdominal area. The radiation oncologist I would have chosen if I went the radiation route is great and has a new proton machine that we would have used. I felt very good with him but he even mentioned at my age to go surgery first, that way we can still go back with radiation if any of the cancer shows back up. So it leaves the radiation option open if needed down the road, which I’m guessing it will be needed at some point.

My urologist or let’s say my quarterback through this journey and who has been amazing, recommend I meet with another well known surgeon who uses the Da Vinci SP. This option may be best in my situation because of the single point entry where he would not be needing to go through my abdominal area. In the end there is no way that I can be certain this is the best option without a crystal ball but it’s the option I ended up choosing.

Still though after all of my research I was still on the fence the other night about doing anything because of all the possible side effects and need for possible future treatments even after surgery, but hearing from you all helped me off that fence.

My kiddos, my wife and myself will always be grateful for your help! I cannot Thank you enough!!

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@lastminuteundecided
Great to hear you have made it through the surgery and are feeling pretty good since you’re able to write this long message.

Definitely come back and tell us what was found when they did the biopsy of your prostate. That information really does let you know what’s going to happen in the future.