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PSA rapid rise to 20, no explanation.

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User
Posted 31 Aug 2019 at 19:36
Indeed. The other stats came from a large scale European project looking at the post mortems of men who died of all causes, including accidental deaths but excluding prostate cancer.
"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard

User
Posted 01 Sep 2019 at 03:12

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member
On the basis that 50% of men in their 50s, 60% of men in their 60s and 70% of men in their 70s have some cancer in their prostate but most will never know or need treatment, the other way to see it is that if you keep looking, you are likely to find some eventually. The small amount of G6 that they have now found may or may not have been there before. Either way, I think you have got the result you wanted so best advice is to go and have a holiday, do normal things, get fitter, work on the kegels and have loads of sex ... December will be upon you in a flash.

I wouldn't say it's the "advice I wanted".    But I have been told by several different urologists that my case is very unique.  I well aware that many say Gleason 6 is not cancer, and best advice is AS.    But every case is different, and the advice of the top cancer center in Canada is based on all factors in my unique situation,   treatment is recommended.

 

User
Posted 01 Sep 2019 at 11:53
As has been said ,there is a body of opinion now that Gleason 6 (3+3) should not be considered as cancer but there have been cases where following biopsy men were found to have some 4 even though only 3 had been found through biopsy, so agree each case should be carefully considered before treatment decision made.
Barry
User
Posted 01 Sep 2019 at 14:08
Like most things PC related there is always "an exception". I was G6 at diagnosis and remained G6 after RRP BUT I was upstaged to T3A (Allegedly G6 can't live outside the capsule!) .

I chose to have the OP because I was young (54) the lesion was close to the capsule edge and my Dad died of it.

I have no regrets.

User
Posted 01 Sep 2019 at 14:42

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member
On the basis that 50% of men in their 50s, 60% of men in their 60s and 70% of men in their 70s have some cancer in their prostate but most will never know or need treatment, the other way to see it is that if you keep looking, you are likely to find some eventually. The small amount of G6 that they have now found may or may not have been there before. Either way, I think you have got the result you wanted so best advice is to go and have a holiday, do normal things, get fitter, work on the kegels and have loads of sex ... December will be upon you in a flash.

I wouldn't say it's the "advice I wanted".    But I have been told by several different urologists that my case is very unique.  I well aware that many say Gleason 6 is not cancer, and best advice is AS.    But every case is different, and the advice of the top cancer center in Canada is based on all factors in my unique situation,   treatment is recommended.

I said 'the result you wanted'. What I meant was that they have agreed to offer you radical treatment, which it seems is what you feel is the best option for you. The point of my comment was to use the time between now and December well, not to question whether it is the right thing. My husband was diagnosed with a G7 (3+4) which was allegedly so tiny that it couldn't be seen on scans and had been 'caught early'. He had the op and nothing could have been further from the truth ... it was in every section of his prostate and had invaded the bottom of his bladder. I wouldn't criticise anyone for opting for radical treatment but it is important to do lots of normal things first if you can as life will never be quite the same again afterwards.  

"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard

User
Posted 01 Sep 2019 at 14:46

I have just realised these updates are on someone else's thread. It would be better to start your own thread, Janus - copy the recent posts into it and then we can copy our replies over as well. 

Edited by member 01 Sep 2019 at 14:53  | Reason: Not specified

"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard

User
Posted 11 Sep 2019 at 19:38

If I will start a new thread if I have a lot more to say.

It is helpful to read about others experiences.  I found this site through a google for increasing PSA (above 20) before they found Gleason 6.

There are so many decisions to make and each case is different.  Active Surveillance is the best answer for many with low-risk early stage detection.   But also important to keep in mind that Gleason score is not the only consideration (as you never know if the biopsy caught the main tumor).   In my case,  while PSA is a cancer test,  a high PSA> 10 (mine is now above 24) that has steadily increased is worrisome.  Together with a small prostate,  5 or 7 cores positive.     Doctor recommends treatment.

I'm reassured that my doctor is one of the strongest advocates for Active Surveillance and is considered by many to be the top urologic oncologist and surgeon in my country.  So I guess if he is recommending treatment,  I can stop second guessing whether I'm over-treating.

Don't have surgery date yet.  Likely December.   Will start new thread if I have a lot more to share!

 

 

 

User
Posted 11 Sep 2019 at 19:39
several typos in my post above. No edit function. Hopefully is makes sense. (e.g. PSA is NOT a cancer test... missed the "not").
User
Posted 11 Sep 2019 at 21:34

You should be able to edit your post by clicking on the appropriate symbol in green to the right of your post which brings it up in a form that allows you to make changes and then save.

PS It's the pen/pencil symbol which only shows and operates on your post as here.

Edited by member 11 Sep 2019 at 21:38  | Reason: To illustrate edit method

Barry
User
Posted 31 Jan 2020 at 16:12

I started a new thread to summarize my story,  but quick update here as well.

Had robotic surgery on Dec 11th with one of the top surgeons in Canada.

Surgery results and Post-op pathology.

Nerve sparing 100% on left, and 70% on right.

Pathology:  cancer upgrade from Gleason 6 to 7 (3 +4) with 30% of prostate showing 4.  Tumor extends just outside prostate, so cancer grade is upgrade from T1c to T3a.    Lymph nodes and seminal vessels are clean. But  limited positive margin near apex.  So no doubt treatment was the right choice before it spread further. 

First PSA (six weeks after) shows PSA down to .092.

Will monitor PSA regularly and if PSA goes up, consider low does radiation due to positive margin.

incontinence already not a problem at six weeks.   I was quite active before, including lots of yoga.   I also went to see a Physiotherapist who specializes in pelvic floor issues pre-surgery to get a head start and to be sure I was doing kegels properly.     ED - it's early, and area was tender after catheter removal,  but going on daily Ciallis now to give things a jump start.

 

 

Edited by member 31 Jan 2020 at 16:13  | Reason: Not specified

 
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