likely to have PC

User

Posted 13 Mar 2017 at 15:55

Actuallly we also use that eatable word to describe that item😉. And pretty many more. The Spaniards are fond of "funny synonyms". We have an endless list of them from "sausage" to "sirloin", upperin delicatessen stage.

User

Posted 13 Mar 2017 at 16:07

Hi
I'm not Spanish I'm from Italian stock lol

User

Posted 14 Mar 2017 at 17:21

Hi.

Hub finally has PC..

I'M not sure about the reading of the biopsy and on the other hand it's hard for me to translate the report from pathology.

I can say he has 4+3=7 Gleason.

Eight samples taken, 0 positive right side of the prostate. Left, 2 samples positive.

PSA 4'2

Could you give me some information about the meaning?

Tomorrow seeing urologist.

We are really worried.

Lola

User

Posted 14 Mar 2017 at 17:34

What are you really worried about Lola? It seems the results are far better than you dared hope - his cancer is only on one side of the prostate and there were only 2 affected cores which means all the other cores were clear.

The Gleason score is intermediate ... Of the small amount of cancer found, the majority of cells were distorted to a 4 and the next most common pattern of distortion was a 3. Anything less than a 3 is not cancer so his second score is the lowest possible. Imagine a football is a 1 and a crazy starfish is a 5; healthy prostate cells are football shaped and aggressive cancer cells are mis-sharpen with bits coming off at all angles like a crazy starfish. The vast majority of your husband's prostate cells are footballs but he has some that are like rugby balls and some like starfish but not like crazy starfish.

All in all, I would be relieved. Hope all becomes clear tomorrow.

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

User

Posted 14 Mar 2017 at 17:59

Others will be along Lola but it looks good to me.

We can't control the winds - but we can adjust our sails

User

Posted 14 Mar 2017 at 18:24

The main question for the urologist tomorrow is "are we going for a cure or not?".

If the answer is yes we are, then the options are radical prostatectomy or radiotherapy.

If the answer is no, then possibly active surveillance followed by hormone therapy with early docetaxel chemotherapy.

User

Posted 14 Mar 2017 at 20:26

I really appreciate your replies. They make me feel better.

Thanks a lot to the three of you. You make this site a calm and relieving place in the mid 0f the storm.
I'll translate your posts to Paco, my OH.
THE BEST TO YOU

Lola

User

Posted 15 Mar 2017 at 06:42

Good morning from Spain.
Meeting urologist this morning.
I've V read on the Internet they 4+3=7 Gleason is worse than 3+4=7 .
My husband is 4+3.=7.
My question is , there is a big difference between them?
Lola

User

Posted 15 Mar 2017 at 08:03

Not really - they are both G7 which is intermediate risk.

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

User

Posted 15 Mar 2017 at 08:49

It shows the majority of the cells in the sample were level 4 and the next most were level 3. That is worse than the other way round.

If life gives you lemons , then make lemonade

User

Posted 15 Mar 2017 at 19:00

We have met two different urologists today.

The first one recommended da Vinci. He said in case of RT, it would be necessary a constant control of him. On the other hand, if RT doesn't work it would be likely that surgery couldn't be done on a prostate that has been treated with RT.

And moreover he mentioned that since Paco has one only kidney it was better that way. I assume it's due to possible risks of blaming his one kidney or next areas?

Second urologist was more conservative and didn't want to decide yet. He said he first needed ganmagraphy and scanner and then will recommend options available.

Paco is determined to get rid of his prostate. I agree.

I would like to have your opinions or suggestion.

Best to all,

Lola

User

Posted 16 Mar 2017 at 08:04

Hi all.
My last post didn't appear here. I'm not sure it will later appear, anyway I'm rewriting it. Sorry if it is duplicated.

We're met two different urologist yesterday.
Dr. X said the best option is Da Vinci as if RT, Paco would have to be all the time been tested. He also said that because of his age, 68 (don't know whether he meanr old or young), much better like this. On the other hand, because of his having one only kidney. (I assume that RT might be dangerous for it or next areas?? ). And he also said that if case RT wouldn't work, it is likely that his prostate couldn't be removed later. He ordered a Gamma and TAC. He said "this is the right way to proceed, but I guess both Ganmagraphy and TAC will be OK". This fact made the matter softer to us.

The other urologist, in the afternoon, said he needed TAC and Ganmagraphy before suggesting treatment.

Paco has decided to get rid of his prostate and I agree with him. Not sure whether it is the right decision but we are so scared...

I would like to read some suggestions and advices from you.

Best to all of you.

User

Posted 16 Mar 2017 at 08:56

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member

Paco has decided to get rid of his prostate and I agree with him. Not sure whether it is the right decision but we are so scared...

I would like to read some suggestions and advices from you.

Lola,

I haven't had either a radical prostatectomy or radiotherapy so I don't have an opinion. However, I see you both seem to have already made that choice.

User

Posted 16 Mar 2017 at 09:35

Whether he has RT or surgery, he will always have to be tested for the rest of his life Lola so don't let that cloud your decision in any way.

In the UK, men wouldn't have all these scans, TAC and gammas that Paco is being told he needs.

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

User

Posted 16 Mar 2017 at 10:07

I know, Lyn, he will have to continúe to be tested all the time. I am not sure what the urologist meant by that. Paco had kidney cancer thirty years ago when he was thirty some, and he was strictly tested despite his kidney having been removed.

Concerning to tests being done in Spain I'm afraid my translation wasn't good enough. I think they1similar to the British ones, different names.

They are doing him bone scan. Nuclear test. We call it Ganmagraphy. And TAC, it stands for "tomografía axial computarizada". Kind of many RX images of his abdomen "in small pieces".

Right now driving back to our city. Paco is supposed to talk with an oncologist in La Coruña. Our best friend has been the manager at Oncological Centre up to a few months ago and had asked an oncologist from there about Paco's biopsy results and, actually, he said on the phone ". Wait, don't make a decision, meet and talk to me first".

I'm not sure its the right decision but... We are scary.

We have the feeling that surgery is more likely to work..
There is a big mess in my mind anyway.

Thank a lot for your replies. I'm lucky to have found out this site and these wonderful people. You are helping me a lot.

Best wishes to all of you,

Lola

User

Posted 16 Mar 2017 at 11:21

Hi Everyone,

I am a first timer on here so excuse any errors.

I am 44 years of age and its looks like I will be given a PCa diagnosis soon.

I went to the docs and had some blood work done and they actually tested my psa in error - it cane back at 3.25.

I was sent to a urologist who found a nodule in the apex region and wanted an MRI.

The MRI is now back and the nodule is 9mm and cancer can't be ruled out.

I am now waiting to be booked in for a biopsy

I have no family history ans don't sit in any of the high risk groups

Can anyone advise what % of biopsy find cancer and if a 9mm nodule is small, medium or large.

Thanks you all - with two small kids I am beside myself

Lee

User

Posted 16 Mar 2017 at 11:53

I'm sure someone more experienced than me will soon give you some response.

My husband has just started this journey. His nodule is 11mm. I didn't think yours is that big.
Don't panic, in any case there are many options for treatment. That's what we've been said.

I'm bumping it up so you (and I, by the way) get replies from these nice helpful people.

Good luck!!

Lola

User

Posted 16 Mar 2017 at 11:57

Hi Lee,
I would copy your text in to a new post of your own so that it doesn't get lost here and people will be better able to answer your specific queries.
In the meantime to give you some reassurance my husband also 44 and with 2 kids had a very similar diagnosis to you. He opted for a radical prostatectomy (da Vinci) and had his prostate removed mid Feb. He will have blood test next week and follow up with consultant the week after to find out if it was successful or he needs follow up treatment. From his pathology report his tumour was 95% Gleason 3 and 5% Gleason 4. Max dimension of tumour was 17mm and contained within the prostate. With this in mind we are hopeful that for us the removal will be the end of treatment.
He is also fully continent and thanks to a very skilful surgeon and full nerve sparing is also having very few issues in the erectile disfunction department.
All the best
Julie

User

Posted 16 Mar 2017 at 12:21

Hey Lola,
From your biopsy results it seems that you have options when it comes to treatments. Your friend sounds like a great resource for you and i would take his advice and not make a decision until you have heard all the options and can compare them to see what is best for Paco.
So far our Da Vinci experience has been good and i am keeping my fingers crossed that his post op PSA comes back undetectable. After that we will deal with his anxiety.
Julie

User

Posted 16 Mar 2017 at 12:29

Thanks, July.
We'll talk with that oncologist
I don't think Paco refuses to talk, allthoug he seems to have made a decision.
We are arriving home in a couple of hours so I guess he will give a phone call to our friend.
It's sad how suddenly life can change. I was expecting spring time to garden and see flowers blooming. Now i don't care about it.

Lola

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