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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Prostate Cancer / January 2004Me Too
Well here I am at 57 and recently diagnosed with PCa. Gleason 3+3=6 and a 0.5mm in one core with a PSA of 6. Interestingly, this is the 3rd biopsy that I have had in the last 5 years, the first 2 being negative. PSA has gone up and down over the same period, as high as 7 and low of 4 (mostly in the 4 range). I have decided on a laparoscopic radical prostatectomy after researching my other options. My surgery is scheduled for 1/27/2004. John > Well here I am at 57 and recently diagnosed with PCa. Gleason 3+3=6 > and a 0.5mm in one core with a PSA of 6. Interestingly, this is the [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > John John, Although most pathology slides are _under_ diagnosed rather than overdiagnosed, you might still want to get a second opinion on them. It seems to be very common for people to get second opinions both on the diagnosis and the treatment, and your HMO or insurance will probably pay for it. I had three different pathologists reading the very same slides giving me readings of 3+3, 3+4, and 4+3. The PSA up and down could be due to the conditions of the test. I had a 10.7 fifteen minutes after a particularly thorough digital rectal exam, but only 8.7 when tested a couple of weeks later. I have been told that having sex up to 48 hours before an exam can also elevate the PSA. Sorry about the diagnosis, but it sounds like you've caught it very early - which gives the best prospects for successful treatment. I hope it all works out well for you. Alan Welcome to the NG, John. 27th? Lots of time to study prostate cancer. It's very important to know almost as much as your doc.  SignatureWishing you a Happy New Year Prostate Cancer Survivor (so far), not a doctor PSA 16 10/17/2000 @ 46 Biopsy 11/01/2000 G7 (3+4), T2c RRP 12/15/2000 PSA .1 .1 .1 .3 .4 .8 EBRT 05-07/2002 @ 47 PSA .3 .2 .2 .2 .3 Erection 05/12/2003 @ 48 HTbegins 07/21/2003 @ 48 PSA .1 Lupron 7/03, 8/03, 12/03 > Well here I am at 57 and recently diagnosed with PCa. Gleason 3+3=6 > and a 0.5mm in one core with a PSA of 6. Interestingly, this is the [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > John John, welcome to the newsgroup from a fellow lap patient. Had mine July 15th, 2003. Looks like you have an elusive little bugger, took three biopsies to find it. My PSA went up steadily over a three year period peaking at 4.9 which prompted my biopsy. My doc had me get one more as part of my pre-op physical and it had dropped back to below 4.0. Go figure. Good luck with the surgery. If you have any questions about my laparoscopic experience feel free to ask. Take care, Dave Perry > > Well here I am at 57 and recently diagnosed with PCa. Gleason 3+3=6 > > and a 0.5mm in one core with a PSA of 6. Interestingly, this is the [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > > > John welcome john - to the club you didn't want to join. LRP's are on the increase and like everything else, they more they use it and experiment with it, the better it gets. look at computers as compared to then and now. your numbers look good and from that, i would have to say you have a bright future, so start making plans for your 100th birthday, but don't reserve the room yet. you never can tell, they may go out of business before then. :) ~ curtis knowledge is power - growing old is mandatory - growing wise is optional Thank you for your encouraging comments and suggestions. I had a second opinion of the slides performed by Dr. Epstein at Johns Hopkins and he confirmed the first opinion. I also spoke to a a radiation oncologist, who interestingly enough did not try to convince me to have brachytherapy, but seemed to favor an rp. My local uro wanted to do a limited version of cryrotherapy since he felt the disease was small and localized, but this would need to be confirmed by doing another needle biopsy taking 80 or more samples. Ouch! After reading and researching I became convinced that none of the treatments were perfect and without complications. Given the fact that frequently more Ca is found once the entire prostate is examined, I opted for rp. From what I have read the laparoscopic procedure may offer some advantages, I say may because not everyone is in agreement on this point. My uro who does regular rp's thinks the procedure is overrated and claims the only advantage is a week less of catheter time. Those performing the procedure have a different opinion. I am going to have Dr. Arnon Krongrad in Miami do the operation. He has a pretty convincing web site for those looking for more info about lrp, but that is not the reason for my selection. He has impressive credentials and does about 200 of these per year. In fact on my scheduled date I am the second in line, so hopefully he will be warmed up. John > Thank you for your encouraging comments and suggestions. I had a > second opinion of the slides performed by Dr. Epstein at Johns Hopkins [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > > John Sounds like you've not only done your homework, but also lined up some of the best experts in the country to help you out. Epstein is thought to be among the best PCa pathologists in the world and Krongrad is (to my knowledge) the leading LRP man. I personally think that the choice of doctors is just as important as the choice of treatments. Looks like you're going to be okay. Alan > Thank you for your encouraging comments and suggestions. I had a > second opinion of the slides performed by Dr. Epstein at Johns Hopkins [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > > John At 200 a year he would be quite well practiced at this delicate procedure. I think you've made a good choice John. Dale J. SignatureEmail: dalej2@mac..com Welcome to the Newsgroup, John. It's not the place any man wants to be, but you'll find lots of support and info here. If you haven't already done so, be sure to check out www.phoenix5.org for LOTS of information. Also, Patrick Walsh's *Guide To Surviving Prostate Cancer* is a great source of information that you can find at most bookstores. Sounds like you've been keeping yourself checked and have caught this early. I had LRP November 21, 2002.... and would do it all the same way if I had it to do over. There are pros and cons for all forms of treatment, but in the end you have to decide what is best for YOU and then move forward! Take care.... and please feel free to ask questions as they arise!! Joe Shaw has a great list of paraphenalia to get for *after* the surgery, such as the athletic pants that have snaps down both legs..... makes it so easy when you are dealing with the catheter after surgery. In retrospect, the surgery was not nearly as bad as I had imagined it to be. I wish you well..... MikeH :) domiha@hotmail.com > Well here I am at 57 and recently diagnosed with PCa. Gleason 3+3=6 > and a 0.5mm in one core with a PSA of 6. Interestingly, this is the [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > John Hi John, I was in your shoes a year ago. The biggest difference between LRP and RRP IMHO is pain and healing. The minimally invasive nature of LRP cuts your hospital time by 75% and puts you back on your feet much faster. Less pain, faster recovery, same or better results... seems like LRP is a no-brainer decision. My hospital experiance was as good as these things can be. I do have one piece of advice for you on the big day: If you wear glasses like I do, give them to the person you are likely to see first after the procedure. it took the hospital 8 hrs to get my glasses to me after my procedure. My hospital roommate had RRP 6 days before I arrived. We were discharged on the same day. It was very difficult to pretend I was asleep when he ripped his Uro a new one for not telling him about LRP... -John > Welcome to the Newsgroup, John. It's not the place any man wants to be, but > you'll find lots of support and info here. [quoted text clipped - 29 lines] > > > > John John, You're on the road to recovery. I want to say that I had the old RP and was out in 3.5 days, my doc said I could have gone home in 2.5 days, but I wanted to stay another for the foood.......anyway I am back to pre-op days now in fact better in the pee department. I wish you many many more years of undetectable PSA Best regards Dale J. > Hi John, > [quoted text clipped - 53 lines] > > > > > > John SignatureEmail: dalej2@mac..com |
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