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Elevated PSA follow up
Hello again: I still need some wisdom and guidance with respect to addressing my re-occuring cancer. I have been told that I definatly have cancer again?? I have a really big concern. That is, where is it in my body and why do my Dr's. want to attack the prostate bed only. If it's not there they have only added to my…
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Consultation
Hello to everyone I think it was on this forum that I read not too long ago about an expert doctor who gives a second opinion consultation by sending him one's records without having to make a personal visit to his clinic. Does anyone here know about this and can repost the information? Thank you very much and best of…
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Our situation
Hello, New here. My dad had been experiencing mild to moderate back pain for around 3 months. Since he hadnt been to the doctor in over 40 years, he was waiting for it to go away. Finally, the pain became so severe, he agreed to go to the urgent care. Days later he got an mri where they called an hour later urgently…
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Tough decisions
June 2019 I had triple by pass surgery.In February of 2021 I was diagnosed with Prostate cancer with a PSA of 6.23. Gleason score of 9 4+5=9.Fisrt urlogist from M Fairview at the U of M told me I should have surgery.He said no radiation and no chemo "yet".He didn't explain any options in depth at all.When I asked him about…
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Medicare coverage for second pathologist's opinion
I just checked my Medicare online account and the billing for a second opinion of my confirmatory biopsy slides by Johns Hopkins was denied by Medicare. Is this normal/usual? If their analysis overrules the first pathologist's report, $250 is money well spent. In either case, I can afford it and value the second opinion.…
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Possibly going back on ADT
Hi, My husband only had a 3 month break from his lupron/zytiga (after being on it a year plus radiation for gleason 9 metasis to lymphnodes) and today we learned he may have to go back on. Basically his testosterone went back to normal (484) too quickly and with that,the psa went from undetectable to 0.3. He is still…
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Diagnosed
I had a biopsy Monday and was told today that I have PC. However Dr said if I have to have PC its the best I could hope for. 2 samples out of 12 showed PC and 1 was a very low count. PSA was 6.5. I'm a somewhat healthy 67. Somewhat anxious personality. Dr is suggesting RALP and I want to be aggressive to get rid of PC if…
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PSA level 38-44 after 10 yrs watchful waiting
Diagnosed in July 2011. Chose watchful waiting which was the right choice for me as it is now April 2021 (i'm now 65yo) and my only symptoms have been BPH type symptoms. Recent PSA test shows PSA level at 38 (down from 44 due to using Finasteride, Urologist thinks). Finasteride can apparently shrink enlarged prostate a bit…
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CHOICES!!
So many choices available. Looking for feedback. 71 y/o/ man Pros removed 2015. PSA 23. Gleason 7 . Some lymph removed too. All good for about 3 years. PSA started to slowly climb. As of 2021, it was .975 Received hormone shot April 2021, latest PSA .027 I have narrowed it down to Xray, Proton therapy or "watch and wait".…
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Introduction
Hi all, Yesterday I got my prostate cancer diagnosis. Gleason score 3+4 I'm not too freaked out by it since I have had kidney cancer before. Anyway, I'll update my profile and spend some time reading all of your stories and I will probably have some questions in the future. Steve.
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Prostate removed -gleason 9- mestastasized to bone- to begin radiation
Hello, My husband has had his prostate removed but upon the 7 week blood test it had mestastasized to 2 locations in the bone. He has been diagnosed with an agressive form of prostate cancer and has been placed on the generic of Zytiga, is taking hormone shots & is to begin radiation for the 2 locations in the bone next…
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Husband newly diagnosed- we are so scared
So our journey has begun.. my husband had PSA of 12.3 on physical this year that led us to the Urologist then to biopsy.. he is a T1c with Gleason 7 and has one area that was 4+3=7 so was told he is unfavorable intermediate. His prolaris was 4.5 so Dr said his cancer is acting like an 8 or 9. We have decided to have the…
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Finding a surgeon who has done A LOT of robotic prostatectomies.
I am new to this group. After an elevated PSA, I had a biopsy done in November and was diagnosed with a very small volume of Gleason 7 (4+3) PC. My Dr. counseled Active Surveillance. But after feeling like I was living with a bomb in me I went for a second opinion. Second Dr. suggested an MRI which found two Lesions, one…
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Surgical Clips
Just wondering, what your folks opinions are on surgical clips being left in your body for life after lymph node dissection? I realise they are inert. Anybody had any problems with this?
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Incontinence & TUIBNC
I had my prostate removed 8 years ago. My PSA started to increase immediately after surgery so I went through radiation. To my knowledge I have been cancer free since the radiation. I had not struggled with incontinence but started having issues the last year with weak stream and dribbling. My Urologist wanted to do a…
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Best Course of Action
PSA levels slowly rising, still slightly below the BCR level three years after RALP, blood work has been every six months since the surgery. What should happen next, if it rises over the .2 level? Watchful waiting? Radiation? Or some type of ADT? Or a combination of the latter two? I'm a month away from 75, HBP, high…
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PSA Nadir of 0.3 1year after Radiation on Jan 2017 and last reading of 2.3 in March of 2021
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Cannabis Oil to treat Advance Prostate Cancer
I was diagnosed with advance PCa back in May of 2016 and had the RALP done on August 18, 2016. My pathology report pre operative showed a Gleason score of 4+3 and PSA at 25.8 with seminal vesicle involvement. Also, pre operative, my bone and ct scan were negative. After surgery, my PSA was at 0.1, and with eight(8) lymph…
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Long standing incontinence and impotence
I was a 52 year old healthy individual and had a robotic prostatectomy in July of 2015, Gleason 6 PSA 24. After the surgery, I was completely impotent and almost completely incontinent. I have been through two years of pelvic floor physical therapy, Viagra, Cialis, Trimix for the ED, and Vesicare, Ditropan and Detrol for…
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15.5 years post-RRP: To be (concerned) or Not to be
Morning gents! RRP with Dr Alan Partin (Johns Hopkins) in August 2005. Post-surgery gleason 3+4, T2c tumor, Margins clear. Unremarkable side effects, save for gradually worsened leaking which was helped with a mesh sling in 2006 and then an AUS device in 2017 (which gave me a decidedly fresh outlook on life!). No issues…
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Plans for Prostate removal
I was diagnosed in September with PC. 10 out of 12 core samples are positive for cancer. Gleason 3+4=7. I have opted for the Robotic Surgery. I was wondering if anybody here has had the same procedure and can offer some insight on what I can expect. What are do's & don'ts on preparing for the surgery? Appreciate any and…
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PSA Levels
Hello, I have a brother who has just found out his PSA is 4.1. Dr. has suggested a wait and see for a month. At what point did your Drs. urge further investigation? Is 4.1 considered high, normal high? I would appreciate any information you might share. Thanks, Marcia
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Stage 4
Hi. I am new here.I just found out last month that I am stage 4 with distant spread. 1 spot in ribs. 1in chest and 1 in spine. Also 8 areas in pelvic region. Psa was 64 and gleason of 8. 12 core samples show 9 cores of 8. Doctor gave me 2 weeks ago my first 3 month injection of lupron. I am to start…
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Results from my Seventh Prostate Biopsy
Last Friday I had biopsy number seven as part of my twelve years in Johns Hopkins’ Active Surveillance program. This biopsy was different, as I requested the imaging be done in real time using the ExactVu micro-ultrasound. After nine previous MRI’s with gadolinium contrast, I didn’t want any more of those chemicals. The…
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Time from MRI to Fusion Biopsy
Dear All, I am a 55 year old man whose PSA went from 0.9 ng/ml to 2.8 ng/ml in a year Primary Care suggested follow-up PSA in 6 months which then was 4.1 ng/ml with Free PSA 0.8 ng/ml (2.0%). Urologist couldn't see me until December 23rd. Where he noted a subtle difference in prostate testure on DRE. He schedule a TRUS…
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Casodex no longer working
I posted previously about Casodex not working any more. My PSA is 60 but I have no symptoms. I cannot take drugs like Lupron and my urologist thinks that increasing the Casodex to 100mg could cause serious side effects. I cannot afford zyrtiga or xandi since there is no free healthcare where I live. I'm wondering what I…
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New to This
Good Afternoon All! I am new to this forum but it appears that i will need alot of information from everyone. My husband has not "officially" been diagnosed yet, but with a PSA of 47 and growths felt on both sides of the prostate gland during the DRE the doctor is pretty certain. What really frustrates and scares me is…
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Hip joint pain on ADT
I have develpoed severe hip joint pain while on intermittent Firmagon (since 2017) for advanced PC after RP (2016) and SR (2017) failed. This pain could of course be metastatic disease, old age issues, etc but I have read with interest that some people (both male and female) report joint problems while on ADT. Have any of…
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Joining the Club with high initial PSA
Hello All: Best Wishes to Everyone for a better 2021 !! My own new year is beginning with the life changing news that we all have had. All indications at this point are that 2021 will be more challenging for me. Perhaps much more! All was going well until the first week of December, when I began having mild symptoms of, I…
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Question about retrograde ejaculation after prostatectomy
I have just been scheduled for a robotic prostatectomy. I was told by my urologist that some men may have retrograde ejaculations (where the semen backflows into the bladder) after they resume sexual activity. Have any of you had this issue? Is it only occasionally, or is it every time you ejaculate? Does it hurt? Does it…