When did my prostate cancer start?

lion1
lion1 Member Posts: 241
edited October 2012 in Prostate Cancer #1
Has anyone ever asked themselves and then their Doctors if they could determine when their Prostate Cancer started? I was 46 when I found out and had my LRP 3 months after. I did ask my doctor 4 or 5 months after surgery if he could determine when my cancer actually started?? He said there was a good chance it began up to 10 yrs earlier, but he also said there's no way to confirm that. But the fact of the matter is, no one just got PC when they were diagnosed. Many of us had it for years prior. Appreciate any feedback on this.

Thanks,

Lion1

Comments

  • VascodaGama
    VascodaGama Member Posts: 3,641 Member
    #2
    A DNA affair
    Lion

    I was diagnosed at the age of 50. At the time, the cancer was well advanced in terms of “quantity” (voluminous PSA at 22.4) but “young” in terms of “quality” (Gleason grades of 2 and 3 = G5).
    DRE was negative in 4 consultations with different specialists. I recall my uro (a professor of many years) telling me that at the touch the consistency of the prostate should be similar as touching the palm (the raised portion at the base of the thumb). A resistant touch or deformations would consider the DRE as positive.
    He could not comment about when did my cancer started but said that it all indicated that I was in the initiation period.

    Anecdotally, I link the start with a depressing event at the age of 44 when I experienced a strong desire for sex but no erection effect.
    This is the time when the biorhythm of my systems went through a series of upside downs. I also calculated the doubling in PSA exponentially at diagnosis and by reverting in time, I reached the age of 45 which may have been the timing of the start of PSA growth.

    That may have been when PIN existed with low grades of very well differentiated cells (Gr1). Their “frenetic” activity may have been a cause of my strong mentally desire of making my “nightcrawler” to “wakeup”. That would have been a continuing effect that has caused changes in my DNA.

    A better outlook into your quest would be to search for results in laboratory work done on the Initiation causes. Here is a link explaining details you may be interesting in reading;

    http://www.cancerquest.org/cancer-initiation-promotion-progression.html

    Best.
    VG
  • lion1
    lion1 Member Posts: 241
    #3
    VascodaGama said:

    A DNA affair
    Lion

    I was diagnosed at the age of 50. At the time, the cancer was well advanced in terms of “quantity” (voluminous PSA at 22.4) but “young” in terms of “quality” (Gleason grades of 2 and 3 = G5).
    DRE was negative in 4 consultations with different specialists. I recall my uro (a professor of many years) telling me that at the touch the consistency of the prostate should be similar as touching the palm (the raised portion at the base of the thumb). A resistant touch or deformations would consider the DRE as positive.
    He could not comment about when did my cancer started but said that it all indicated that I was in the initiation period.

    Anecdotally, I link the start with a depressing event at the age of 44 when I experienced a strong desire for sex but no erection effect.
    This is the time when the biorhythm of my systems went through a series of upside downs. I also calculated the doubling in PSA exponentially at diagnosis and by reverting in time, I reached the age of 45 which may have been the timing of the start of PSA growth.

    That may have been when PIN existed with low grades of very well differentiated cells (Gr1). Their “frenetic” activity may have been a cause of my strong mentally desire of making my “nightcrawler” to “wakeup”. That would have been a continuing effect that has caused changes in my DNA.

    A better outlook into your quest would be to search for results in laboratory work done on the Initiation causes. Here is a link explaining details you may be interesting in reading;

    http://www.cancerquest.org/cancer-initiation-promotion-progression.html

    Best.
    VG

    Much Thanks
    Interesting and very helpful.

    Lion1
  • Kongo
    Kongo Member Posts: 1,166 Member
    #4
    Histology of Prostate Cancer
    I've read that the natural histology of prostate cancer is 55 years for the typical adeno carcinoma. That means an untreated man will typically die 55 years after the onset of the first prostate cancer cells forming.

    Given that most of us are initially diagnosed with prostate cancer are in our mid 50s to late 60s that would suggest that prostate cancer may actually begin forming shortly after puberty when the prostate gland undergoes significant growth.

    Thankfully, for most of us this is a very slow growing disease and doesn't become detectable by modern methods until it is fairly well along but still very treatable for those who do regular, annual testing.

    Of course, this model doesn't take in consideration things like genetic disposition or environmental factors such as Agent Orange, chemicals in our food products, and so forth.

    K
  • foretexas
    foretexas Member Posts: 6
    #5
    I have an idea of when.
    In May of '07, at a regular check up, I had just turned 42 I asked for a PSA test. My PSA came back at 2.3, my Dr. said nothing about it and I didn't know enough to ask. Fast forward to Jan '12, annual check up frequent night time urination. PSA test comes back at 4.7, long story short in Sep '12 it was 5.5. Biopsy proved cancer 9 samples left clear, 7 of 9 on the right cancerous (6) 3+3 T1c. I fully believe this has been growing for well over 5 years. I don't have any family history at all.
  • Beau2
    Beau2 Member Posts: 261
    #6
    foretexas said:

    I have an idea of when.
    In May of '07, at a regular check up, I had just turned 42 I asked for a PSA test. My PSA came back at 2.3, my Dr. said nothing about it and I didn't know enough to ask. Fast forward to Jan '12, annual check up frequent night time urination. PSA test comes back at 4.7, long story short in Sep '12 it was 5.5. Biopsy proved cancer 9 samples left clear, 7 of 9 on the right cancerous (6) 3+3 T1c. I fully believe this has been growing for well over 5 years. I don't have any family history at all.

    Question
    Hey ForeTexas,

    Have you made any decisions concerning possibly treating your cancer? Or have you decided to do active surveillance?
  • foretexas
    foretexas Member Posts: 6
    #7
    Beau2 said:

    Question
    Hey ForeTexas,

    Have you made any decisions concerning possibly treating your cancer? Or have you decided to do active surveillance?

    Beau2
    Yes, I decided to go with LRP, scheduled for 11/5/12.
  • lion1
    lion1 Member Posts: 241
    #8
    foretexas said:

    Beau2
    Yes, I decided to go with LRP, scheduled for 11/5/12.

    foretexas ans all
    Konowing and acting are hard questions to answer. For instance, I was diagnosed at 46. PSA 5.6. Now if I had been checked when I was 40 and was 2.8. I don't know what course of action I would have taken. It's impossible to make decisions like that at that exact time. The reason I bring this up is if I had my LRP at age 40, I would now be incontinent for 13 yrs. Having found out at age 46. I am incontinent now for 7 years. Unfortunately, we can't predict the future and the consequences, although delayed, this is undaunting. I only speak of my own situation and experience and by no means infer that anyone else will be incontinent after surgey. There is just no way of knowing.

    After I had my LRP and began tracking the various posts, I would read how some men were incontinent for 5,6,7 yrs. I just thought to myself, I could never tolerate or exist like that! Guess what, I did and I am. Man, what a horrible ride.

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