Delaying prostatectomy 6-12 months, PSA 2.49, 1 of 12 biopsies positive

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  • Clevelandguy
    Clevelandguy Member Posts: 1,012 Member
    #22
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    Active surveillance?

    Hi,

    You can go the active surveillance route for a while but the cancer is not going to go away, it will only get worse.  If you were in your 80's then active surveillance might work but your not.  This is just my opinion but why let the cancer grow?  No one that I know of want's to get treated for PCa, but IMHO there is not choice, your going to have to deal with the beast sometime in the future.  As far as I am concerned this is one thing you don't want growing inside of you. 

    Dave 3+4

  • hopeful and optimistic
    hopeful and optimistic Member Posts: 2,339 Member
    edited March 2017 #23
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    Clevelandguy said:

    Active surveillance?

    Hi,

    You can go the active surveillance route for a while but the cancer is not going to go away, it will only get worse.  If you were in your 80's then active surveillance might work but your not.  This is just my opinion but why let the cancer grow?  No one that I know of want's to get treated for PCa, but IMHO there is not choice, your going to have to deal with the beast sometime in the future.  As far as I am concerned this is one thing you don't want growing inside of you. 

    Dave 3+4

    Active Surveillance

     

    There have been studies that show thatapproximately 70 percent of  low volume, a llow aggressive prostate cancer does not grow, and men die with prostate cancer, not because. Addditionally there were studies where population autopsies have been performed, and many of these men, were found to have prostate cancer, and died with the disease without experiencing any of the severe side effects of active treatment

    Major centers of excellence such as John Hopkins treat men with Active Surveillance. Active Surveillance is consider a valid and to add a smart treatment choice, that is why this is my choice..nine years so far....I plan to do this for the rest of my life if I can, otherwise, studies have shown that I would still be able to make the same choice as I would have had at diagnosis.

  • Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3
    Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3 Member Posts: 3,812 Member
    edited March 2017 #24
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    hopeful and optimistic said:

    .

    Eigen manufactures the three dimensional artemis machine to target prostate cancer. NYU has this system. There may be one in Philidelphia as well...contact Eigen, the manufacturer to find out if there is an Artemis machine in Philly. Also there are other competitive machines that target prostate cancer, in the bore, that is, it is done in real time. You might wish to contact University of PA. You may also wish to contact Johns Hopkins, which is a two hour drive on I-95S. 

    Attend a local support group, some one would know.

     

    http://www.eigen.com/about/InTheNews.shtml

    The Smilow Comprehensive Prostate Cancer Center Installs Artemis

    Thursday, February 24, 2011

    As a world leader in the advancement of the detection and treatment of prostate cancer, the Smilow Comprehensive Prostate Cancer Center at NYU Langone Medical Center is the first medical facility in the Northeast to install Artemis, an innovative image guidance and navigation system for prostate biopsy.

    “We are very excited about Artemis,” says Herbert Lepor, MD, Director of the Smilow Comprehensive Prostate Cancer Center. “No major advances have been made in the TRUS/biopsy technique over the past 20 years, except for use of local anesthesia and a 12-core approach. This new device helps the Smilow Center provide the most sophisticated level of prostate diagnosis possible and assists our physicians in providing even better prostate cancer treatment and management, especially for men electing active surveillance and focal therapy.”

    Read .

    Artemis

    My center installed Artemis last year -- great device.

    max

  • Scumcrode
    Scumcrode Member Posts: 15
    #25
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    Clevelandguy said:

    Active surveillance?

    Hi,

    You can go the active surveillance route for a while but the cancer is not going to go away, it will only get worse.  If you were in your 80's then active surveillance might work but your not.  This is just my opinion but why let the cancer grow?  No one that I know of want's to get treated for PCa, but IMHO there is not choice, your going to have to deal with the beast sometime in the future.  As far as I am concerned this is one thing you don't want growing inside of you. 

    Dave 3+4

    AS vs RP

    Yeah its pretty disconcerting that the PSA level doesn't necessarily reliably track the Cancer growth. When I picture being told a few years from now that it's spread, even under AS (because it does happen), I picture asking myself why? Because I wanted a full erection and full continence? I'm wondering how selfish that will look (and feel) to both me and my little kids. I understand the other side of the issue though, but not many 47 year olds have a newborn and a 2 year old. I'm not planning on AS long.  

  • Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3
    Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3 Member Posts: 3,812 Member
    #26
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    AS

    Scrum,

    Obviously, AS is not an easy choice to make.  It is not for worry-warts like myself, guys who can't stop thinking of potential bad scenarios.  The data does support AS as viable and safe with some cases. You just have to decide if you are that guy. I was not.

    I have a friend who was diagnosed about 12 years ago, at aroound age 60. He went on AS, and is 73 now, and recent biopsies could not detect any cancer in any core.  Almost certainly, this is rare, but possible. 

    max

  • hopeful and optimistic
    hopeful and optimistic Member Posts: 2,339 Member
    #27
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    Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3 said:

    AS

    Scrum,

    Obviously, AS is not an easy choice to make.  It is not for worry-warts like myself, guys who can't stop thinking of potential bad scenarios.  The data does support AS as viable and safe with some cases. You just have to decide if you are that guy. I was not.

    I have a friend who was diagnosed about 12 years ago, at aroound age 60. He went on AS, and is 73 now, and recent biopsies could not detect any cancer in any core.  Almost certainly, this is rare, but possible. 

    max

    Not so rare

    I'm in my 9th year now

  • Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3
    Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3 Member Posts: 3,812 Member
    #28
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    hopeful and optimistic said:

    Not so rare

    I'm in my 9th year now

    Joy

    And those 9 years cause every man here joy.  Certainly it does me.

  • ASAdvocate
    ASAdvocate Member Posts: 193 Member
    #29
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    Not Rare at All

    Just joined this forum, but am a veteran of other PCa forums.

    I have been in the Johns Hopkins AS program for eight years. Best decision possible for my G3+3 diagnosis. No regrets and no disease progression.

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