Husband's PSA 7.8, Gleason 9 - 2nd opinion?

SCHRCH

ob66 said:

Schrch:   Had somewhat

Schrch:   Had somewhat similar (not quite as bad numbers) in 2009. To be brief I have had daVinci surgery (2009), slight elevation in PSA post surgery 10 months later, AUS surgery June (2010), and radiation therapy July/August (2010)....From May 2010 through January 2012 I received lupron shots every four months.

Why am I telling you this? Well 12 months after my last lupron shot, and after all the treatments I have described above, my Ultrasensitive PSA was less than 0.02 (in other words undetectable). Let me mention that since Sept 2010 I have been on a NO red meat, NO dairy, Low sugar diet to decrease the food source for CA. Also added mega doses of Vitamin D.

I was initially Gleason 8, Stage 3B. My point is that aggressive treatment has worked and worked great for me. I would suggest you include it in your discussions with your doctor. I am sure the immediate impression would be that of "overkill", but don't try to convince me of that.

Best of luck in your pursuit of control of this horrible disease. Bob

OB66 - Thank you

Thank you so much.  To update everyone, I have decided to swich to Emory University (Winship Cancer Center) in Atlanta,  My boss has some sort of connections there and he made a phone call and they are getting us in right away (probably next week).  They are #39 in the nation.  I know it's not MD Anderson or other top ranked places but we can't move there and if he's going to get constant treatment, I need to be where we can go whenever we need to.  This will be with a full team of doctors and not just one.  The entire team will evalute him and his condition and then collectively make decisions as to the best treatment and options.  I value everything everyone has told me and you don't know how much this has truly helped me as I have been really upset since this whole monster entered into our lives.  I am relying on God's strength to see us thru and his wisdom to guide the doctors in all of the decisions that need to be made.  They do the work but God is the Great Physician and I have to believe that I was led to this board and to Emory.  You've all been wonderful and I can't wish enough good blessings on each of you as you go thru your valley.  I will keep updates coming and I will still watch the board so I can pray for others.  God Bless

ralph.townsend1

SCHRCH said:

OB66 - Thank you

Thank you so much.  To update everyone, I have decided to swich to Emory University (Winship Cancer Center) in Atlanta,  My boss has some sort of connections there and he made a phone call and they are getting us in right away (probably next week).  They are #39 in the nation.  I know it's not MD Anderson or other top ranked places but we can't move there and if he's going to get constant treatment, I need to be where we can go whenever we need to.  This will be with a full team of doctors and not just one.  The entire team will evalute him and his condition and then collectively make decisions as to the best treatment and options.  I value everything everyone has told me and you don't know how much this has truly helped me as I have been really upset since this whole monster entered into our lives.  I am relying on God's strength to see us thru and his wisdom to guide the doctors in all of the decisions that need to be made.  They do the work but God is the Great Physician and I have to believe that I was led to this board and to Emory.  You've all been wonderful and I can't wish enough good blessings on each of you as you go thru your valley.  I will keep updates coming and I will still watch the board so I can pray for others.  God Bless

Emory University

That is great! They have the staffing to understand prostate cancer and fight this monster. You are on the right track with God is the Great Physician.

My prayer's will be with you and your husbands fight.

I go to MD Anderson on the 10th and 11th for my next CT and Bone scan to see where the cancer is and see if my tumor's are being good in staying small.

SCHRCH

ralph.townsend1 said:

Emory University

That is great! They have the staffing to understand prostate cancer and fight this monster. You are on the right track with God is the Great Physician.

My prayer's will be with you and your husbands fight.

I go to MD Anderson on the 10th and 11th for my next CT and Bone scan to see where the cancer is and see if my tumor's are being good in staying small.

MD Anderson

Thnks Ralph -- I'm glad you are with MD Anderson.  I wish we could be but distance prohibits it.  I'm comfortable with Emory.  I not only wish you good reports but I pray that God would supernaturally remove all of the cancer from your body and you never have to deal with this again.  Take care - God Bless.  I will be staying on this board for a long time ---- I want to be an encouragement to others as they have been to me and to pray with those who need our prayers and support. Keep me posted on your progress.

 

SCHRCH

ralph.townsend1 said:

Emory University

That is great! They have the staffing to understand prostate cancer and fight this monster. You are on the right track with God is the Great Physician.

My prayer's will be with you and your husbands fight.

I go to MD Anderson on the 10th and 11th for my next CT and Bone scan to see where the cancer is and see if my tumor's are being good in staying small.

SURGERY

He's scheduled for surgery on 3/11 to remove prostate.  The doctor feels 99% sure it may be in the lymph nodes based on all the tests.   He also feels that radiation will be necessary and probably hormone therapy.  Having said all this --- there was an article in Consumer Reports that someone gave me regarding PSA testing.  It says "most men don't need routine PSA tests" as the test cannot differentiate between aggressive and non-aggressive and that many men have surgery and radiation needlessly, exposing them to all the devastating side effects.  It further states that up to 5 men in 1000 will die within 1 year of the surgery and that 10-70 will suffer "dangerous" complications.  This is based upon "recommendations released in October by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force".  It said the test would most likely lead to more harm than to save lives.  Now I'm reading this that test alone is what should not be fully relied upon as a means to just take the prostate out, etc.  But my husband had the biopsy which showed 10 out of 12 samples to be cancerous.  The doctor at Emory University agreed and said it should come out within 2 months.  He said if the Gleason score was much lower, he recommends some patients to be on a "watch" and others he advises may have 2-3-4 years before they need to do anything.  But he said my husband's PSA went from 2.4 in 2009 to 8.8 in 2012 and that is very aggressive in Prostate Cancer.  What is your opinion on all of this? 

Samsungtech1

SCHRCH said:

SURGERY

He's scheduled for surgery on 3/11 to remove prostate.  The doctor feels 99% sure it may be in the lymph nodes based on all the tests.   He also feels that radiation will be necessary and probably hormone therapy.  Having said all this --- there was an article in Consumer Reports that someone gave me regarding PSA testing.  It says "most men don't need routine PSA tests" as the test cannot differentiate between aggressive and non-aggressive and that many men have surgery and radiation needlessly, exposing them to all the devastating side effects.  It further states that up to 5 men in 1000 will die within 1 year of the surgery and that 10-70 will suffer "dangerous" complications.  This is based upon "recommendations released in October by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force".  It said the test would most likely lead to more harm than to save lives.  Now I'm reading this that test alone is what should not be fully relied upon as a means to just take the prostate out, etc.  But my husband had the biopsy which showed 10 out of 12 samples to be cancerous.  The doctor at Emory University agreed and said it should come out within 2 months.  He said if the Gleason score was much lower, he recommends some patients to be on a "watch" and others he advises may have 2-3-4 years before they need to do anything.  But he said my husband's PSA went from 2.4 in 2009 to 8.8 in 2012 and that is very aggressive in Prostate Cancer.  What is your opinion on all of this? 

Decisions

Once you make a decision do not start second guessing.  Move forward.  I went through same thing, but once I decided on a course of action I never looked back.  The worse thing anyone can do is to keep saying "what if".  That just adds more tension which is bad for any disease. Breathe deep and try to relax.  Sounds like you have good Dr.s.  let them do their job and pay attention to what they say.  Should you have a question do not hesitate to ask.  No question is stupid.  Just ask.

Good luck to you and your husband.  Plenty of us on this board have been down his road so do not hesitate to ask us any question you both might have.  No question is embarrassing, or stupid.

 

Mike