How long is it safe to wait before surgery?

ksw_1969

Hi,

My brother was dignosed with Gleason 7 (3+4) cancer in mid December 2019. His biopsy showed that only one core out of 16 cores (8 samples) had cancer. That core had cancer in 20% of it. Gleason 4 was seen in less than 5% of it. His PSA was 3.2.

He is going to have a robotic prostatectomy. He is going through the public system here in Australia.  However he hasn't received a confirmed date for surgery so far. He had an appointment with the surgeon on the 20th. January 2020. Surgeon advised that he will be operated on within the next 3 months. We were wondering whether it is safe to stay for that period of time before having surgery. Potentially he could wait up to 4+ months since diagnosis.

Thanks to all for this fantastic forum. It has been very beneficial hearing from those who have been battling Prostate Cancer.

Georges Calvez

Loads of time

Hi there,

I would not worry about a few months delay with that kind of pathology, your brother has plenty of time in hand.
Prostate cancer in general, and this certainly includes your brother's case, is a slow moving animal, it is not like some cancers which go from diagnosis to death in six months flat.

Best wishes,

Georges

Clevelandguy

It can wait

Hi,

I agree with Georges, he should be fine waiting a few months.  On the Gleason, was he a 3+4, 4+3, 4+4? There should be two numbers, a 3+4 would be less agressive than a 4+4.

Dave 3+4

ksw_1969

Georges Calvez said:

Loads of time

Hi there,

I would not worry about a few months delay with that kind of pathology, your brother has plenty of time in hand.
Prostate cancer in general, and this certainly includes your brother's case, is a slow moving animal, it is not like some cancers which go from diagnosis to death in six months flat.

Best wishes,

Georges

Thanks for your reply. 

Thanks for your reply. 

ksw_1969

Clevelandguy said:

It can wait

Hi,

I agree with Georges, he should be fine waiting a few months.  On the Gleason, was he a 3+4, 4+3, 4+4? There should be two numbers, a 3+4 would be less agressive than a 4+4.

Dave 3+4

Thanks.
He is 3+4

Thanks.

He is 3+4

GOLDEN proSTATE Warrior

No need to panic
There is no need to panic. Given your brother's numbers, he may even be a good candidate for active surveillance. I've heard many stories where people stay on active surveillance for over a decade without any form of treatment. You have plenty of time.