Time from diagnosis to treatment

VascodaGama

Hi again

The PET/CT report recommends further follow up on the issue of the bone mets.

It writes; "... ...There is a single focus of radiotracer uptake in the left lateral fifth rib. Given the relative intensity and location of uptake, the finding is indeterminate as it could be benign, though, a solitary osseous metastasis cannot be entirely excluded. Recommend attention on followup."

Surely you can investigate the issue now, including it in the planned treatment or just treat the gland alone now, leaving the issue of the left lateral fifth rib for another occasion, if such becomes necessary.

In your shoes I would advance with the treatment that gives you the most confidence.

Best

VG

Steve1961

Thank you I have a tele visit with the UCLA specialist next Wednesday and I will have questios to ask him if he indeed thinks after seeing my first MRI before radiation and the latest MRI thinks that I should do surgery. I will mention this to him about getting a biopsy I have to trust somebody and given this man’s reputation, I will trust what he says.

VascodaGama

You doing well. Be confident.

Best of lucks.

VG

oldspice

VG, I have recently followed some of your discussions and have even corresponded with you as well. I reviewed your timeline and topics with extreme interest. Your story and your knowledge over 24 long years and how delicately you communicate is unprecedented. I personally want to reach out and thank you for all the time and input you have given all of us for so long even if I have only been following you for a short period of time. Thank you from all of us for your loyalty to helping others in a time of need. May God follow you and bless you in your future endeavors and give you strength in your fight for freedom from the beast.

Steve1961

I have to admit starting to get a little anxious. I mean they tell you you have gleason 8 high grade tumor and now I’m going on over six months and haven’t treated it yet. I’m ready to go and get another PSA test. I’m doing it now every six weeks because I’m getting anxious hopefully it still down 1.5. I have a visit next Wednesday but you know I went out to dinner with my Inlaw. He was just recently diagnosed and he started radiation last week and he’s only 70 and very good health. Imguess decifer test came back not aggressive. he knows hundreds of people and you know I said well and I know a lot of people like you that have PC and none of them have died from it and of course he had to respond well I do know one guy that died from it, and I go well, it must’ve been caught really late and of course he said no he had his PSA checked every year then he moved to Oregon found a urologist went in for his yearly exam and the dr said your PSA is a bit high and it was at 9 and he was shocked it was always low , Dr ..said you know what let’s check it again in a month and see where we’re at well he went back in a month and went up to 39 and they did a scan right away and they told him it’s already spread to other parts of his body not much we can do and he said he was dead within a year and a half and I’m like oh great …not what i wanted to hear ..poor guy such a strange disease indeed

Steve1961

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1712164#Comment_1712164

I take everything this fine man tells me to consideration believe me I know it’s not good not to trust doctors I really think you should be able to but you have to pick and choose the one you trust in. It’s hard when you don’t know these doctors that well like you know your own personal doctors but I do thank him he’s got extreme knowledge and I know I questioned him sometimes but I questioned him about how to go about getting things done only.

VascodaGama

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1712164#Comment_1712164

Oldspice,

Thanks for the beauty comments. I am a patient like you, we navigate on the same boat helping each other with suggestions based in our experiences.

May you also be blessed and get rid of the bandit.

Best

VG

oldspice

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1712184#Comment_1712184

I like to stay positive and I know you are nervous Nellie. But I do have to agree with your feelings and concerns. I would not be comfortable in your shoes either. My PSA IN August 2022 went from 5.1 to 6.2 taken by my family Dr. Then in June 2023 I did my yearly with my Urologist and my PSA doubled to 12.1. That’s when we realized it was real. So that time period was about 10 months. I’m 73yo with a large 88cc prostate. My PSA has fluctuated between 4-5.5 over the years. I had a biopsy in 2007 when it went from 2-4. Negative. Clean. Hmmm. Developed chronic prostatitis from that so between dealing with that, a negative biopsy, and a fluctuating PSA we just watched it year by year. Once it doubled to 12 and we found out my Urologist said I probably had the PCa since 2019. I am 4+3 with one lymph node. Looking back I wish I had been more careful but I had the bad experience from the first biopsy and just didn’t want any more effects from another lasting forever. Like they say wish in one hand and **** on the other and see which one fills up quicker. Lol. My prognosis is good my doctors said I caught it early and I most likely will die from something else. My point to you is nobody is perfect and possibly I/we could have been more pro-active. Worrying or feeling sorry for myself won’t change one thing but only make me feel worse. I choose to accept what I must change what I can and ask God for the wisdom to know the difference. I wish you well but do understand your feelings. I trust my doctor only because I’ve been with him for over 20 yrs. For that I feel lucky and my fate is in his hands. I hope you can find peace and calm during your process. It’s tough I know but we shall fight!!