Should I have surgery sooner???

Zecca

I am a seven-year-old diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer, this is my situation am I waiting too long to have surgery July 30, 2025 when I was diagnosed after the biopsy May 12, 2025?

May 12, 2025
Biopsy reported
PROSTATIC ADENOCARCINOMA. GLEASON'S SCORE
9 (GRADES 4 + 5) NOTED IN 1 OUT OF 1 SUBMITTED PROSTATE CORE SEGMENTS. APPROXIMATELY 37% OF SUBMITTED TISSUE INVOLVED. (GRADE GROUP 5)
PSA 9.5

PET scan done soon after no cancer spread found.

Surgery scheduled July 30th

Being placed on relugolix (Orgovyx) 120 mg tablet June 18th for hormone pre- treatment before prostatectomy surgery.

Wheel

Their are studies that have been done that show a six month time from Diagnosis until Surgery have no material differences in treatment outcomes and success. It is not uncommon between initial urologist appointments (3-4 weeks), review of PSA result and schedule of biopsy another 3-4 weeks, follow/up with urologist another 2 weeks , schedule of PET another 2/3 weeks, follow up appointment another 2 weeks, referral for Surgical and Radiation Oncologist’s 4 weeks, maybe 2nd opinion another 3/4 weeks. Then Surgeon’s schedule another 4/6 weeks.

Your schedule actually moved fairly quickly.

Good luck!

Zecca

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/329450/should-i-have-surgery-sooner

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1723235#Comment_1723235

Thank you for sharing that information, I have been searching for advice since I’ve been diagnosed with this aggressive prostate cancer asking many questions and trying to move the process right along. I decision on surgery early on as I was told by many that if I start with radiation it could cause scarring which would make it very difficult later on down the road for the surgery option. I could always have radiation after surgery.

Wheel

Yes, that is a good approach taken by many holding Radiation as a backup if appropriate. It sounds like you have settled on your Surgeon that you are comfortable with. You will also often here about ensuring your Surgeon has performed significant numbers of surgeries in his technique. I assume it is nerve sparing Robotic Laparoscopic. Their are also additional surgical techniques that can help minimize side effects of incontinence. You have moved quickly so if you decide to look further into surgical techniques, surgeons, or second opinions you have some additional time as you at the present around 2 months since your diagnosis on that 6 month window to treatment, although if you are ready to move forward, comfortable with everything then their is no reason to wait. There are others who everything moved quickly with no delays and also received their surgery in two months.

centralPA

Use the time to get yourself as healthy as possible. Get on a healthy diet, lose some weight if you need to lose some weight, do some cardio exercising and weightlifting to get yourself in top shape. Prepare for your mental health too. Take a meditation class, or pick up yoga, or go to church, orwhatever else can help you get into the best mental state for your battle. The best outcome will happen when you are calm, informed, and healthy.

So get after it!

Sending strength!

Zecca

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1723240#Comment_1723240

Thank you I plan on doing everything you suggested. Your suggestions are very much appreciated.

Marlon

Best of luck to you Zecca. It was 9 weeks from my biopsy to surgery (Gleason 7). It took a while to coordinate the surgeon's schedule with the hospital's schedule. You can always ask for the surgeons office to notify you of a cancellation. If you tried to find another surgeon at this point, you might be delayed even more as they would have to start planning from scratch.

Paul_Cancer_Survivor

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/329450/should-i-have-surgery-sooner

Good Morning, Zecca. I agree with others who believe the timetable is fine. So many others wait much, much longer than you.

Best wishes.

swl1956

Yeah! Everything in the prostate cancer world moves slowly. I was diagnosed with 4+3=7 November 2023 and was 6 months before I was first treated with a focal ablation. Some of that time was due to me researching and procrastinating, but all the doctors I saw told me there was no rush. Prostate cancer grows slowly. Being your PET scan showing no metastasis and taking Orgovyx which effectively puts most prostate cancers in remission, I don't think you need to stress out about waiting a bit. Inevitably, stressing about our situations goes with the territory. For me, it seemed to alleviate to some degree after I pulled the trigger on treatment. Brisk 3 mile daily walks also helped. As you noted above, there are more options if need be. My Pca metastasized to my lymph nodes requiring radiation and ADT. Not exactly fun, but has done the trick thus far. My PSA is undetectable and side effects have been tolerable. I do look forward to the day I may no longer need Orgovyx and Zytiga. That said, I'm alive and feeling fairly well. Anyhow, hang in there.

Good luck to you!

Zecca

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1723251#Comment_1723251

Thank you for sharing your experience with PC.All your comments are really helping me deal with my current situation.

Zecca

When did you have the surgery and how did everything go for you? was it robotic surgery? that is what I’m planning on having.

Marlon

My surgery was one year ago. I had the DaVinci robot surgery. Mine required multiple incisions in the abdomen, whereas some of the newer methods only use one, so I had to use the pain killers for a week. The catheter was uncomfortable. Understand that if you have continence issues after surgery, (some men dont) it does get better with time.

Zecca

Very happy to hear the surgery went well for you.

Old Salt

Surgeries typically go well from the surgeon's perspective (the prostate is out and the patient survived 😁). The patient though is stuck with the post surgery effects. They can vary a great deal according to reports on this and other sites. I hope yours will be minimal.

I highly recommend reading those posts.

Clevelandguy

Hi,

Most surgeries go well with an experienced surgeon and the newer one incision procedures. Side effects can vary depending on the extent of the cancer, hopefully your will be minimal. Radiation treatments can also cause latent side effects do to the radiation hitting other tissue and organs. Have not heard of anyone five years out without some sort of side effect from either methods. Good luck on your upcoming surgery.

Dave 3+4

Clevelandguy

JackWest

79 here, want to chat?