Could Prostate Cancer become obsolete?

We Can Hope!
If it works in mice ... why not in man?

Beau2 said:

We Can Hope!
If it works in mice ... why not in man?

A closer look and another perspective...
Beau2,

Why not, indeed! And hope that PCa could one day, along with all cancers, become OBSOLETE!

HOWEVER, you may want to take a closer look at another perspective on ProstaCaid™ as this stuff has been around for a while and is for sale all over the internet:

http://www.skepticnorth.com/2010/08/scientiferous-treatments-for-prostate-cancer/

Beau, enjoy reading your posts and subtle sense of humor which is not lost in connection with your newish Polar Bear avatar/pic (ATP)! LOL is always the best medicine! BTW, unable to find any previous info about your PCa dx stats, journey from dx on (other than RP as tx choice). Wondering...Might you consider sharing that history with the forum? Merci Beau2.

Beau2 said:

Thanks for the link
Hey mrspjd,

Thanks for the link. Seems like the wonder drug may not be so wonderful.

My Stats:

PSA 2007 - 2.8; 11/24/2008 - 7.6; PCa Dx 2/11/09; age at Dx 62; RLP 4/20/09
Biopsy - Invasive moderately differentiated prostatic andenocarconoma; G 3+3=6; PT2C; No evidence of Seminal Vesicle or Extraprostatic Involvement; Margins clear; Tumor identified in sections from prostatic apex.
70 gram prostate.
Continent after removal of cath.
ED - Trimix works well; levitra @ 90%
PSA - <0.1, 8/10/11

FYI, the bears name is Dree.</p>

You're welcome
Beau,

Very glad to read that your 2009 RP was successful, side effects minimal, and PSA readings undetectable. I’ve always wondered what the difference was between RLP (robotic laparoscopic prostatectomy) vs RRP (robotic radical prostatectomy). Perhaps you know. Also, how many cores were positive and at what %’s on your pre-op biopsy path report? Hope I’m not being too intrusive--just trying to understand the PCa history and decision making process.

As for Dree, coincidentally, that would have been my second guess for his name.

No joke--Sending early congrats on your upcoming tx anniversary and my best wishes for continued success. Once again…Merci Beau2.

mrs pjd…aka mrspjd, msjpd, Mrs PJD, etc, etc.
(Maybe I should just use ‘M’ from now on?)

Beau2 said:

Answers
Hey mrs pjd,

Glad to see you are looking at the decision making process ... my decision was based approximately 60% on fear and 40% on statistics. The information you requested follow:

First biopsy - no positive cores, a bunch of "atypia"
Second biopsy - with cores aimed at hard to get at areas - two positive cores (5% & 10%); 10 negative.
Post op path - 2% of gland involved in tumor (most of the tumor removed during biopsy??)

I should have listed my surgery as a robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP). A RRP is a retropubic radical prostatectomy. In my definitions, RALP uses the robot while RRP does not use the robot (open). I've also seen robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP)which I believe is the same as RALP.

I'd really be interested in knowing your first guess for the bear's name.

Questions
Hey RBAY, Beau

Sorry your tx decision was based more on fear (60%) than on a rational PCa tx decision process. I suspect that may be the case for many, especially after hearing the dx “cancer,” and feeling rushed to “do something!” If there’s one single piece of advice I had to give, it would be to take the time to become an educated knowledgeable PCa patient (or patient advocate) prior to making any tx decisions. A cancer dx can invoke paralyzing fear. What helped us the most was finding and attending an established, face to face, PCa networking group meeting that consisted of knowledgeable men and women, lead by a skilled & professional facilitator. They provided great insight & info that got us on the right research paths.

Thx for the acronym clarifications. I thought that RLP & LRP referred to an older, pre-DaVinci, hands on standard laparoscopic surgical technique. Good to know that the medical/technical definition of RRP is clear. I’m guilty of sometimes using RRP to mean Robotic RP, when the correct acronym for the Robotic procedure is RALP, as you pointed out. Here’s a list I put together of most of the “RP Acronyms” (feel free to add or subtract to/from the list):

LARP: Laproscopic Robotic Prostatectomy
LRP: Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy
RALP: Robotic-Assisted Laparoscopic Prostatectomy
RARP: Robotic-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy
RLP: Radical Laparoscopic Prostatectomy
RP: Radical Prostatectomy
RPP: Radical Perineal Prostatectomy
RRP: Radical Retropubic Prostatectomy (Open RP)

You indicate that you had 2 biopsies over a time span of +/- 3 mos? And the second was a targeted biopsy to reach “hard to get at areas?” The apex? Was it a real-time targeted biopsy and if so, what type of imaging was used to locate & sample the 2 positive cores? Your post op path of a T2C in the context of a low “2% gland involved” is interesting. You mentioned: “most of the tumor removed during ‘biopsy?’” I suspect you mean during “surgery,” but if you mean “biopsy” please clarify.

Your posts validate how different & unique every PCa dx and tx is from another. The info you share will surely be informative to many.

Re my first guess: I’m keeping that name under wraps. Use your imagination to come up with a few of your own names for those LOL moments…

Best,
M