Bugger

Cushions,

Sorry to hear about your results.  As VGama, we're here and will answer questions the best we can.  We are not doctors and thus can only share our situations.

I'm a 3 1/2+ year survivor.  Diagnosed in Aug 2013, with a PSA of 69 Gleason 7 and I had no symptoms of prostate cancer.  Robotic Surgery in December of 2013, followed by two years of Hormone Therapy (Lupron) and 8 weeks of Radiation as clean up to the prostate cavity area.  Now dealing with leg muscle weakness, side effects, from Prolia.  I'm on Prolia to try and repair the bone density damage done by the radiation.  It's a hard fight, and at times I've wondered if it's all worth it.  But so far we are keeping ahead of the "beast".  Support from my wife has been wonderful.  That is very important.

My advice to you is study and learn all you can about the disease and the treatments.  Make sure you know all the side effects of treatments and for heavens sake make sure you have doctors that will listen to your concerns and answer all your questions.  Fighting this "beast" is a complete change to your life.  There is no way I can say that easier.  But, hang in there and fight like hell.

Make sure and ask as many questions as you can, both with your doctors and here on this site.  We will answer as best we can.

Good luck

Love, Peace and God Bless

Will

Hi,

Hope the MRI results tell you the cancer is deep inside of the Prostate where a 4+3 & and 3+4 would not matter as much.  Don't want the cancer getting outside of the gland which will cause problems.  Good luck, keep us informed to see if we can help.

Dave 3+4

hewhositsoncushions said:

Cheers Dave

Cheers Dave

So do I!

The could have hinted at that from the results I suspect but we shall see.

Will keep you all posted.

Cushions

hewho,

A Gleason of 7 is not of course the mildest-possible (6), but neither is it highly aggressive.  If all scans suggest that it is all still inside the capsule, either of the two curative options for PCa, which are surgical removal or Radiation Therapy, are sound choices for you.  (Hormonal Therapy [HT] and Chemo are pallative treatments that extend life and reduce symptoms, but are never curative for PCa.)

Choosing which should take time, spend at least weeks reading and pondering. There is no hurry.   Many guys here will share their opinions in great detail, a great tool for you to use.  But take your time and go with what intuitively or in your gut you think you would best be able to live with.   Sometimes the rapport a man has with the radiation doctor or the surgeon is a deciding factor, who you most trust. I decided on DaVinci removal, and have been well-pleased. But I am not an "advocate" of surgery, for or against.  A few guys are in some sense admitted "advocates"  for one treatment or another, but they and everyone else simply want you to be well-infomed going in. You will benefit from every post you read here.

What to tell your 17 year-old son ?   Tell him you have a very mild and readily treated form of cancer that in most cases, when it is at your stage, is comparatively easy to treat and cure (compared to most other organ cancers that people contract).   Even men with aggressive PCa disease that is metastatic usually live a long, long time.  But none of your results suggest that you are anywhere near that sort of advanced disease.  Assume for now that what you have is absolutely not life threatening as it now stands,

max

I can't offer any knowledge or recommendations but I am sorry for the results you received today. No doubt many here will help you get through it.

Cushions,

We got two similar incidents with this bandit issue. I was 50 years old at the time of diagnosis and caught with no experience on medical affairs. Did not know what was happening, how to handle the situation and to whom to reach. It was a new world that was real but unrealistic in my mind. Was I in the path of dead? This all happened 17 years ago.

If you reread our exchanged posts in your previous thread, you do understand my comments regarding your need for being confrontational when dealing with NHS people. You need to be strong but handle the affairs with diplomacy. Strong means to know the basics about the cancer, its diagnosis and therapy so that when in consultation they will understand that cannot blindfold you on the matter. You do not need to become a professor, just know some facts and how to inquire to get the answers.

In fact, according to NHS standards you are entitled of copies of the exams, tests and analysis done under the NHS umbrella, however, you cannot have the last word above the decision of the NHS specialist (the urologist) taking care of your situation. In any case, you can request referrals to meet another specialist for a second opinion. This could be another urologist or a radiologist. Sincerely, insist for a copy of the biopsy pathologist report. This is the most important data in the present and for the future in case you experience recurrence.

I know of people that did PET exam with the proper contrast agent for prostate cancer and got CK treatment covered by the UK NHS system. In particular the PET scan is widely available across England, with a number of them using the PSMA contrast. They managed to do that because they were confrontational. You can inquire with your GP on the best way to follow but you can also do some research by yourself contacting the instituitions involved in the matters.

For instance CK exist at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham under the NHS. In Birmingham there is also a clinic doing the PSMA PET exams at request of QEH under the NHS, but there are many others probably close to where you live. Here are the links for you to explore;

https://www.uhb.nhs.uk/cyberknife

http://www.birminghamprostateclinic.co.uk/prostate/assessments/pet-scans-for-prostate-cancer/

http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/PET-scan/Pages/Introduction.aspx

Something I learn in the national health system is that the GP exists to stop people (the tax payers) from flooding the hospitals. The second buffer is the specialist that stops people from access to the best treatment, only available at certain places. Only a fewer (the friends of friends) manage to get the upmost health care. Otherwise one must do it privately.

Surely all this reinforces the need to get the best out of what is available at one's disposal, and that requires to have the best image study for the best guess of the location of the bandit. If contained the treatment can assure cure to 100%. If localized the situation requires a wider therapy, therefore lower assurances but being radiation most recommendable.

Your comment on surgery (robot assisted/laparoscopic vz open) differs in the time of the operation and recuperation period. Open requires longer times (the cut is wider) but the physician has better access for dissecting localized lymph nodes (the first auberge used by the bandit in its travel). LP allows patients to go home in just two days (better for the NHS) but recovery seems better done at the hospital for pain control and abdominal healing. Radiation differs on the protocol and used equipment. CK takes 5 sections while IMRT takes 40. Both do not need hospital internment, so that CK can be done far from home (a trip of 5 days out) while IMRT should be at close facilities as it is done 30 minutes every day (except on Sundays).

Try reading about the risks and side effects involving each therapy to help in the decisions. Discuss the matter with your wife as you may not be able of fathering another child. The lovely nights will become different too, and you will need to adapt to your newer you.

Best wishes and luck in your journey.

VGama

Well ........ you can have it with me. G&T is my second drink after red wine, but I don't mind to share a bitter too if that is your choice.

I wonder about the anxiety affair. What was it? Can you explain what took you to such panic attacks?

Having cancer is not fun but it is not death too. This is a situation we need to confront positively. The worse are the side effects that will be there forever. Avoiding these to the maximum and reaching cure is the goal that one should aim. Too much information also causes anxiety, and the responsible feel in the decision of the therapy (without experience) takes us to the tip of the worries. Probably a trip with the family will give you peace of mind and the opportunity to think it over on what to do next. Remenber that your choice is the best no matter what you opt for. We weight for you.

Best wishes for a good picture of the bandit. In all my 17 years of exams I never got a successful image of his face. A positive result is what you need to locate the thing and confirm the clinical stage.

VGama