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Low PSA w/ Cancer

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Posted 3/22/2008 1:06 AM (GMT 0)
My PSA is only 0.75 yet I have Gleason of 3+3.  Anyone esle had similar numers?  I can't find any information regarding such a low PSA with a Gleason as high as 3+3.
Posted 3/22/2008 2:11 AM (GMT 0)
Why were you tested? You must have had an unusual reason for a biopsy. I can't think of a case like yours but hang in there. We may have one "lurking."


Tony
Posted 3/22/2008 3:00 AM (GMT 0)

I do see ther are a few with similar numbers.

At a routine physical the doctor found a small bump by DRE.  My biopsy showed 3 areas of my left side had 15%, 30% and 50% while my right had none.  Also my prostate is still small and I had no symptoms.

My surgeon recommends removing the prostate.  I went to Mayo clinic for a second opinion and that doctor thinks my numbers and lack of symptoms are odd so he has ordered both bone scan and prostate MRI. 

If I learn anything about the apparent lack of correlation between my PSA and Biposy results I will post it.

Posted 3/24/2008 4:37 AM (GMT 0)

Very interesting case, goinlong.

I hope you keep us posted on your situation.

All the best to you!

Barry

Posted 3/24/2008 4:56 AM (GMT 0)

I'm surprised at your results with such a low PSA.  It was 0.75, not 7.5?

My PSA was low when diagnosed--2.6 ng/mL and no palpable lump on DRE. The quadrupling from the previous year's PSA is what triggered the biopsy, which was positive in one core.  Only one small area was found to be cancerous when the prostate was removed. 

Best to you on your follow-up testing and discussions with physicians.  Let us know how things are going.  I'm sure this is a stressful time for you.

Take care and be well...Tim

Posted 3/24/2008 9:55 AM (GMT 0)
My PSA was 1.9 and I thought it was low also. Went to see urologist for different reason and he decided to do DRE just as a routine and found hard spot. Ordered biopsy which proved positive. Just two weeks prior to uro checking, my Personal doc did DRE but found nothing.
Posted 7/19/2012 11:50 AM (GMT 0)
 

Hi

Thanks for the great lot of honest threads.

I have leant more here than in 12 months elsewhere.

I  am brand new to this world of PC and suprised to be here. 

I have very very low PSA, varies from 0.6 to 1.1 over two years.  Currently 0.8

Dr found a small grit feeling on DRE

Urologist also found it.  Suggested Biopsy which showed 3 out of 12 with miniscule amounts

Biopsy one year later had 1 out of 12 with higher levels.

Gleason was 3+3 = 6

Current DRE said that the lump was now more obvious and not gritty 

Seems I am being tempted to go with surgery.  I don't feel inclined.

Afraid of side effects.  ED in particular.

Have happy life and all is working well now.  Don't wnat to have an operation for no good reason.

Does anyone have similar PSA and DRE and Gleason?

Would appreciate your help.

Is this thread still active?

(I am a bit new to know how it works>)

I am Australian  ... but don't hold that against me.

I am 61 healthy and happy... but want to stay in one piece!

Regards Richard

Posted 7/19/2012 1:04 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Richard, and welcome to HW.

You must have indeed read a lot of old HW threads to have come up with that old one from 2008. This helps to highlight why it is so important to put good information out there for others who fly-by in the future.

The fact is that a positive DRE is an indicator that your small tumor (which is quite natural for a 60 year old) is, unfortunately, near the surface of the prostate capsule. If it was more in the center, your low Gleason tumor would more likely stay self contained in the prostate (even if it slowly grew, which would be typical). But, a positive DRE is an indicator that action is warranted beyond "surveillance," since you indicated that your health is good. Since it is near the surface, it has a greater possibility of escaping the prostate over time, and that's not good.

The basic recommendation at this point is to have your staging reconfirmed by someone specializing in PC before proceeding, but if confirmed, seek someone with vast experience in treatment because it is proven that a "learning curve" related to positive outcomes exists.

Best wishes...
Posted 7/19/2012 1:54 PM (GMT 0)
My brother was diagnosed about 8 yrs. ago now with similar, Gleason 6 and less than 5% in one core.....meets the definition of indolent PCa....he has done nothing but monitor for 8 yrs., so far seems like a good decision, for him.
Posted 7/19/2012 1:55 PM (GMT 0)
While you are considering your options also look into brachytherapy radiation. Both the permanent seeds and the High Dose Rate temporary are as effective as surgery in cancer cure and control. The advantage is that the side effects are much less. You may be a candidate for brachytherapy monotherapy, or they may want to combine external beam radiation (IMRT/IGRT). Either way it erradicates the cancer as effective as surgery and with less side effects. Seek out the opinions a a few radiation oncologists before you make a decision

for research you can use the following websites: for HDR, www.cetmc.com, the website of HDR pioneer Dr jeffrey Demanes, the head of brachytherapy at UCLA; and for permanent seeds, www.prostrcision.com, the website of seed pioneer Dr Frank Critz in Atlanta.
Posted 7/19/2012 4:38 PM (GMT 0)
Going long,
You are correct in being concerned. A low psa with a high or medium tumor volume is indicative of a PC varient and must be checked out by a specialist as this is way above the knowledge level of most doctors including those at major institutions. about 2 years ago there was a similar post and the poster finally after doing extensive research ended up seeing Dr Myers in Earlysville Va. who Dxed a complex varient when all of his other doctors told him not to be concerned. He was sent to the Netherlands where they discovered cancer in his lymphatic system and was treated at Dattoli in Sarasota. His psa was about where yours was.

A consult with Dr Myers would be your best bet, just to play it safe.
Posted 7/19/2012 4:59 PM (GMT 0)
Find the best doctors you can find, both surgeons and radiologists and meet with them. Start a journal and take notes.

If you decide to have something done, please consider all your options including seeds. There are no do-overs. You can read what I went through by clicking on the link in my signature. Best of luck to you.
Posted 7/21/2012 8:32 AM (GMT 0)
 

Thank you to the many who have made such helpful suggestions.

I need a few days to process them all and look at things I should know.

I read Gleason 6 and his journey with intensity.

(I had previously skimmed over radiation of any kind and spent my time

thinking robot or open surgery.  You have offered me a new angle.

I will research more and post again.  Thank  you

Casey 59 has a good point.  It is very hard find where to look on the forum but the need to find somehting kept me at it.

Are there other ways of searching.?

Best wishes

  

Posted 7/21/2012 10:59 PM (GMT 0)
Hi again, Richard. Stuff on this site is not really well organized, but I make extensive use of the search function at the top of the page. The key to success with the search function is finding the best combination of words to search on, and for me that's often an iterative process. Trying one word or set of words often leads to discovering another, better word to search on. Always include "prostate" in your search to stay on this board.

Please do also feel free to ask questions here. We realized that there are always newcomers like yourself, and repeating some of the old messages from the past is absolutely fine.  Start a new thread would be preferred, though, rather than adding a new thought to an old thread.

best wishes...

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