HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Update on Pathology for Frank1205

Support Forums
>
Prostate Cancer
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 4/4/2008 5:19 PM (GMT 0)
I only had 1% of 10 needle cores test positive on my origiinal biopsy and I was very close to waiting.  In my case it seems I made the right decision looking back now to take it out.

I realize their are many brothers on this site with conditions that are staged much higher than mine but I am a little disappointed with the following information.

Seminal Vessels clear

Fat tissue around prostate clear

Gleason score up from 6 to 7

10% of both lobes cancerous

up from T1C to T2C

Cancer contained to the prostate

Tumer located in distal area of prostate

One close or positive margin in the distal portion of the prostate.

Going to talk to Oncologist but not sure if anything will be indicated at this time.

All in all it could be alot worse.  I guess I will have to watch the PSA pretty close now.

Take Care,

Frank

Posted 4/4/2008 6:11 PM (GMT 0)

Frank,

Is the "close or positive margin" the part that you are concerned about?

Everything else looked pretty good from what I could tell.

Keep your chin up!

DanMan Bob


Posted 4/4/2008 6:16 PM (GMT 0)

Frank-

The news sounds pretty good if you ask me!  Try not to stress too much about the close margin (close is better than positive margin).  Take care of yourself, recover from surgery and we will continue to pray that they got it all.  I know it is easier said than done.  Keep us posted and keep the faith! 

God bless,

Chayna

Posted 4/4/2008 6:30 PM (GMT 0)
Frank it was nice chatting with you the other day. I have to say the 2 above have given good advice, results look good. You need to relax if possible and concentrate on healing and not worry. Pathology is a very subjective process and even the Gleason upgrade is nothing to be alarmed about. Pre and post treatment anxiety seems to run rampant with PCa since you are reminded every 3-6 months that you are not considered cured till you can string together 5-7 years of low to no PSA scores. The distal area near the colon, by the way is the most common location for tumors of the prostate. Take care and heal up. Hope to chat again soon,

John
Posted 4/4/2008 6:57 PM (GMT 0)
Frank,

The way my Dr. explained it to me, the pathology people coat the Prostate with what they call "Ink".
If there are any traces outside of this ink, the cancer has spread outside of the prostate.

Your report says cancer is prostate contained.

I would look upon that as being extremely good news and not fret until and unless the Dr. tells you otherwise.

We're all in your corner,

Billy
Posted 4/4/2008 8:25 PM (GMT 0)
Terminology is so important sometimes when describing something this important. I have one Positive margin on the distal portion of the prostate above the urethra. Thank you for your encouraging words all.

Doc called since I last posted and stated that there was a lot more cancer than he believed, it was in a different place than he believed. This pre-surgical knowledge was all based on a Uroligist biopsy who I had little confidence in.

My only concern is of course the positive not close (sorry) margin. I will be making an appointment to see an oncologist and hemotoligist to get informed if the PSA does not respond as expected.

Doc says I have a 16% chance of reoccurence of cancer. If reoccurence of PSA occurs there is a 50/50 chance it will be significant. I will have a PSA in 6 weeks then in 3 months and we will acti accordingly to those indications.

I guess I will have to wait a few years to get my medical cure.

If I had to do it again I think I would have insisted on a MRI and/or wait for another biopsy to give the surgeon the most information about my condition we can get. May have changed his approach may have not.

Thanks again,

Frank
Posted 4/4/2008 8:29 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Billy,

Maybe some other members can chime in on this,  I thougth they ink the prostate and if the ink touches the cancer on examination that is called a positive margin.  This is the way it was explained to me.  The Doc did not sound too worried about this for he said the dye just infultrated ever so sllightly to this cancer.

Frank

Posted 4/4/2008 8:38 PM (GMT 0)
Frank

You sound somewhat close to myself and I had an area that got into the margin as well even though my report stated capsul contained. But one of the reasons you chose your plan of action I am sure as was my case was in the event it came back you could take other action. In my case I do have a returning PSA after going down to undetectable for two tests. At about 10 months after surgery I had a reading of .2 and growing. I will begin salvage radiation on April 14th and they feel real good about my chances of getting it this time because chances are it is microscopic cells that escaped and survied in some of th tissue. I am very optimistic that we can get it this time but in your case don't worry yourself too hard, they may have it all and it is gone, it's hard to wait but the future PSA tests will tell you. Good luck in your journey and I hope that it never does come back and the need for future treatments will not be required.

Norskie
Posted 4/4/2008 8:39 PM (GMT 0)

The doctor is only going by the same nomograms that are avaiable to all of us. Try using the Sloan-Kettering form to create your own.

I think you need to be positive about this and realize that there is an 84% chance that you are cured. tongue

Look for the good and dwell on that rather than vice-versa. I know it is soon, but your attitude and positive thoughts will help you deal and heal quicker than the negatives.

Posted 4/4/2008 9:14 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Norskie,

We are very similar in our histories. Time will tell as to what I need to do.

Thanks for sharing your experience.

Frank
Posted 4/5/2008 1:47 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Frank,
Hang in there. You need more information from the docs. You may be in a watch and wait position. You know my motto and I extend it to you ~ Stay Positive! If it did extend it was very small and very likely local. Radiation may be recommended but watch and wait may be good. A positive mind is very valuable here. So don't do much more than heal that surgery and you are right keep a monitor on it.

Thank you very much for you very kind words on my update. You are a great contributor here. You and Billy have my prayers for a successful mending. I too had a buddy who we shared the experience with. It sure is nice to have that simultaneous sharing. You two stay close and stay here. We are a great support group.

Tony
Posted 4/5/2008 2:11 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks Tony I appreciate it.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply