Did NOT want to join this club, but here we are...

Hi all,

My wife wanted me to get a prostate exam at my annual physical, as she had noticed my erections were not quite as hard lately, and she had read that there might be a connection to prostate cancer on the Internet.  The doc said the erection issue was more likely related to low testorone levels, and that they normally don't do a prostate exam in someone as young as me (42), especially given the lack of risk factors (e.g. no family history) and indicators.  However, since my insurance is so good, there would be no fiscal impact for me, so they did it.

Quite the instincts on my wife.

Tomorrow I go for CAT scan and bone scan to determine if the cancer has spread elsewhere.  We should find out on Thursday.

My urologist has done something like 200 prostatectomies.  He said that if the cancer is contained in the prostate, I'm high risk for anything but prostatectomy.  And maybe that's the best thing.  Dunno.  But in my head, I keep hearing "To a man with a hammer, every problem looks like a nail."

He also said that 7 of 12 cores showing cancer seems to indicate the cancer has been there a while (though I don't know what "a while" means), and that the high Gleason score is of particular concern.

So, does high Gleason score usually equate to PCa that has spread, is it common/uncommon for it to be contained within the prostate?  Any guidance out there?

Just a bit nervous...

Pasltiri

While this is definitely a shock for someone so young, be thankful that you have discovered it!  I just read an obituary from my local paper of a 54 year old who just passed away after a long battle with prostate cancer.  That hits me, having been diagnosed at 57.  My first recommendation that you may have read here, is to get Dr. Patrick Walsh's book,  "Surviving Prostate Cancer", right away.  It has a whole bunch of answers to the questions you must have. 

As you can read from my signature line, I did the surgery, followed by HT and radiation as a secondary treatment after finding more cancer than the biopsy showed.  I'm 2 1/2 years post diagnosis, and my numbers look good.  From your signature, I would do a lot of study soon, and make your decision on treatment.  Your's is a case I don't think I would take too much time to decide If I were in your shoes.

Good Luck......keep in touch....

Psaltiri,
Welcome to the forum. Good advice and information from the members above particularly that from JohnT about seeing an oncologist and having additional tests and scans. It is most important that you know the extent of your tumour before committing to a particular treatment. Quite often a urologist will recommend surgery based on PSA, Gleason, CAT scan and bone scan alone and while it may indeed be the best course in your case, there are additional staging tests and scans available and JohnT has good knowledge and information on them. As a general rule it is unlikely that there will be any apparent metastases with a PSA under 10. Here is a little information that will make Gleason and grading a little clearer for you: Knowledge is a great tool in dealing with this disease.
www.stjohn.org/InnerPage.aspx?Pageid=1446
Additionally this booklet is a very good read on prostate cancer and it's treatment:
www.yananow.net/StrangePlace/index.html#index
You will find the stories of the journeys of many with similar stats as yours here. It is good therapy to read of the success of others who have walked the same road.
www.yananow.net/Chart-Gleasonu6.htm#8
Sorry you had to join us but you will find much good information here and a lot of people anxious to help, all from the patient's perspective. I wish you well
Bill

I almost hate to say welcome to the forum, however I truly am glad you found us in this time of need. The advice you have gotten from the forum members is wise. I have nothing to ad on that note. I do hope that you will take care of yourself emotionally, physically, and spiritually especially now. The road ahead is going to be paved with uncertainty so shore up the aspects of life that you can so as to go into this battle with plenty of armor. For me my faith and spirituality helped me in areas that doctors could not. I have similar numbers to you and was originally given what I would call a grim prognosis. Now I am living life to the fullest and enjoying all the relationships that have been forged from this battle. I plan to live many many years and continue to be an advocate for faith based healing. Would love to chat via email sometime if you so choose. Stay in touch and please keep us informed as to how you are doing.

peace and much love
dale

Dr Mark Scholz in Marina Del Rey is well known as an excellent prostate cancer oncologist.

Like I said my numbers were similar to yours, I opted to come to SoCal and have the prostate removed. City of Hope is outstanding for that and I admit bias to that facility. They were fantastic. (Marc Kawachi or Tim Wilson are highly experienced surgeons).

If you elect to have better imaging of the tumor, you may wish to head out to Ventura. Look up Dr. Duke Bahn.

A consult with each of these would be excellent.

Hang in there. There is plenty that can be done.

Tony

Hi Tony,

Thanks for the immediacy of your response. When you say "better imaging", are you referring to an MRI of the tumor, or something else?

(Getting myself geared up to drink my barium...)

Dr. Bahn is using a newer fusion technology that maps a tumor in color images. This is gaining respect in the industry. It may not change your path, and it might. But I am one who believes that getting this scan doesn't hurt and can provide a baseline image that may come in handy later. Dr. Bahn is also a cryologist, and I am still not sold on that method for guys who are advanced. But his imaging techniques are pretty solid. I will see Dr Bahn on Thursday. He will be here in Vegas at my cancer center for a speaking engagement. I may learn a thing or two.

Tony

LOL but if a doctor tells you that a certain way is the only way HE will treat you, don't run so fast. You do want a doctor passionate about his competancy if you have elected that form of treatment. it does not hurt that he says it's the best way.  There is truth in the statement that a urologist will recommend surgery and a radiaologist will recommend radiation. Some oncologists will recommend systemic treatments when a local will work fine. And you may be looking at a combination of the three. So order may matter. Be educated in what you decide. Then find the best at doing it.

Tony

Thanks, everyone. Had my CT scan and bone scan yesterday. The barium solution had some sort of vanilla flavoring in it. Not great, but definitely not awful.

Tomorrow, we get the results, and we can start making our treatment decisions...

Just returned from the urologist.

CT scan and bone scan are both CLEAR!!! I am stunned and grateful for this day! I'm keeping in mind that it's still a G9 cancer, and there's really no way to know if it started it's spread, but today, we experienced a miracle. God is with us!

Tomorrow, I have an appointment with Dr. Richard Lam, who works with Dr. Scholz in Marina del Rey. I'm doing a bunch of reading tonight. I feel like I'm studying for an exam.

My wife received something from someone saying pommegranate juice has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and that studies show it can substantially reduce the development of even the most aggressive prostate cancers (among others). In addition, drinking it daily slows the spread of an established prostate cancer by more than 50%.

Now, I'm very leary of snake oil promises, so I look to this educated community. What's the scoop here? (I'll probably drink it either way, as I like the taste...)