got final pathology report today. good news, bad news, and questions

today, went back to cleveland clinic. get rid of catheter and drain. yeeha!

also got his pathology report. bad news first: gleason score is 3+4=7 (original was 3+3=6). stage is pT2c NX MX (original was pT1c) not happy with those bad news

good news: the tumor is confined to the prostate, surgical margins and seminal vesicles are negative for tumor, bladder neck shave is negative

Questions:
1, apical involovement: positive (what is that means?)
2, High-grade PIN: positive (what is that means?)

thanks everyone. I am in the stage that trying to understand the every word of this report.

Jennifer

Evening Jennifer,

You got a lot of news all at one time.

Glad his cath and his drain are history, thats a good start.

Please remember, that when you get a PC dx from a biopsy, at best, it is an estimate based on a small sampling of tissue. It is not uncommon to have the Gleason and/or staging upgraded after surgery. Why? Because they now have the whole gland to look at, as well as the other bits and pieces they took out of your husband.

There is a lot of good news in that pathology report. Yes, its a shame that it is now a Gleason 7 (3+4). But its not a Gleason 7(4+3), which I go with the school that says your husbands version is the lesser of evils. Also, look how small a percentage of Type 4 Cancer cells made up that Gleason 7, under 10%, that is good news.

High Grade PIN, are cells that are prone to turn cancerous, doesnt mean they will, but lots of time they will. The fact that they found that as well tells me that it was high time to get the cancerous prostate out of him, and good riddence.

Others will weigh in on some of the other highpoints of this pathology report, but all in all, I think its pretty decent.

I hope he continues to recover well, and that you start getting some peace of mind.

David in SC

thanks David and Casey59,

I am so glad that things over now, at least, for now. the report is not bad, that gives us some peace. just wish we can get in ZERO club in 4 weeks.

Richard is very tired too. now without tubes he can recover better. He is very happy to be catheter and drain free.

from watch my husband's surgery, I totally understand everyone here who had surgery or surgeries, must experienced a lots of physical and mental challenge. it is not easy at all. So I solute to you that you all had great job done and deserve lots of credit.

leaking, on our way back, we stopped couple place, total about 4 hours, Richard had some leak on depend pants. Doctor let him do kegel every 12 minutes. so now he having a timer attach on his shirt, beeping every 12 minutes

Congratulations Jennifer ... sounds like an excellent pathology report. Richard's cancer is a stage II which means that it has not invaded any other tissues - that's great news! Clean margins, seminal vesicles, no extraprostectic extension - these are all what we like to hear! The stage t1c is only used on a biopsy sample, as far as I know. All that means is that the PCa was found due to an elevated PSA. This is called the clinical stage. As Purgatory pointed out, the surgical specimen allows them to go over every inch of what was removed, resulting in a much more accurate staging of the disease.

Richard's incontinence will improve ... I know it's easy to say don't worry, but don't.

So happy for both of you ... it's been quite a journey, hasn't it?

With best wishes for a future filled with zeros,

Sephie & John

goodlife, I didn't kiss doctor because i was in the waiting room with my daughter. I left 4:30am this morning to get 7:40 apointment there so couldn't send daughter to daycare. also, Dr. kauk's assitance was seeing Richard today, today is Kaouk's surgery day. I didn't have chance to ask my question.

according to Dr, he saved both side of nurves. and I would like to try those nurves sometime later



Sephie, i guess next would be leaking problem, fun fun fun. I know it will get better day by day. We are joking that out daughter just graduated from diaper then daddy start it again.


Steve, thanks for your link. what you said were excaclly what doctor told us.

glad everything is over, for now.

good night everyone!

Jennifer

Jennifer, I laughed at your comment about your baby "graduating" from diapers and daddy moving into them!

The incontinence will get better, I promise. It may not be what it was pre-surgery but it will be better than it is now.

Glad to hear those nerve bundles were spared - looks like you have your work cut out for you helping them to heal ( hee-hee).

So very happy that everything has worked out well for you and your family. This is one traumatic experience to go through but with the help of friends, we get through it.

Bet you and Richard will give plenty of thanks this Turkey Day! Enjoy the holiday.

Sephie & John