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Posted 5/19/2010 6:49 AM (GMT 0)
Is it OK to go in the hot tub at the gym after prostate biopsy?
Posted 5/19/2010 2:49 PM (GMT 0)
In short I would say yes. I was told to take it easy the rest of that same day. Cannot imagine what harm a spa would do.
Posted 5/19/2010 3:15 PM (GMT 0)
My uro said the same thing with each of my 3 biopsies - no tub baths, no hot tubs/spas, or no swimming for 10, to prevent the chance of any stray infections. Then I was given the "all clear" signal.
Posted 5/19/2010 3:36 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Purg...Was that 10 hours or ten days? Over the years and three biopsy's I don't recall a restriction outside of that first day.
Posted 5/24/2010 4:15 PM (GMT 0)
Well just heard from Urologist and news is not good - results are positive with the Gleason score running a very high 8-9. Now he wants to do a bone scan and cat scan to see if it's spread into those areas of hips/abdomen. sad

Does this mean I'm doomed? shakehead

I knew something was up with all the bad symptoms I've been having. cry

Posted 5/24/2010 5:05 PM (GMT 0)
Midi,

Doomed? No. But it certainly isn't good! Carp!
This certainly puts a more serious spin on things. And it puts you in a class above my pay grade. My Gleason was 7 with a PSA of 23. I elected to only have RP by DaVinci but by all measures, I was a candidate for additional therapies. HT, Radiation etc. With my incontinence and ED I elected to take the gamble and skip RT in the hope that I might show some progress and would be one of the lucky ones to be "cured" by surgery alone. i threw the dice knowing the 40% odds. Your situation is worse than mine.

You will be stepping into a world where few of us have been.
Don't panic. You will survive. But, you should start lining up your support network now.

Some of the big boys will no doubt chime in here. Listen carefully.
Keep us informed. If you need to talk, my email address is listed.
Jeff
Posted 5/24/2010 5:13 PM (GMT 0)
I don't know about surviving - but are not Gleason scores sometimes over-rated initially?

Also what if it spread to my bones - I have had trouble walking lately and I thought it was a bad case of Siatica -  I am really worried now! 

shocked  

Posted 5/24/2010 5:32 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, the Gleason scores do change slightly. Mine went from a 7 to a 6. There are guys who's scores increased. Of course you can send the slides out to another place to get second opinions and many guys here will insist on it. But the reality is you will not likely change your treatment if your 5+4 went to a 4+5 or even a 4+4.

If the bone scan shows something, your treatment options will be better defined. The scan misses small stuff so if it does see something that is not an injury, then you've got it. My whole body scan showed a hot spot on my shoulder. I had to return for a second scan. It turns out the spot was caused by me shooting my rifle at some pesky squirrels a couple of days before. In revenge those little pests made me drink all that chalk dye a second time. Make sure the docs know if you have any recent injuries.

If you look at the signatures of other guys. You will find that you're not the first person to head down this road.

Go for a walk if you can. You've earned it.
Jeff

Post Edited (Worried Guy) : 5/24/2010 12:45:04 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 5/24/2010 5:47 PM (GMT 0)
Thaks Jeff - will try to go for a walk but even that is a painful chore now...I hope I survive this but I feel like I just got a death sentence...
Posted 5/24/2010 5:59 PM (GMT 0)
Midi,
Like I said, it's not good, but it's not over either. I wouldn't start short selling stocks figuring on disappearing before they try to collect. You are going to be around for a while.
Look at my hero "living1963". His PSA was more than 3000! He's still kicking around. Check out his stats.
I don't know in what part to the country you live or what your family situation is. You might want to let a few guys know so they can help you.
This is the most caring bunch I've ever seen. (Must be the Hormone therapy.)
You will need some help. Accept it.
Jeff
Posted 5/24/2010 7:18 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Jeff - did you have the hormone therapy? I hate the idea of going thru chemo - but most likely I am loooking at a RP instead of a Turp?
Posted 5/24/2010 7:48 PM (GMT 0)
So can the PCa be treated if even it has spread to the bones or other organs?
Posted 5/24/2010 11:15 PM (GMT 0)
Midi,
No I didn't do anything before or after my DaVinci date. I threw the dice and am taking my chances.
Maybe I was shortsighted, but at least I made a choice. I'm comfortable with it.
Time will tell if I rolled snake eyes or not.
Jeff

And yes they can treat everything, even if it has spread. None of it is pleasant but at least it is treatable.
Maybe some of the high rollers will chime in with their experiences.
Posted 5/24/2010 11:31 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Midi...give us some more numbers...U mentioned your Gleason score was eight or nine....Had to be stated like 4+4=8 or maybe 5+4=0 etc. How many CORES ere taken and how many were POSITIVE? If the doctor took twelve cores and only a coupe were positive that would be a good sign. There are lots of guys here that have had similar numbers and are dealing with them.....Are you sure you want to continue with the two urologists you've been seeing? Sure seems like the first one let U down...

You've read my numbers but briefly 74 years old Gleason was seven (stated your way) but really 3=4+7. Two of Twelve cores contained cancer. Prostate was a big-un at 106 grams. Had it removed 2/10/10 and feeling GREAT so don't throw in the towel!!!!

What neck of the woods are you from....there are some GREAT facilities out there and some that, in my opinion, are not so great!!!!
Posted 5/25/2010 12:13 AM (GMT 0)
I tried to get him to fax me a copy but no luck yet - but I thought he mentioned the numbers 8-9...

I am in Arizona - did it take long to recover from prostate removal & is that the end of your sex life?
Posted 5/25/2010 12:42 AM (GMT 0)
Midi,
You need to read some the posts here. Recovery can be short or long.
Except for ED and incontinence I was in great shape in three weeks.

Sex life is not over. Even with ED you can orgasm. With no mess!
If you have ED then you work through the Holy Trinity of ED therapies: Pills, Pump, Prick (injections) .
Many guys don't need it.
I was not so lucky.
J
Posted 5/25/2010 12:53 AM (GMT 0)
OK good - just talked to the Uro - he said all 12 cores were positive - with the Gleason score being 4 + 5 = 9.

He said if bone scans & MRI are negative he can schedule a Trup pretty soon....
Posted 5/25/2010 1:06 AM (GMT 0)
Hey Midi
You're kidding right? He said a TURP? Transurethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP) is a surgical procedure for guys with an enlarged, benign (not cancerous) prostate.
You are Gleason 9 with 12/12 hot and PSA of 37. Call him back and nicely ask why the heck he is suggesting a TURP. Is this a temporary fix for some reason. Is the plan to use Chemo and the TURP to give you short term comfort?
What is the plan for the Big C?
It would not hurt to get a second opinion.
When are your scans?
J
Posted 5/25/2010 1:36 AM (GMT 0)

Listen to Worried Guy, this isn't sounding correct.

Hero

Posted 5/25/2010 2:11 AM (GMT 0)
My dad had a TURP too when he had PCa.

My dad's TURP was two or three years after he was diagnosed with a fairly advanced case. He kept his prostate for the rest of his life but the TURP was just to relieve urination problems
Posted 5/25/2010 2:16 AM (GMT 0)
Midi -- I would not usually do this, but I am going to make a very specific suggestion. Call Dr. Mark Scholz in Marina del Rey, CA. His number is (310) 827-7707. He is one of the nation's leading prostate cancer oncologists, and LA is not that far from AZ.

If the numbers you got are correct, you cannot afford to mess around with a urologist who is talking about scheduling a TURP. You have a serious case of prostate cancer. You need to see a real expert. The good news is that -- under the care of an expert -- there are treatments that can work.

My father had advanced prostate cancer. He liked his local doctors, and decided to stick with them. It was most convenient and least expensive. He knew they were not leading experts, but they seemed like pretty smart guys. My father died of prostate cancer.

I am sorry to be unusually blunt in this messsge. But I want you to have a better outcome than my father had. And the key to that is getting top-flight medical advice.
Posted 5/25/2010 2:43 AM (GMT 0)
I guess I am confused too - he said we can talk about more treatment options after the scan results. Maybe he was talking about a Trup combined with Radation - but I am going to get a second opinion from another Uro after I get a copy of the pathalogy report.

What is ususaly done in cases like this? Complete removal of the prostate?
Posted 5/25/2010 2:52 AM (GMT 0)
Midi,
I agree with Medved. I saw Dr Scholtz and it was the best move I ever made. The TURP dosn't sound right and if I'm correct a bout of radiation will be in your future and a TURP will just complicate things and may make you ineligable for radiation. See Dr Scholtz or another prostate oncologist as soon as you can. I believe that Tony was seeing Dr Volgangang (spelling?) in Arizona so he may also be an option.
At this point stop messing around with urologists as you now need a good oncologist who can guide you in your treatments.
JohnT
Posted 5/25/2010 3:05 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks John - sounds like you had a long battle with this that mine's just beginning.

My Uro said the main thing was to get me pising again along with removal of the canerous nodes so maybe he is talking about a combination of treatments.

I heard the Chemo was really nasty but the radation not as bad - is this true?

Also, with the correct treatment do you think I have a good 5-10 years or more survival rate?
Posted 5/25/2010 5:46 AM (GMT 0)
My Gleason at biopsy was 8, PSA in the high 20's, grew to low 30's by the time I started treatment. I had a neo-adjuvant chemo followed by Radical Prostatectomy. I had some positive margins and EPE, but still a localized disease.

With your stats, it is very possible the cancer is localized, which means you can beat it. So, take a deep breath and don't get ahead of yourself. BTW, I did exactly what you do now - I started figuring how many years I have left. I wrote a five year plan... It has been 3 years and I am in a great shape with zero PSA.

Now some specific answers. No chemo is not necessarily terrible. People react differently, but Taxotere (chemo most often used for PCa) is relatively mild. I had six rounds and very few mild side effects. I worked through the entire treatment.

Radiation is even less of a big deal. Most people breese through it.

HT has unpleasant moments, but still allows you to live mostly normal live.

I agree with earlier posts, finding the best possible doctor is your number one priority.
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