Post Surgery Pathology Report

I am certainly no expert or even know what the entire report means but I would have guessed that you should have had a better outcome. I wonder if the RT was targeted to where it needed to be? I am sorry to hear that the RT didn't do as much ,so far, as one would have hoped. Hopefully, others may shed some light on this. I guess my knowledge, such that it is, does not extend into the area of oncology, yet anyway.
Ron

Jack,

There are a lot of similarities in our post-surgery pathology reports. My doctor was pretty confident at first, but quickly changed his mind when my one tiny positive margin turned to BCR in way less than a year. I am still waiting for the final verdict on my SRT, but the early signals are that its not working either. I am still puzzled why mine was listed as a pT2c and not stage 3 (not that I wanted it).

You had a smaller prostate than me, and less involvement and a lot lower PSA pre-treatment, but I can see your PC has a path of its own. Good luck as you continue your fight.

David

This is why this bloody disease is so frustrating. Here you are, gland not at all enlarged for your age, pretty good PSA at a little over 4. Op says 3+4=7 with not a large amount of tumour (10% of the gland). The prostate is sliced into blocks and just the one block shows a focal extension (Skate is 1.2cm correct or should that be 1.2mm------1.2cm is rather large to be called "focal") It looks as though 3 local nodes were taken and these were clear as were the seminal vesicles. I wish when these docs speak of "margins" they would be more specific when they mention them ------ sometimes they mean margin of the prostate (the "capsule") and other times they are speaking of the surgical margin which often is further out. For example you can have the capsule margin breached focally but the surgical margin clear. Perineural invasion (invasion of the nerves within the gland not the separate nerves attached to the surface which control erection) is very common post surgery, even in a successful operation. All in all you would say that meant a very pretty good prognosis. Then despite this the disease only plays fair for a year and a half before raises its ugly head again and needs zapping with radiation. The current PSA would seem to indicate that radiation did not get it all but you should see a good response with ADT. Here's to knocking it back down again.
Bill

Bill,  I checked the report and it does state:

"One tumor a focus identified with extraprostatic extension 1.2 cm, greatest tumor dimensions on one slide."

Thanks for the responses guys. keep them coming as I can now see my path more clearly.

Jack

Sorry about your outcome. Hope you do well with salvage treatments.

Though you had EPE, "Margins uninvolved" meant your surgeon did a good job, took everything out and you had negative margin.

Absence of seminal invasion.

As a matter of fact I go in Tuesday for my PSA and T level.  Will get my results when I go in for my second injection of Zoladex later in February.

Jack