Newly Diagnosed 4/21/12

I was just diagnosed with Prostate cancer. With half of the biopsy cores 7 out of 14 tested positive for cancer. One area was seen as a shadow on the ultrasound. There was perineural invasion on 2 of the cores. I am concerned by the volume of positive cores and that it has metastasized to my bones.

I have been having lower back issues over the last year I twisted my back playing Vollyball Dec 2010 and I have been having tingling and discomfort across the top of my buttocks on off for the last few months. I have not had a bone scan yet and don't know if I want to.

I don't know if I can handle a positive bone scan. In my mind that would be a death sentence. I see a surgeon on Wednesday. Needless to say have been unable to think of anything else all week any insight on what I should do or how to relax until I get the final diagnosis would be appreciated

Age 49
DX 4/21/12, PSA 2.8, Biopsy 14 samples 7 positive for Prostate Cancer
3 were at 40% Gleason 6
1 was at 5% Gleason 6
1 was at 10 % Gleason 6
1 was at 80% Gleason 3 +4 90%/10%
1 was at 60% Gleason 3 +4 90%/10%

Kenadol

You need a bone scan so you can know exactly what you are up against and what treatment you need to have. My husband and I are new at this and Learning alot in a very short time.It is what it is and there is nothing you can do to change it,but you can get great insight from others here and the questions to ask when you do find out exactly what you are up against.

Stay strong .ask questions,change your diet,workout as much as you can.It will help relieve the stress.

Thanks for the quick feedback,

Intheshop I have already purchased Dr Patrick Walsh's book.

Thanks again

Kenadol

Kenadol,

Sorry that you find yourself at HW, but you have found an excellent source for information. I understand the emotion, but this is not a death sentence. If you are like me, every ache and pain seemed magnified and you naturally think it's the PCa and it's spread no matter what my Uro said that it had nothing to do with it. Now 9 months from surgery I feel great, no lower back stiffness, significantly more energy and best of all no sign of PCa for now. My Uro and surgeon did not recommend a bone scan as they advised it was an extremely low probability that it would show anything.

Try to relax and stay active. Do as much research on your options for treatment as possible. Consult with second opinions if you are uncomfortable. You have time to consider the alternatives and make the right decision for you.

Best wishes and use us as you need.

Unless your psa is over 40, bone and CT scans will show clear. This doesn't mean that there are not micomets, but the limits of the scans simply cannot pick up anything but large matastis greater than 10mm. Much more useful to you with a large volume PC would be an MRIS or a Color Doppler Ultrasound to see if the tumor has extracapsular invasion or is in the seminal vessicles.
Good luck,
JT

Kenadol, Mate your feelings are completely normal, I cried for days on hearing the big C word, cancer is for other people not me. Yes thought I was going to die too. Please Please check on the link below, its a great web site and very helpful. Press the "Dont Panic Button" and read on. Good Luck Mate
Cheers Kev.

http://www.yananow.org/

there's a very small chance that you have mets but a very good chance your cancer has escaped the capsule to the prostate bed.  i wouldn't dilly dally on a treatment choice and i would strongly consider combination treatment.  in fact our numbers are similar in terms of volume of cancer and i did opt for combination treatment. we assumed that the cancer had jumped ship.  good luck to you.

ed

 

Well,

I got my surgical consult from a University of Michigan Doctor and he was happy with original prognosis, but I told him I wanted a Bone Scan. The Bone scan is scheduled for next Wednesday. Am I doing the right thing?

Honest opinion?

You are not doing the right thing. Every scan does involve radiation. With a PSA as low as yours, the chances of something showing up are very minimal. Additionally, arthritis and other stuff will show up and that might necessitate further unnecessary tests.

But the best answer is: what does your doctor say.

My opinion is worth what you paid for it; your doctor charges more!

Mel