Just starting on the long road.

Welcome to our corner of the world. Glad you decided to post. Sounds like you've already been through a lot already. Sorry you still need to deal with the PC. It's very likely the PC is still contained in the prostate - a very good time to get it treated.

Has the doctor recommended a treatment for you?

Ask any questions you have. We sometimes have answers.

All the best,
Andrew

Hi Milcon,

"Unwelcome" to the club -- wish you didn't have to be here.

But as long as you are here, your stats are very promising for a cure. While you do have a Gleason score of 7, it is the "more desirable" 7 since it is 3+4. Much better than 4+3 and sometimes not much different than a Gleason 6.

Also, although your PSA is somewhat high at 5.5, any PSA under 10 has good promise for a great outcome.

Can you give us your age?

Your best options toward a cure will probably be surgery, external beam radiation or radioactive seeds. You should consult with a highly experienced (the more experience the better!!!) radiation oncologist and a highly experienced urologist/surgeon. Get the pros & cons of each of these treatments.

Then you can make the decision based on what you have learned & what you feel most confident in & comfortable with.

If you have other questions, all of us are always eager to help out.

Good luck!
Chuck

Resident of Highland, Indiana just outside of Chicago, IL.
July 2011 local PSA lab reading 6.41 (from 4.1 in 2009). Mayo Clinic PSA Sept. 2011 was 5.7.
Local urologist DRE revealed significant BPH, but no lumps.
PCa Dx Aug. 2011 at age of 61.
Biopsy revealed adenocarcinoma in 3 of 20 cores (one 5%, two 20%). T2C.
Gleason score 3+3=6.
CT of abdomen, bone scan both negative.
DaVinci prostatectomy 11/1/11 at Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MN), nerve sparing, age 62.
My surgeon was Dr. Matthew Tollefson, who I highly recommend.
Final pathology shows tumor confined to prostate.
5 lymph nodes, seminal vesicles, extraprostatic soft tissue all negative.
1.0 x 0.6 x 0.6 cm mass involving right posterior inferior,
right posterior apex & left mid posterior prostate.
Right posterior apex margin involved by tumor over a 0.2 cm length, doctor says this is insignificant.
Prostate 98.3 grams, tumor 2 grams. Prostate size 5.0 x 4.7 x 4.5 cm.
Catheter out in 7 days. No incontinence, occasional minor dripping.
Post-op exams 2/13/12, 9/10/12, PSA <0.1.
Semi-erections now happening 14 months post-op & slowly getting a bit stronger.

Hi Milcon,

Wow, that is a lot to deal with. If you want a less invasive treatment than surgery again, look into Proton therapy. Results are just as good as other methods and there seem to be a lot less side effects. I am not saying that this is best the treatment for you, but at least look into it. Good Luck in your journey.

Regards,
Kris

Thanks,

Well I am 54 going on 55,, so far pSA has been in the5.5 range for the last 4 months Just had one done last week just before the ciscope for the visual check on the bladder. Bladder path came back clear for 3 month check for cancer. So one down , pass go collect, $200.00, wait for 3 more months, check again.

Now for the next trip.
Both doctors that I have seen have recommended removal, Thier reasoning , just get it out of the body.
I am leaning hard towards radiation via electronic markers to follow the prostate.
I looked into MRI-Lazer but information is dam hard to find.
I contacted one of the clinics and they have only done 100 or so operations in the last 2-3 years.

I just found this site a couple of days ago.
I need to get all of my records to see where I stand. I have noticed that Doctors are or seem to be very narow in terms of recomendations and information has to be dam near be forced out of them with just the right questions.

I am just still mad that I have this problem and am being to harsh with my doctors.

Any how I will post information as soon as I get it.

Thanks all, Martin