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Posted 1/23/2014 5:18 PM (GMT 0)
Hi there im looking for advice for prostate cancer, Had a PSA test a month ago after experiencing strange symptoms came back high so a biopsy and MRI scan was arranged which i have received results for today (but not by normal doctor so results may not be 100% accurate info)

My gleason score is 6 according to doctor
Its slow growing on a lobe (cant remember name)
Of my biopsy of 12 cores being taken only 8 showed normal signs with the remainder not


I have been given options of

Surgery
Active surveillance
Hormone therapy

Im a 20 year old but need to know side effects on each of the options available to myself and what questions i need to be asking when i go see my doctor again tomorrow.

Any advice is much appreciated
Posted 1/23/2014 5:26 PM (GMT 0)
You're twenty years old and you say you have prostate cancer?

Excuse me, but that does not seem very likely at all. Prostate cancer occurs in men who are much older than you are, and is rare even for men in their thirties.

Are you sure you understood what you were told about your diagnosis? Maybe you have a prostate infection, but it's extremely unlikely that you actually have prostate cancer at age 20.

Yet you are saying that you were told you are a Gleason 6 for prostate cancer, and you talk about some other findings of a diagnosis. But this isn't adding up.

Would you like to make another post and try and clarify this for us?
Posted 1/23/2014 5:52 PM (GMT 0)
Yes,please write a new post.I had PC at 46 years,we will be very surprice if you have PC a twenty.

let us know. shakehead

Posted 1/23/2014 6:12 PM (GMT 0)
At your age I would certainly investigate some of the new focal therapies that are offered. I believe Sloan Kettering would be a good place to start.

As others have stated you are young for this disease. For sure get a second (or a third) opinion before you make changes that cannot be undone.

Best of luck to you.

Posted 1/23/2014 6:23 PM (GMT 0)
Been back to doctors now got moved appointment very luckily. Its a benign tumour according to the biopsy.. Whats the difference im booked to see a specialist to go through it all with me in the next few weeks and ill be having another biopsy

Im very confused right now and quite worried about what this is all about.
Posted 1/23/2014 6:45 PM (GMT 0)
Benign means it's not cancer. Maybe a cyst? There should not be a Gleason score.

If your PSA was high, it probably is prostatitis or some obstruction.
Posted 1/23/2014 6:59 PM (GMT 0)
PirateOzzy -

We are not at all surprised to hear that it's a benign tumor, if that's what it is, especially at your age.

But there is something else that definitely needs to be emphasized to you here, and that you may not be aware of at your age.

Namely, treatments to the prostate, even if you don't have cancer, can all have very serious consequences that can follow a person for life, such as reduced ability to have a sex life, reduced (or lost) ability to have children, and others also very bad. It all depends on what your exact medical problem is and what the doctor you choose decides to do about it.

My advice to you is to be extremely well informed about what any doctor proposes as a treatment. Hopefully he is a good doctor, and has a reason for doing a treatment on you, but you need to look out for yourself, since the consequences of treatment could be so serious.

Again, some of the possible negative consequences of any treatment of your prostate at this time in your life could be horrible if you have to live with them for the rest of your life, which in your case will probably be a long time.

As was well said above, get a second or third opinion on what they say is wrong with your prostate before taking any action. Do you have parents you can rely on? If so, you should involve them in this as they may have good guidance for you, insurance that might cover you, etc., and probably more experience in dealing with doctors and medical issues.

In short, be careful, since what you do now about this could affect the rest of your life.
Posted 1/23/2014 7:25 PM (GMT 0)
 

To the original poster... do you have someone going to the appointments with you to listen and take notes?  You should find someone in your family or a friend who can go with you.  Because it sounds like you are getting some confusing information.  If it is a benign tumor then it is not cancerous.  You should not begin any treatments until you are certain of a correct diagnosis and at your age, you really should get more than one opinion on a diagnosis.  It does not sound right that you have "prostate cancer" with a "benign tumor".  So please, ask someone to go with you to your appointments.  Doctors present a lot of information and it can be overwhelming to sort through it all alone.  Having a friend or family member with you will help. 

Posted 1/23/2014 7:32 PM (GMT 0)
Much appreciate all the advice, Im having my mother coming with me to see the specialist and im getting a second and even third opinion before i proceed with anything as im not potentially having something lifechanging operated on without knowing 100% what the situation is and the positives and negatives of such. Im in the UK so the NHS will be dealing with this but im looking at going private for this issue at the moment to be 100% sure as its a big decision to be making with poor information
Posted 1/23/2014 8:30 PM (GMT 0)
Ozzy,

If at all possible, try to get physical, paper copies of all of your test results. Posting that information here will help a great deal in providing sound advice.

Also, be aware that we are not doctors here and can only provide advice based on personal experience and the experience of others. However, you will find that there is a great deal of practical knowledge here, knowledge you will need in order to effectively communicate with your doctor to get the answers you'll need to move forward.
Posted 1/23/2014 8:49 PM (GMT 0)
Thankyou :) Ill keep this thread up to date with information as and when i get it and for advice if i require. Thanks for all the help so far
Posted 1/24/2014 4:15 AM (GMT 0)
Ozzy,

I can't empasize enough to heed the advice you are receiving here and to make sure you ask tons of questions and fully understand the diagnosis as well as the implications of any potential treatments.

There are incredibly informed people on this board whose experience will be invaluable to you and I would urge you to continue posting results and findings as you get them. As already stated, the info you have shared doesn't quite add up, which could indicate some confusion on your part about what you are actually dealing with, which is perfectly understandable. You also should absolutely make sure to have someone accompany you to your appointments, preferably someone who has a strong personality and is not afraid to ask questions to further understand the diagnosis and if it comes to a treatment discussion why a particular treatment is recommended and what the ramifications and alternatives are.

Ask questions, get as much as you can in writing from the medical professionals, use the internet to research your diagnosis and treatment options thouroughly, continue to post developments on this board, and seek the opinions of recognized experts if need be before commiting to any treatments.

Best of luck to you. You have an entire community supporting you here, you couldn't have come to a better place.

Scott
Posted 1/24/2014 5:01 AM (GMT 0)
I am not a medical professional but I advise you to please be careful and have a parent with you when you go for consultations. Even a prostate biopsy is an invasive treatment. I have a son who is a few years older than you are and a doctor would have to give me a very good reason to perform more than one biopsy on my son. I would take him for more than one opinion to the best doctors I could find to get to the bottom of a problem of this nature.
Posted 1/24/2014 11:34 AM (GMT 0)
Ozzy

Your post is appalling. I think you doing well in going private. Get to an urologist but do not visit any one recommended at NHS. The UK National Health Service at some places is terrible.
My mother-in-law (81 years old) was diagnosed at Chester hospital with kidney cancer, they removed it and later the pathologist indicated the specimen been negative to cancer.

At your age I find it difficult to believe that you got prostate cancer. I am surprised to know that the NHS physician has even subjected you to a 12 needles biopsy. Were you recommended any anti-inflammatory medication to check for possible infection?
The symptoms may be due to an enlarged gland (BHP) or UTI which in some cases are difficult to treat.

Be cautious with what is recommended and get always second opinions before any invasive treatment.
Posted 1/24/2014 5:02 PM (GMT 0)
Ozzy, As mentioned, at your age, it will be very very unusual to have PCa. I'm actually surprised that your doctor did a biopsy without eliminating other possibilities for the high PSA.
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