Tumor size and location a factor in prognosis?

The more time I spend here and or googling the more I realize how little I know about what I've been through.

Just curious what this means to some of you regarding my tumor size and location.

This from my pathology report:

Single tumor 0.2 x 0.1 x 0.1 cm right mid posterior.

It apparently was a very small tumor. I can't recall from your other posts, but what was the Gleason score and staging?

My initial thought is if it is low risk PC (Gleason ≤ 6), it would make a big difference compared to the same location with a Gleason 7 or above.

I don't know if the tumor size would make much difference (as far as whether or not to opt for treatment) if it is a Gleason 7 or more. Anything that is a 7 or more would certainly need some sort of treatment because of the threat of it being on the move at any given time.

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.
Pathology showed Gleason 3 + 3, pT2c, N0, MX, R1
adenocarcinoma of the prostate.
Prostate 98.3 grams, tumor 2 grams. Prostate size 5.0 x 4.7 x 4.5 cm.
Abdominal drain removed the morning after surgery.
Catheter out in 7 days. No incontinence, occasional minor dripping.
Post-op exams 2/13/12, 9/10/12, 9/9/13 PSA <0.1. PSA tests now annual.
Firm erections now briefly happening in early mornings, 2 years post-op.

My major tumor was well inside the gland away from the wall. If it had been right there on the inside wall as a lot are, my post op path would have been different and not in a nice way. Yes location, location, location is a factor in prognosis for good or bad.

My PSA was likely a reflection of a couple of factors. Had no idea about the no sex thing before and also was suffering with what seemed to be chronic prostatitis. There was nothing adverse about my pathology. It was better than my biopsy pathology.

The PSA thing is interesting to me. I see many here dx'ed with PSA's below 5. Mine was 2.5 times that when I finally agreed to do the biopsy.

I flipped my diet and exercise plan and really focused on both. I felt fantastic when I had my surgery. Best I'd felt in years. Almost wanted another biopsy as I felt prayer and good old hard work with attention to detail had reversed things. I felt I was sick months before the dx and felt I was fine right before surgery.

The 0.06 was alarming to me but I received the info in a voicemail and did no follow up with it. I'm about to have my 2nd post op PSA here in the next two weeks. Should be interesting to see what it says.

Hoping you're right about the benign prostate tissue/cells left behind due to nerve sparing surgery. PSAnxiety has been higher than ever this time around the last little while but I'm not worried about it going forward. The test is the test. It's all good with me either way.