newbie question

Soxx, sorry for the news but please...don't be rushed into something. It's pretty natural that your urologist wants you to book surgery. But, even if you are leaning towards surgery, you should get an opinion from another surgeon also. You should make sure that any of the surgeons have tons of experience (500+ at least) and can share with you their statistics on BCR and SE's...and make sure you get their definition of SE's. Getting an occasional erection with meds is a whole lot different than spontaneous erections that are the same as before treatment!

Also, if you're smart, you will do some due diligence by meeting with experienced experts in other disciplines. With your stats as presented so far, you are likely to be cured by LDR Brachy, HDR Brachy and SBRT as well as surgery. Surgery has a primary value proposition of immediate pathology knowledge. Those radiation options have a primary value proposition of less onerous side effects than surgery. Depending on your stats, you should also consult with a doc that has overseen AS so you can at least examine that alternative intelligently.

BTW, you should also get your biopsy slides re-read by an expert, e.g. Dr. Epstein at JHU or Dr. Bostwick at Bostwick Labs. You want to make sure of your diagnosis.

Finally, I'll just repeat...take your time! PCa is generally slow growing and rushing into a treatment just because it suits the doctor's schedule is, IMHO, not good practice.

Good luck,

Jim

Sox, all o can say about your news is, oh, ****. But you will be fine. Don't let anyone tell you that you have to make a decision in what amounts to 3 weeks. That's BS. Michael and Yooper gave you the same solid advice they gave me. I listened to them and am glad I did. johns hopkins downgraded Ny biopsy feomg8 to g6. Then I saw a Radiation Oncologist at MSKCC who reconfirmed the downgrade.

I got one of the rock star surgeons, and had no trouble getting a date booked. And he does three surgeries a day. So don't rush, don't let anyone tell you to rush, and explore EVERY option.

Good luck we'll be here for the many questions that are sure to arise.

It's my understanding that cryotherapy today is rarely used as a primary treatment. Others may know more. My dad was in one of the original cryotherapy groups in the early 90's at the Cleveland Clinic. He did well with it...until the cancer came back after about 10 years. As I recall, when it was first being used it pretty much guaranteed impotence.

Others may know more about how it is used today.

Soxx,

Any time you are told that your treatment options include Active Surveillance and you need to make up your mind quickly the advice you are getting has, shall we say, some internal tensions. Some see this as the surgeon trying to rush the patient to make a decision but I think a fairer interpretation is that your urologist has learned that, no matter what advice he gives, most of his patients will be in a big hurry to get on his surgical schedule and he is simply telling you about the nearest openings he has, on the theory that you will want them. If you tell him you are not in a hurry you will probably find him OK with that, too.

You know I'm talking to people about this and the most annoying thing is either they had pc or know some one that does and they tell you that you have to use what option they used because it the only right way to go. I here that from so many people. Everyone's situation is different. You need to study every option. Therefore I'm going to do active surveillance and take time to research all options. At first your scared when you here the word cancer your mind set is let's get it the he'll out of my body asap. My Dr was not rushing I was because I was scared.

Soxx, I thing you've made a good decision, even if AS is only a holding place until you figure out how you want to proceed. As for friends and family, I think everything is well meaning, but very few people that know you have cancer will tell you...hey maybe, AS is the thing to do. They all want you to do *something* and that's only natural.

As to your comment about people wanting you to have the same treatment they had, I think many of us on this board also fall into this to some degree. On the plus side, I do thing we try and mask our biases since we know what a personal situation this is for every man involved.

Good luck to you and keep us posted!

soxx, there is no doubt that hearing the "c" word changes things. I've heard it twice for myself, and also for one of my daughters, and for both parents. What we do, though, is learn to live with it, and in spite of it. It doesn't win.

AS, even if you only do it for 6 months, gives you a chance to do your research and find your answer. It will come, if you allow it. Keep hanging around, and keep reading and learning.

Soxx, I felt that way, needless to say, from the day of diagnosis. I kept it to myself, but only because I knew I didn't need to tell anyone, they knew, and I just didn't want to talk about it. It is what it is. But then after the surgery, for about 6 - 8 weeks, I can't tell you how" many times I said to my wife "I just don't feel like the same person anymore."

Well, guess what, I'm not. But I'm fairly happy. And I feel almost the same, at 11 weeks out. And it will get better. And when I think about the fact that I am in an adjustment period, I get really happy.
So once most of us get a diagnosis, we are different. But after the mental adjustment, we move on with life, in a good way. You will to. Be patient.

soxx, with your bx, the two basics apply: you have all the time you need to make a solid decision, and pretty much any of the protocols should work for you. Cure is eminently likely.

All I know is this: when I finished the research and made the decision, I felt incredible relief. And the morning of surgery, walking from the parking garage to the surgery check in desk was easy.