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Posted 6/30/2015 4:47 PM (GMT 0)
routine test showed psa of 6.7 biopsy performed and came back with 10 out of 12 positive ( gleason 6 ) bone scan negative, waiting for mri and if all clear will do robotic surgery.
just thought I would pop in and say a quick hi :-)
will try and fill all details in signature, 56 years old.
Posted 6/30/2015 4:56 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome to HW, sorry you need to be here.

Keep us updated on your progress.

Andrew
Posted 6/30/2015 4:58 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome to the forum. So sorry you find yourself here but glad you found us.

Is sounds like you have a really good shot at a cure no matter what sort of treatment you choose. You might want to talk to a few more doctors before you pull the trigger. There are some new-fangled kinds of radiation that might do you just as well with less risk of side effects. You might want to get a second opinion from a radiation doctor who can tell you about SBRT radiation or HDR Brachytherapy.

But if you are set on surgery, make sure you can see the television from your recliner. And check back for other helpful tips. We've got a million of 'em.
Posted 6/30/2015 5:44 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks guys
Hopefully I won't need the tv and recliner for too long...I got to go to work, got some bills coming in :-)
Posted 6/30/2015 6:10 PM (GMT 0)
Who's next,

Sorry you give to be here, but glad you found us lots of great information, and many knowledgable people on this site, all the best.
Posted 6/30/2015 6:42 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Next and welcome to HW. I'm also sorry you have to be here but I'm sure you will find this place full of supportive and knowledgeable folks. Speaking of knowledge, that is power. I strongly urge you to get yourself educated on our disease BEFORE selecting a treatment plan. You get one chance to do this right the first time.

A good place to start with your education is the sticky thread at the top of our forum. www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=35&m=2652250 This is designed for new patients and hopefully you will find it useful. You might also consider two excellent books that are written from different perspectives. One is "Guide to Surviving Prostate Cancer" by Dr. Walsh and the other is "Invasion of the Prostate Snatchers" by Dr. Scholz.

One of the things many of us recommend is to get another opinion on your biopsy slides by a prostate pathology expert like Dr. Epstein at Johns Hopkins or Dr. Bostwick at Bostwick Labs. Studies have shown than there are significant errors made by pathologists who don't have the required expertise and you want to make sure you know with what you are dealing.

Finally, I will echo the advice give by PeterDA. Don't be too quick to jump into one treatment. There are several that are likely to cure you: surgery, LDR Brachytherapy, HDR Brachytherapy and SBRT. If you really want to do your due diligence you will speak with experts in each of these BEFORE you make a decision.

Good luck and please let us know how we can help.

Jim
Posted 6/30/2015 8:45 PM (GMT 0)
Whoa, Son....

Slow down a little.  I'm not a moderator so I can say it a little more direct:  I'd learn of ALL the treatment options.  While many come out of surgery great, you should first make sure you get the best surgeon you can find. 

Secondly, there are several ways to beat this disease and everyone owes it to themselves to learn about them all:  Surgery, brachetherapy, SRT, SBRT, etc.

Try to get some more perspectives is all I'm saying.

Posted 6/30/2015 9:44 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for popping in, but also sorry you had to join us. Based on your diagnosis, everything is very likely to be contained and pretty much any treatment should be able to cure you. To that end I agree with the others about checking some of your other options--particularly since you have loads of time as a G6. But whatever you choose, all the best to you and do keep us posted!
Posted 6/30/2015 9:45 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome aboard! Sounds like you have what it takes to me a member.

I also had 10-12 core positive, Gleason 6 but it became, after the surgical pathology report, a Gleason 3+4=7.

Bill from Florida cool
Posted 6/30/2015 11:22 PM (GMT 0)
hi!
Welcome to HW forum, the club
Posted 7/1/2015 2:08 AM (GMT 0)
Welcome to the club no one wants to join. I'd echo the other sentiments. Slow down, just a little. Remember that you're talking to a urologist, a surgeon. Surgery is what he knows. Maybe it IS your best choice, but it doesn't have to be.

To help us all out, let us know where you are. Someone may know a rock star surgeon....or a rock star radiation guy where you are that we can steer you towards. If you're dead set on surgery, ask him...how many have you done? What is your personal trifecta rate? If the answer to (a) is in the dozens or hundreds...find someone else. If the answer to (b) is, "well, it varies, and don't worry about it", then scratch him.

I'm a surgery guy who is happy with my decision. I'm 4 months out, and I'm <0.04 PSA, I'm continent with random leaks at random times, and I have no ED issues--I don't even require drugs. So, it IS possible.

With a G6,even with 10/12 positive cores, you don't have to schedule surgery next week--or even next month. Do your digging and make sure you've got the best treatment plan FOR YOU that you can come up with.
Posted 7/1/2015 11:24 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the advice guys!
halbert I am in the upstate south Carolina, my doctor has well over a thousand surgeries under his belt.

I guess for me thinking it seems like where ever he jabbed the needle came up with a positive, I still think the best way to go is out...but me and her indoors are looking at all the possibilities :-)

Big mac don't know about you but when He told me 10 out of 12 I pretty much mentally packed my bags and was ready to go there and then lol but learning more about it settled me down. now if the mri comes up clear I will be a happier man!
Posted 7/1/2015 11:31 PM (GMT 0)
whosnext, I'd just encourage you to slow down and do plenty of research. If you're in the northern part of SC, I'd ask how far you are from Duke? What I keep saying about this is "go big or go home". It sounds like you've found a good surgeon, but I'd still encourage you to look into radiation as an option. Or even Active Surveillance...at a G6 even with all those positive cores you might be a candidate.
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