My husband just found out he has PC

Welcome!! Sorry you have to be here!

FYI
Your husband's biopsy looks very, very much like mine. a mix of 4+4 along with 4+5. And each one very full.
I tell you that because I am 33 months since diagnosis and I am doing very well!
So, take a breath, ask as many questions as you feel like.
Please read the stickies at the top of the thread.
There are several people on here who are much more knowledgeable than I and they will be around soon.

May God bless you and your husband!

Welcome to HW, sorry you need to be here.

That gleason score isn't the best in the world. What was his PSA number? That is an important part of the picture and we could give better responses if we knew.

The first advice would be, "don't panic," but since few us can actually do that I won't suggest it. It's a shock to learn you have PC. The best thing to do now is to learn everything you can. Check out the sticky thread at the top of the forum for more information - lots of good stuff there.

Even though it looks scary, there are things the doctors can do to keep the beast at bay for many, many years. Treatment for PC has improved a lot in the last decade, so you have every reason hope for a good treatment plan.

It won't be fun to go through and normal will change, but there are a ton of treatments that offer real hope.

Getting the scan is the next logical step. Treatment options change between prostate confined and having mets. HT (hormone therapy) and radiation are likely recommendations you'll be getting.

Ask all the questions you want - we're here most days.
And keep us updated on your progress,
Andrew

Hi Jacky . I'm sorry for Steve's diagnosis but am glad you found us. I'm new here since May. I'm a Gleason 9 also. I just want to welcome you and let you know that there are great guys/gals here that have enormous knowledge and will be chiming in soon I'm sure. Just know that each and every one of us know how you are feeling right now and we are here to support you and your husband.

I'm going for my 1st radiation treatment this afternoon.My signature is at the bottom of the page . As you can see my biopsy is similar to Steve's.There are many others here that have been around quite awhile that are G9's . Try to take a deep breath and I'm sure things will start to slow down in your mind as you begin and move through this journey no one wants to be on.

-Mark

That's not a good PSA.

Generally, they would start you on HT soon. Likely shortly after the scans.

You might want to start looking for an medical oncologist who specializes in PC. If you're willing to do a bit of driving, UCSF has a good team. A second opinion from them might be in order (I know, driving into SF from Manteca isn't fun, but might be worth it).

The basic plan would to hit it with everything you can. I don't know if his leukemia treatments could affect his treatment plan.

Go ahead and ask questions as they occur to you,
Andrew

Jacky,
My husband is a Gleason 9 also. I'm sorry you have to be here. This is a great place for information and support. The main thing is to educate yourselves as much as you can and to get a good medical team on your side. The people on this forum are a great help with that.
Chris

Jacky and Steve, i won't give any medical advice as i just dont know much, and certainly dont know more than the experts who will soon show up to respond, so stay tuned.
Just wanted to say welcome, sorry you need to be here, but its a great place for support and education. What i DO know, is that there is a lot that can be done for your husbands case, and its highly likely that the good docs will get it under control soon.

Hang tough

Mews2much said...
Hi Andrew,

Steve does not take anything for the leukemia he is in remission.
We go to Kaiser in Modesto and he has a oncologist for the leukemia.
Dr Weedin said he may send him to a oncologist at Kaiser that knows alot about prostate cancer.
Jacky and Steve

I am with Kaiser too, don't be surprised if they send you someplace other than Modesto. Roseville had a team and I know Santa Clara has a good RO. Not sure where else, but as you know not every Kaiser hospital has all specialties.

Andrew

Mews-

I just wanted to check in and let you know I'm rooting for you. We'll have to see what the bone scan says. That really dictates the next steps. Let us know.

- Allen

I'm sorry. I didn't know that bladder cancer infiltrating the prostate could have a Gleason score. But it's certainly time to enlist the aid of a really good MO. If it's prostate cancer, the next step is a combination of hormone therapy and chemo. That should shrink all the cancer.

Thanks Everyone,
Here are the ct scan results and next test
** FINDINGS **:
Comparison: 08/19/2011

Technique: CT images of the abdomen and pelvis were obtained after
the administration of 115 mL Omnipaque 300 IV contrast.
Multiplanar reformats created.

CTDI: 10.17 mGy
DLP: 460.15 mGy-cm

5 mm calcified granuloma again demonstrated in the lingula of the
left lung, unchanged. Imaged lung bases are otherwise unremarkable
except for mild atelectasis/scarring. Heart size is normal.

Cholelithiasis without evidence of cholecystitis. Small hepatic
cyst in the right hepatic dome measuring approximately 12 mm,
unchanged. No suspicious liver enhancement. Too small characterize
subcentimeter hypodensity medially in the right hepatic lobe,
likely small cyst or hemangioma. A few other smaller hypodense
lesions are again seen, too small for further characterization,
but unchanged and likely benign cysts or hemangiomas. Pancreas,
spleen, and adrenal glands are unremarkable.

Evaluation of the renal collecting systems and ureters is limited
by lack of excretory phase imaging. Interval development of severe
left hydronephrosis and left hydroureter with soft tissue
thickening/obstruction of the distal left ureter, suspicious for
distal left ureteral malignancy with possible involvement of the
adjacent bladder near the left UVJ. Abnormal suspicious soft
tissue thickening in the distal left ureter measures approximately
1.9 x 1.0 x 1.1 cm. 2 small calcifications are demonstrated
dependently in the dilated left ureter in the left pelvis
measuring up to 4 mm, best demonstrated on coronal image 32,
consistent with small ureteral stones or ureteral wall
calcifications.

Prostate is irregular and enlarged measuring approximately 6.6 x
5.2 x 4.8 cm with irregular mass effect upon the base of the
bladder. Potential extension of patient's known prostate cancer
into the base of the bladder is not excluded. Prostate does not
extend to the pelvic sidewalls. Right seminal vesicle is
heterogeneous and thickened measuring approximately 2.3 cm in AP
diameter, nonspecific, but suspicious for potential prostate
cancer involvement. Left seminal vesicle is not enlarged,
nonspecific in appearance. No inguinal adenopathy.

Periaortic adenopathy is demonstrated in the lower abdomen and
upper abdomen. Enlarged representative nodes include a suspicious
1.5 cm node positioned between the aorta and IVC, series 3 image
41 and a 15 mm enlarged node adjacent to the aortic inferior to
the left renal artery and vein.


Right renal cortex enhances normally with no renal cortical mass
demonstrated. No right hydroureter demonstrated.

Bones are nonspecific with multilevel degenerative changes. No
discrete CT evidence of bony metastasis. A 1.5 cm probable
hemangioma in the T11 vertebral body is unchanged.

Moderate diverticulosis coli without evidence of diverticulitis.
Small bowel and stomach are unremarkable.
Normal abdominal aortic diameter (<3cm).

** IMPRESSION **:
Prostate is irregular and enlarged measuring up to approximately
6.6 cm with irregular mass effect on the base of the bladder,
consistent with patient's known prostate cancer. Potential
extension of prostate cancer into the base the bladder is not
excluded. Right seminal vesicle is heterogeneous and thickened
measuring approximately 2.3 cm in AP diameter, nonspecific, but
suspicious for potential prostate cancer involvement. Clinical
correlation recommended.

Evaluation of the renal collecting systems and ureters is limited
by lack of excretory phase imaging. Interval development of severe
left hydronephrosis and left hydroureter with soft tissue
thickening/obstruction of the distal left ureter, suspicious for
distal left ureteral malignancy with possible involvement of the
adjacent bladder near the left UVJ. Abnormal suspicious soft
tissue thickening in the distal left ureter measures approximately
1.9 x 1.0 x 1.1 cm.
Further evaluation by cystoscopy is recommended.

Periaortic adenopathy in the upper and lower abdomen, as
described, suspicious for malignant involvement, as described.
No discrete CT evidence of bony metastasis, however nuclear
medicine bone scan is a more sensitive exam. Correlation with
whole body nuclear medicine bone scan recommended.

If clinically indicated, further evaluation by PET scan could be
obtained.

2 small calcifications are demonstrated dependently in the dilated
left ureter in the left pelvis measuring up to 4 mm, as described,
consistent with small ureteral stones or ureteral wall
calcifications.

Dear Mr. Andersen,

The test scheduled on September 7 is the cystoscopy procedure in my office to look in your bladder with a camera. I have included information about this procedure below. You do not need any preparation before the procedure. I have included the CT report below.

We are still waiting for nuclear medicine to contact you to schedule the bone scan. Additionally, you can contact Modesto radiology to schedule.

Sincerely,
John W. Weedin, MD

So you haven't yet had a bone scan?

The CT shows tissue changes and enlargements but it doesn't diagnose different kinds of cancer. You have no reason to believe, based on that, that you have anything but prostate cancer. It may have spread to nearby organs and lymph nodes, but it is just prostate cancer so far. That's good in a way because the chemo for prostate cancer is different than the chemo for other cancers.

- Allen

Jacky,

I've added you and Steve to our list of Gleason 9 members (and a few 10s) on the Gleason 9 Crew thread. It's worth a look. There are lots of names on the list. Many of them were diagnosed a long time ago and most of them are doing OK.

Welcome to the forum.