Jack & Diane said...
Bolo,
I know I risk sounding like a broken record but I always first want to thank everyone that takes the time to reply to me and that includes you on several occasions, so THANK YOU! I would be lost without you guys!
I have asked for an ultra sensitive test that would go to a lower threshold many times and pretty much told this is the way they do it and that's that. They tell me it is unnecessary to go any lower and they are a large teaching hospital (University of Chicago). I mean I kind of understand that they are not going to change they way they do things just because that's the way I want it so that just means I'll have to find it on my own I guess.
As far as what the surgeon told me, I did ask him before surgery if they use ultra sensitive and he said yes, but I didn't realize that there are different levels so I didn't ask what number they go to until we were getting the pathology from the PA. The PA even told my husband after I left the room to tell me not to pursue a lower ultra sensitive as it is not necessary. I spent most of my time before surgery learning about PCa, the surgery and the possible pathology results and now I have to digest as much about margins and BCR that I can.
I realize he has pretty good? Pathology, being mostly Gleason 6 and a 3 at his margin, but we all know anything can happen. That's the other subject..when we got his pathology they didn't call it a bladder neck margin and it was not until I came here that I learned that that's where his margin is, the bladder neck. After learning that, I asked the PA why he was not a T3 with a bladder neck margin and he said he is indeed a T2 and that there is NO mention of bladder neck or bladder invasion in my husband's pathology. He said it's "proximal basilar" so I'm still confused but am trying to guess if he's saying it was near the bladder neck area but there was no involvement??
Lastly, I know I'm making the situation worse by reading everyone's signature and trying to understand. I posted here because someone wrote that a 0.04 meant BCR. I know a doctor must have told them so what do I make of that information?
Something as simple as a PSA test isn't a line in the sand. Maybe I'm just a much worse patient than you all? I don't know. You're not asking for the moon here. Matter of fact, you're not even asking for them to do thing differently...just to do a bit more. They can and will do both. I since you're a nicer person than your's truly...fwiw).
Sugarcane's dad did not have a .04 recurrence after surgery. It was after ADT. (and 6 years at that....on top of...a worse pathology than your DH). His PSA never even came close to zero after surgery. That is a very different case than your husband's.
We all read these sigs. When, in actuality, they tell us....absolutely....nothing about
our own individual case.
Your husband will have a psa test. There is nothing you can do until then. except....relax.
This disease is not going to kill your husband. (But...if it does....it will be A-long time from now).
On another note....I've got some questions about
that study myself. Those will be asked in a different post.
Hang in there Diane. You'll know more at his first PSA test. (and if I may....I since (know?)....it's going to be better news than you're fears want you to believe)