newly diagnosed thinking of AS

I was diagnosed 4 weeks ago. 54 years old gleason score of 3/3=6, psa 5.8, MRI biopsy 12 cores 1 came back positive at 5%... deciding on A treatment and the conflicting information I receive from my Urologist and radiation oncologist is more nerve racking that knowing I have cancer..I am going to Memorial Sloan Kettering tomorrow 5/8/18 for A third opinion. The more I investigate my situation the more I'm considering Active Surveillance... What I would like to know is there anyone here that has been on AS?? and how has it been going??

Forgot to add that I am 67. Have some urinary issues such as having to void twice to empty bladder. With G6 it is considered low risk, slow growing so AS sounds like the right path for you for now.

Before I had my biopsy both my oncology urologist and another urologist will not treat GS 6 prostate cancer unless the percent of cancer is high. Both believe in AS.

Welcome to HW. Lots of guys here on AS, best choice if you can.

Andrew

Do the AS. Your stats are similar to mine although I was diagnosed at 48 years old versus you at 54. I have had 4 years now of AS and it has been a breeze. Feel confident to know that your doctors will tell you when , or if, it’s time in the future to consider treatment. Although I will be undergoing treatment in the next 30 days, you may never need treatment with that small amount of G6.

Enjoy your time keeping your prostate and having an active sex life. No sense risking that in the short term for a small amount of G6.

Good luck,

I've been on AS for nine years, and hope to never need treatment. I am in the AS study group at Johns Hopkins, and recommend a formal program, like are offered at JH, MSKCC, and several other institutions.

knocker28 said...
What I would like to know is there anyone here that has been on AS?? and how has it been going??

I'm not. I wish I had better understood that option 9-years ago when I was also diagnosed with favorable-risk PC because I might otherwise still be on AS today...but my diagnosis came just before the tsunami of information which shed light on the PC overtreatment epidemic. The publication of the book Invasion of the Prostate Snatchers by Dr Mark Scholz was a wake-up call to both doctors and patients, and changed the (PC) world. I highly recommend his book, easily found here:
/www.amazon.com/Invasion-Prostate-Snatchers-Unnecessary-Treatment-ebook/dp/B003E8AJ5Q

You'll be in very good hands at MSKCC. Best wishes!

knocker28 said...
What I would like to know is there anyone here that has been on AS?? and how has it been going??

I posted a comment earlier, but realized I didn't directly respond to your question, above...this post will give you a little perspective...

There's a lot of guys who have passed through here who are on AS today. Taking a look at the big picture (beyond just this HW/PC site), most men diagnosed today with favorable risk PC pursue AS and defer aggressive treatments either for a while or forever. But this is largely ends up being a social media site for men with problems from treatments, or are in need of information for their next treatment in a case which is progressing. In other words, there's a few guys who have come to this site, decided on AS, and still stick around to comment and help others....but most of the guys on AS are off "getting on with life," and not hanging out talking to men with rectal incontinence or impotence or the other common problems with treatments.

Can you blame them...?

When you say your wife is a little confused by AS...I think the most common response to a PCa diagnosis by well-meaning family and friends is "just cut it out and take care of it." They want you around and they want to encourage you in the most logical way that they know. Deciding not to treat doesn't make sense to many people--that is until you look below the surface and start to get a full understanding of the full range of PCa diagnoses and their prognosis.

Also, make sure she understands that Active Surveillance doesn't mean you're not doing anything. "Active" is a key part of the monitoring.

Good to hear. Here's to a long--I'll even say permanent--stay on AS!

I'm currently on AS per the protocols of MSKCC in NYC.

With AS, for me, it's very important to practice "mindfulness" for keeping my head straight. Just focus on what you do know and enjoy life right as it is happening.