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Posted 8/3/2018 6:41 PM (GMT 0)
I am a 71 years old with some health problems but doing ok .
In 11/09/2017 I had a saturation test done because my PSA was and I have an enlarged prostate and my PSA went up to 4.8 from 3.3 .
The results from the report was as follows :
Tumor occupies 1MM out of a 7MM core , for a total of 1 MM out of 128MM .
The first PSA test I had done after the biopsies came back as 1.3 and was done on 1/30/2018
The second PSA test came back as 1.7 done on 5/11/2018 .
My DR suggested a watch and see and I agreed as he had no answer as to why my PSA was so low .
I go back again this moth for another follow up with my PSA witch will be AUG /13/2018 .
My problem is that I am one of these people that get depressed over this . I live by myself and really don't have anyone must to talk to about my problem .
I have set am app to see the Proton Ds on Sept 20yh to see what they suggest .
I just want to see if anyone can help with some input .
I have been reading this site since I found out and it has helped me - I would not have had the saturated test done if I had not read about it on this site .
Thank you in advance
Posted 8/3/2018 6:57 PM (GMT 0)
Vetteman, welcome to the forum.

Some more information would help us help you. What i gather from your first post is that you have had a saturation biopsy performed which found a small tumor. What was the gleason score, and how many cores were positive, what was the percentage of cancer in each core? What is your PSA history, with dates?

If you could put that in a signature that would appear at the bottom of your posts, it would be very helpful. To do that go to Profile at the top, and find "edit my signature", then type in your stats. and save.

If part of your problem is you have nobody to talk to, you've come to the right place. There is a ton of both knowledge and support here, just need a bit more information and you'll get plenty of responses.

In any case, prostate cancer is a very slow moving cancer, and whatever your situation, its highly likely to be best case- cure and worst case- manageable for decades. So try not to be depressed about it. (i know, stupid thing to say, hard thing to do.)
Posted 8/3/2018 7:02 PM (GMT 0)
Sorry about your recent diagnosis, but glad you found us. To begin, you should read the "Newly diagnosed with PC" thread at the top of the page. This will answer most if not all of your current questions. It will also suggest you get a 2nd opinion on your biopsy from Dr Epstein and provides his contact information. Some other guys will respond soon so in the meantime if you can complete your "signature" it would be helpful. Click on some other threads and see examples of signatures.

As to consulting with Proton doctors, there is nothing wrong with that if you decide not to try Active Surveillance first. There are several treatments you will want to look into, all with similar cure rates, but with considerably different side effects and treatment time.
Posted 8/3/2018 7:36 PM (GMT 0)
PSA 10/5/2017 4.8
Gleason 3+3=6
Tumor occupies 1 MM out of a 7MM core for a total of 1MM out of 128 .
PSA 1-30-2018 -1.7
PSA 5-11-2018 -1.3
I hope that helps
Posted 8/3/2018 8:38 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome to HW, sorry you need to be here.

In general a Gleason score of 6 puts you in the active surveillance range (watchful waiting). It's doubtful you need treatment right now.

PSA that does wild swings, high to low, is an indication of prostatitis so you might have a couple of things going on. Before you start thinking about treatment, you should get that next PSA test and ask about the possibilities of find a good AS program where they will monitor your and do a follow up biopsy test in a year or so.

You might also want to check in your area and see if there is a prostate cancer support group you can join. If you're willing share the area you live, some here might have suggestions for you.

Hang in there and ask all the questions you have - we're most days.
Andrew
Posted 8/3/2018 8:40 PM (GMT 0)
vetteman1, The 2018 Guidelines for Clinicians, which was recently issued by the three medical organizations that study and treat prostate cancer, recommend active surveillance as the treatment for your risk classification.

So, while more testing will be in your future, you immediate plans should not be for treatment, but for learning more about your situation and your options.

Nothing wrong with seeing specialists in Proton or other prostate cancer providers. But, based on what you know so far, any suggestion for intervention would appear to be overtreatment.

Good luck.
Posted 8/3/2018 9:44 PM (GMT 0)
I am thankful for all the response I have gotten from some very nice men .
I guess as you can tell , I am very uneducated about PC - I do understand the Active Surveillance and it was suggested that I find one in my area but I know nothing about how to find one .
My DR has another Saturated test planned for this December .
I live in Maryville , TN eight miles from the University Of Tenn. Hospital .
My DR Is at the UT hospital { Urology and Urologic Surgery, PC group } . I also live within 12 miles of the Proton Center .
The question that I keep asking myself is , if I have cancer why do I want to wait and take a chance that it will spread and get outside my prostate .
You see gentleman , I sure have a lot of unanswered questions and that is what confuses me .
Both sides of my family had cancer and my sister died from it .
I also don't know of any PC support group close by .
Posted 8/3/2018 9:49 PM (GMT 0)
You didnt say what the long term trend has been with your PSA. If it has followed the usual trend for a man your age and reached 4.8 in late 2017, I suppose I can see why your Uro did the biopsy. But if you have a history of PSA going up and down over the years like it has since your biopsy, then that would suggest prostatitis. If that's the case I don't see why you had the biopsy. And a biopsy on a man 71 even with baseline PSA as low as yours has been so far in 2018 could very likely find some indolent cancer. Let us know your PSA history.
Posted 8/3/2018 10:05 PM (GMT 0)
PC cells graded G6 don't move beyond the prostate. Your risk profile is low and PC is a very slow growing cancer. It's possible that at some point in the higher grade cells might show up, but that could be years or you might die of something else before that happens.

The point behind AS is to delay treatment until it is needed. At this point, it's just some bad cells and an large prostate. It's likely that treatment will cause more damage than just leaving it alone, so the trick to AS is to closely monitor your situation and delay treatment until the benefits of treatment out weight the risks and side effects of treatment.

Some guys find that difficult to do as the anxiety of not doing anything is driving them crazy.

Hopefully some of the others here can make some recommendations for you on places in your area.

Hang in there,
Andrew
Posted 8/4/2018 12:11 AM (GMT 0)
The reason why AS has been spectacularly successful in men like you is because prostate cancer progresses very slowly, if at all, and they catch it well before it can do any damage. It is different from what you imagine it to be based on other kinds of cancer. The saturation biopsy your doctor has planned for you will confirm that you have the type of prostate cancer they think based on your first biopsy.
Most insurance does not cover protons, which has not proven to be any better than any other kind of external beam radiation.

I saw a psychotherapist when I was first diagnosed - I very much recommend it to you. i also recommend you take up the practice of mindfulness.
Posted 8/4/2018 12:46 PM (GMT 0)
Vetteman,

Welcome to Healingwell, Sorry you find yourself needing to be here. If you are looking for a support group in your area I found this:
Prostate Cancer Networker
An opportunity for men to network with other men about their experiences.
10:00-11:30am, 2nd Saturday monthly
Cancer Support Community East Tennessee
2230 Sutherland Avenue
Knoxville, TN 37919

I hope this can help you relax a bit and learn more about our disease.

Best of Luck!
Gemson
Posted 8/4/2018 1:22 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you very much , I will got their next Saturday .
Posted 8/4/2018 1:37 PM (GMT 0)
Gleason 6 prostate cancer almost never metastasizes into something life-threatening..It's one of the most benign forms of cancer..Both surgery and radiation will subject you to greater risks than the cancer will. Don't let the Docs sell you a treatment or procedure you do not need. Don't risk your quality of life treating something that does not need to be treated...

Pick up a copy of Dr. Pat Walsh's book, "Guide to Surviving Prostate Cancer" and learn what you are dealing with...
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