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Indicators of PC 'Aggressiveness'

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Posted 9/6/2018 3:47 PM (GMT 0)
Well I am ten years from initial DX (Feb, 2008) with original PSA=32 and gleason morphology=9 (4+5). The doubling times varied around six months. As indicated below, I am currently 2 years into full remission (T=400) after last PB treatment at the Scripps Clinic in San Diego. My onclogist for three years was Dr. Charles Myers who indicated to me that my PC behaved more like a gleason=7. We did discuss a DNA test which could look for mutations that would indicate a greater risk for an 'aggressive' disease.
So PSA, gleason morphology, and doubling times not the only indicators which will indicate the actual 'aggressiveness' of this disease. OK, I am ten years into this disease and asking a basic question - what are the current best indicators for determining the actual behavior of this disease?
Posted 9/6/2018 4:05 PM (GMT 0)
Add “response to treatment” to your list. It frankly boils down to this...
Posted 9/6/2018 5:50 PM (GMT 0)
Doug-

If you had IMPT to the prostate 2 years ago at Scripps and you are in "full remission" (which I assume means low PSA), why are you looking for new diagnostics/therapies? Most DNA tests use biopsy samples - if your last biopsy was 2008, it will be gone and unhelpful anyway. The Guardant 360 is only useful when there are mets. The Color MDx test only tests for some germline (inherited) aberrations.
Posted 9/6/2018 7:42 PM (GMT 0)
I am not looking for treatment options for myself, Mr. Allen. My PSA numbers have been ND (<0.006) and my testosterone levels have been normal for the last two years. A doctor at the University of Iowa Medical Center was not predicting life expectancy over ten years based upon the indicators listed above (PSA, morphology, and doubling times). My only point is that these indicators can be a poor predictor of outcome especially with the newer technologies that have become available.
Posted 9/6/2018 9:18 PM (GMT 0)
The best post treatment indicator of aggressiveness is psa.
Posted 9/7/2018 5:03 AM (GMT 0)
I agree with John T...Your PSA doubling time tells the story..Your PSa can only double so many times before the tumor burden becomes overwhelming...The monster seems to know when you have run out of bullets and your PSA can just take off..Especially the Gleason 9 & 10 guys...Do everything you can to keep that PSA number as low as you can for as long as you can...
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