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Posted 1/27/2011 1:31 PM (GMT 0)
Well, I got the call from DR. yesterday with the results of my mapping biopsy.  I had one sample with a Gleason score of 6.  Samples around the area did not have any signs of precancerous condition.  We had a good discussion of what to do next.  Basically, Dr and I are taking a wait and see attitude and continue to track.  Dr said that treating now maybe over board and I agree.  At least now I know why my PSA has risen in the last 3 years to 6.75.  Dr also mentioned for the size of my prostrate a predicatble value would be greater than 8. 

With the help of this forum I at least new what he was talking about and could ask questions during the conversation.  I really feel good about what I know now and can deal with whatever comes in the future.

Posted 1/27/2011 1:47 PM (GMT 0)
Joko, rhat is about as good a result as you could hope for and it sounds like you are taking a reasonable approach.  We have had a number of discussions about Active Surveillance on this forum...you may want to read back through some of those old threads to get some pretty good perspective.

Good luck,

Tudpock (Jim)

Posted 1/27/2011 2:21 PM (GMT 0)
Joko,
Your numbers are very good indeed. AS is a good option as this point.
Posted 1/27/2011 3:59 PM (GMT 0)
Did you get a copy of the actual pathology report, if not own it, posses it and read it throughly as more info is there concerning ones whole pathology. My brother is like past year 6 now of doing nothing or A.S./W.W. and has an indolent version of PCa found, as defined by John Hopkins-Brady Urology Dept. (gleason 6, less than 5% in one core in his case). No rise in psa and it was only 1.0 anyway, DRE lead to his biopsies. He is no hurry via his own choices of which he knows enough on PCa in general.
Posted 1/27/2011 4:12 PM (GMT 0)

You seem like a perfect candidate for AS, just like I was when I had my biospy done in 2007. IN my case, they found only 2 of 12 cores with <5% cancer with a psa of 4.5.  My psa was slow moving like yours and took five years to go from 3.00 to 4.5. 

The one thing you have to remember is,  a biopsy is not 100% accurate because of the sampling.  I did a lot of research and thinking, and my emotions kept telling me to hold off on surgery and just go with AS until my psa goes higher.  But deep down inside, my gut reaction was to go with the surgery and get it out now.

Well after the surgery, my patholgy came back with a lot more cancer than was found on the biopsy, 20% , but still a gleason 6.  The big thing that really shocked me was my surgeon said that there was some cancer found within a few 3 or 4 mm of the outside margin and that if I had opted for AS and postponed surgery a few years there was a good chance that I would left with a positive margin in the future, so I was lucky that I had the surgery when I did.  But then again, there is a chance that nothing could have happened, so I guess you never know and it is just a crap shot.

Posted 1/28/2011 2:39 PM (GMT 0)
I will see Dr in Mid April and ask him for the pathology report. Every Dr I see at the clinic is very open to giving you any information that you want. My Dr told me about a couple of good sites on prostate and eating right to help prostrate. I am still digesting all info. LOL.

Thanks for your replies and encourage. You never know if you are making the right decision. BUT 1 out of 40 just seems like a AS condition.
Posted 1/28/2011 3:34 PM (GMT 0)
The problem with cancer, it doesn't get better...It only gets worse..

AS means lets wait and see how fast it gets worse...But that plan works and works successfully for many men...
Posted 1/28/2011 3:44 PM (GMT 0)
Joko
It sounds like your doctor is a rare breed who considers the welfare of the patient first. I'd hang onto him for a while.........
Posted 1/28/2011 4:23 PM (GMT 0)
Sounds like you might be a Poster Child here for doing AS. I am glad your numbers indicate that and that you have an understanding and cooperative doctor to help you administer this thinking and plan.

David in Sc
Posted 1/28/2011 5:11 PM (GMT 0)

Joko said...
I will see Dr in Mid April and ask him for the pathology report. Every Dr I see at the clinic is very open to giving you any information that you want. My Dr told me about a couple of good sites on prostate and eating right to help prostrate. I am still digesting all info. LOL.

Thanks for your replies and encourage. You never know if you are making the right decision. BUT 1 out of 40 just seems like a AS condition.

Joko, sounds like a very solid, common-sense approach.

Here's a good link to a free online patient education document titled "Nutrition & Prostate Cancer" published by UCSF, which is an institutional leader in Active Surveillance for PC.  LINK

The UCSF document's author is an oncology dietitian specialist, and also wrote the chapter on Prostate Cancer in the dietitian's training textbook titled "Clinical Nutrition for Oncology Patients."  Download the free pdf document, and you will essentially get the same info that well-trained dietitians also get.

Another common-sense learning reference is the book "Anticancer, A New Way of Life."  (LINK to Amazon)  After my wife's cancer diagnosis, we have both read this and strive to implement these learnings.  It's a journey.

best wishes...

--------------------------------------------------

Added later as an edit:  Not wanting to de-rail this thread, but I couldn't disagree more with Fairwind's comment that "The problem with cancer, it doesn't get better...It only gets worse."   It often does get worse, but not always.  Prostate cancer, in specific, can hold steady in an indolent state for a long time, and sometimes a long, long time.

Post Edited (Casey59) : 1/28/2011 10:17:24 AM (GMT-7)

Posted 2/1/2011 1:56 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for all your responses and support.

Yes, I really like this Dr and will keep him for awhile. Soft spoken, but levels with you.

Also, thanks Casey59 for the recommendations on reading.
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