when should

It's not a dumb question, but at least for myself, it is not very useful to ask that sort of thing except in the context of helping someone else. Since I've had the surgery, whatever the answer would be for my questions changes nothing. I try not to dwell on what might have been.

But, all things considered, the 2.1 to 4.6 jump in a year should be a warning. Even here we talk about the idea that one can take a little time (even months) in deciding treatment. In your case, it looks like you got the unusual case - things were progressing quickly.

Others may be able to say if there is correlation between enlarged prostate and later PCa - I didn't have any issues of that nature.

As another member here (zufus) will say, this is the Twilight Zone - there are no clear-cut answers for anyone.

I regret having to welcome you to HW. We all wish there was no reason for new members, but as long as PCa is out there, the welcome mat is out.

 

Well Amos, I would SURE get a second opinion..A PSA of 8 is not that bad and very few PC victims have bone mets with that low a PSA number..What was your Gleason score when they did the biopsy? Sometimes a bone scan will show what looks like mets but the spots are just old bone injuries or arthritis..

You are getting a little old for surgery, but if the bone met thing proves to be incorrect, then radiation treatment could prove to be very helpful to you..Make them PROVE the cancer has spread to your bones before you accept HT as the only choice of treatment...In most cases (but not all) you need a PSA level of 50 or more before a bone scan can detect PC metastasis..

You said you had a prostate operation 6 years ago for BPH..Did they remove your entire prostate (radical prostectomy) or just a Roto-Rooter procedure? If you had an RP operation back then, and your PSA has climbed to 8 today, that's a different story...But salvage radiation is still a possibility...