53 yrs old, psa 28, greason 4+5=9

Musicman,
Sounds like a good plan! You are in a great area with some great hospitals so you should be able to beat this crap!
My PSA was 18.5 and 10/12 core but a Gleason 7. I am a surgery guy, had Da Vinci, wanted it out!!!

Attitude is everything so keep it up. Knowledge is power. We have all been scared, especially in the early weeks and months but stay with us here and we will help you through this.

Bill from Florida

Musicman21,

Welcome to HW!

19 months ago I too was given a G9 and will complete my triple play this coming April.

Stay positive and strong.

Your PCa brother.

Take care,

Dave

musicman, I love the spirit stay strong. We are neighbors, I'm in Louisiana. Lots of great guys to walk with you in the journey. I must say your screen name hit home with me. That was my screen name when computers first came out. Please keep us posted.

Cajun Jeff

MusicMan,

It sounds like you've got trouble, right there in River City, for sure. Sorry you've got it but glad you've found us. Welcome to the forum.

Have you talked to a radiation oncologist who specializes in brachytherapy? You might be able to swap out the surgery in your plan for some sort of seeds or HDR brachytherapy. You'd still need the hormone therapy and the external beam radiation to treat the surrounding tissue but nuking the actual prostate in place might be an option if you wanted another decision to agonize over.

That said, your current plan sounds like my treatments for my cancer (also GS9). With your Gleason score and your PSA on the rise you don't want to mess around. I think your plan sounds appropriate.

Welcome, Another 9 here... well actually 10 but who's counting. 

Based on my stats, like JNF, there is more possibility that the cat is already out of the bag. So why do the surgury with less chance of a cure>? Doesn't hurt for a second, third or forth opinion.

I to was scared, hell, I'm still scared but a bit more educated.  As you will be in the upcoming months to follow.

You have lots to think about and many choices to make.  Get a good support group. My wife goes with me to every appointment taking notes and asking questions. You should have someone with you as well.

Good luck.

Bertb  

Yeah bert....that's what my doc told me as well....Im wondering if his Dr. briefed him up on the Partin tables. I was told I had a 93% chance of it already being out because my first reaction was to get it out with surgery.

Then again at least with surgery you know for sure if the cats already out....sometimes I wish I had done it just as it would have given me an extra step in it all......Like Bert says Musicman....a second or 3rd opinion never hurts. Best of luck to ya.

Doing ADT2 combo( you mentioned) or ADT3 combo can help kick those cells down and shrink the prostate too....some surgeons not loving that fact as it makes surgery a little more fun for them (gland gets sticky like). Try a nomogram with your overall stats (from your pathology report) and get an idea of the odds of containment. I had stats even overall worse than yours (psa 46.6 and 12/12 all PCa 80-95%) back in April 2002 (at age 52 also) and still waging war on this sob, so even if blank happens you might have a long run at living or beating this thing.

What kind of musicman are you, we got some guitar players and others herein, me included and Todd S. our resident rocker and Provenge spokesman now too. Look at all your options for treatments and best to your results. Keep in the loop as to your journey.

MusicMan ...that's quite an introduction to the brethren here. I was able to listen to a lot of their advice last year, when i was in a similar starting situation -- and they got me very far along the learning curve.

I encourage you to get other opinions like they suggest. I've got a couple of each kind of doctor (MO, RO) just so that they can keep each other honest and push their thinking. Some of the top doctors specialize in high risk cases like ours and are willing to color outside the lines to go after it.

I tell them to go after the cancer with a pair of pliers and a blowtorch if necessary... Keep the faith

Ray

Musicman, I like your attitude. I think you have a very comprehensive plan to fight your cancer. MD Anderson is a great place with great doctors that can help you in this fight.

Another g9 here, I don't have a lot to add. Great place to find answers on what to expect. Second and third opinions never hurt .
Keep up the positive attitude, it helps the mind.
All the best.

This is a real gut-wrencher...Will having the surgery have any beneficial effect? Or just add to the side-effect load? If you skip the surgery and the radiation fails, how do you live with that? If you do the surgery, the hormones, the radiation and it fails, well, at least you did everything you could have done..No looking back with remorse that you missed an opportunity that was offered..

And one more time, success is very dependent on the skill of the doctors and surgeons performing the treatments..Find the best ones you can...