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Posted 5/5/2013 4:57 PM (GMT 0)
 This past Wednesday we found out my 44 year old husband has been diagnosed with prostate cancer.  It has been a roller coaster ride.  I went online to find out all the information I could.  His urologist states that his Gleason score is 6 and his PSA is 3.46 and stated that he is T2.  My concern is that we had a CT scan that showed inflammation in the colon and intestines.  He has a colonoscopy scheduled on the 14th and we are meeting with the doctors on the 16th.  I hate the waiting.  Any advice or support is appreciated.

My husband lost his father to heart disease at the age of 48 and has always been worried about dieing young.  We have a 6 year old and are just so scared.  I can't imagine my life without him.

Having a place like this to receive support and information is appreciated.

Posted 5/5/2013 5:14 PM (GMT 0)
Hi hope4us - I'm sorry your family had this sad news. It is a shock isn't it? The good news is if found early enough it is treatable. With a Gleason 6 one can expect success. There is no reason your husband can't live out a normal lifespan with a score like that.

Educate yourselves on your treatment options. This site will help a great deal with that.

Hang in there.
Posted 5/5/2013 5:35 PM (GMT 0)
Hi hope4us,

I am sorry your husband has been diagnosed with PC, especially at so young an age. This is an increasingly common occurrence because of early PSA screening. First, let me assure you that in most men, PC is insignificant and indolent and does not need treatment. This is surprising to those who are familiar with other cancers. Also, Gleason score 3+3 is one of the lowest reported, and is highly unlikely to be related to the inflammation in his colon and intestines. I assume that you meant his stage is T2a, which means his urologist felt a lump on one side or it was seen there on the CT scan. Based on the info you provided, his PC is classified as "low risk" or possibly even "very low risk," if his disease burden was low. Either way, you have time to assess the situation, learn more about it, meet with specialists, etc. It's important to take that time too to get over the initial "cancer panic," and make rational decisions that you won't regret later.

The first thing I'd recommend you do is get his biopsy slides re-read by a PC specialist - either Bostwick or Epstein. It is difficult to accurately assess Gleason grade, and mistakes are sometimes made.

Good luck on the colonoscopy, and especially in getting through the night before (yuck!).
Posted 5/5/2013 6:07 PM (GMT 0)
Hi hope-

44 is young to have Prostate Cancer. Even so, I'm younger than your husband and I had much worse stats (Gleason 7 and PSA of 9). I had surgery less than 5 weeks ago (see links in my signature below). I'm doing great. My wife and kids managed through the whole experience very well. I'm very happy to be "on the other side" now.

Gleason 6 and PSA of 3.46 puts your husband into a pretty safe place, as far as Prostate Cancer is concerned. I'm curious how it was detected. Most doctors don't do a PSA test for anyone under 50 (unfortunately). And, even with a PSA of 3.46, I'm a bit surprised that the doctor ordered a biopsy. Anything under 4 is considered "normal", to many doctors. I have never heard of inflamed colon/intestines to be to be related to Prostate Cancer.

In the coming days/weeks, you will probably want to meet with a LARP (surgery) and Brachy (radiation/seeds) specialists. Here are two posts where I collected important questions to ask those doctors when deciding which treatment to choose:

Important questions to ask your **LARP/RALP/RRP** doc
Important questions to ask your **Brachy** doc

Wishing you and your husband the best of luck. We're here to help you in any way we can.

-Gedman
Posted 5/5/2013 6:33 PM (GMT 0)
hello and welcome, sorry you had the misfortune to need to join us, but glad you found us.

the problem in the colon/intestines is highly likely to have anything to do with his cancer in his prostate. try to keep the 2 problems separated in your mind, the latter might just be a simple infection or inflammation.

good luck to the both of you, we are here to help you and to support you through what lies ahead.

david in sc
Posted 5/5/2013 6:42 PM (GMT 0)
Hello.
My guess is that he would live 25 years without surgery or radiation but it varies.
There is also Targeted Focal Therapy done at a few places in USA.
Active Surveillance which involves periodic testing and sometimes diet changes might be OK for years.
With his stats, a colon complication is unlikely.
Factors to consider also include PSA doubling time, PSA density, Free PSA
Good luck to you both.
Posted 5/5/2013 6:45 PM (GMT 0)
Dear Hope, welcome to HW but sorry you have to be here.  I can't really improve on the comments already made on your thread so I will just reemphasize that hubby has very early stage cancer.  There is a very high likelihood of cure and that you two will live to enjoy old age together.

Jim

Posted 5/5/2013 7:24 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you everyone for the replies. The reason he went in was because of lower back pain and when the doc was checking everything he noticed that his prostate felt hard and then he ordered PSA and then the biopsy. We haven't done any MRI or other tests at this point. I know the stats appear good but my mind is playing tricks on me due to his back pain and overall not feeling well. I want to ask his fox for a bone scan to make sure nothing is there due yo back pain.

Again thank you all so much for your replies.
Posted 5/5/2013 7:29 PM (GMT 0)
Hope,

A cancer diagnosis is always a shock at any age.  As others have said the colon/intestine issue is very unlikely to be related to the prostate.  Examine your options and go with what feels right to you and your husband.  With his stats and relatively young age there are several options and all of them give a very good chance of cure.  Don't let the fear consume you.  This site is a great place because you will find that there is life after prostate cancer and for many of us it is a life of quality.

Best wishes,

Tom

Posted 5/5/2013 7:50 PM (GMT 0)
Hope, I understand where you are coming from (wife to wife), and I'm sorry that you and your beloved are facing this at such a young age. As others have already said, it appears that your husband's prostate cancer is early stage and highly treatable. Please try not to worry (too much), especially about the colon issue. I'm confident that it's just a coincidence that both were found at the same time.

I would encourage you to speak further with your doctor and do more research before pushing for a bone scan. First off, bone scans almost never detect any prostate cancer in the bones until the PSA is around 20 or higher, and not always then. Second, it is highly, highly unlikely that your husband's PCa has spread to his bones at this very early stage. Secondly, try if possible to avoid exposing him to too much radiation without a genuine need or reason. I doubt the doctor will agree to a bone scan but, then again, he/she just might so it's important to weight the benefits of this type of scan before proceeding. Some doctors will do a bone scan as part of the diagnostic process but I'm finding that more and more do not feel it is necessary or adds anything to the original diagnosis.

I would venture to say that your husband's not feeling well and back issues have much more to do with the inflammation in his colon than prostate cancer. Anything involving the digestive tract can be so debilitating and can affect so many other areas.

It sounds like you're doing the right things. The colonoscopy should tell the doctor what's going on and how to treat it. I know this is a very scary time but please don't let your imagination take over (I've been there and I know how easy that can be).
Posted 5/5/2013 8:05 PM (GMT 0)
hope4us,

As you can see, this is an amazing forum for you to come. Encourage your husband to sign on and join us as well, when he is feeling better. The diagnosis of cancer is horrific and throws everyone involved into shock.

While one can't say cancer is good news, like my brothers who have responded are correct, if your husband was to get prostate cancer, he got a good strain with his Gleason 6 score. I know that means nothing to you both right now. You are in shock and thinking the worse. Believe me, it could be worse. I am a Gleason 9 and one can't get much higher except for a 10.

Please click on the first two links to this forum. The one gives you great links to amazing resources to study and learn from. I would highly suggest you order immediately, Dr. Patrick Walsh's Surviving Prostate Cancer. It is the best book written to date on prostate cancer, the differences between Gleasons 1-10, the treatments for each Gleason Score, Active Survillence for the lower Gleason scores which simply means that one does nothing except get a PSA blood draw, maybe periodic biopsies, etc.

There is no rush for you both right now. You have time. Prostate cancer for most is a very slow developing cancer. You have time to read books, articles, watch a bunch of videos online (there are links to those in one of the first threads on the forum), go to Urologist Oncologists, Radiologists, and go back a few times to ask them further questions.

Hopefully, we can clear some of the storming and dark clouds that have come upon you this week. While cancer is serious, your husband got one of the best Gleason strains that is very treatable and he should have a very long and happy life and you two should be able to grow old together. No need to panic, just take a deep breath.

Please come back with any questions or concerns and you will see immediate responses like you already have.

Give your husband my best wishes and my confidence from having gone down this road with prostate cancer.
Posted 5/5/2013 8:14 PM (GMT 0)
Again thank you all. It is so comforting and reassuring to hear from those who are in the same place. Another reason I'm scared is that I have a close friend who was diagnosed with breast cancer at 34 and is still dealing with it 4 years later and another friend whom passed away from breast cancer that spread to the bone. I think you are all right on that the diagnosis of "cancer" starts a negative spiral of thoughts.

I am so thankful for you all and your replies. I am thinking healing thoughts for all of you and your partners.

To the wives out there thank you off sharing.

It is crazy how one phone call can change so much. I am a believer in that there is a purpose for us in this. I am so much more appreciative of my amazing husband of almost 12 years. We have been together for almost 18 years now and I am falling in love more each day. I am appreciating all the things I was taking for granted.

Thank you for the opportunity to share
Posted 5/5/2013 10:01 PM (GMT 0)
Hope4Us,
No offense to anyone but the best thing you can do is try to chill, and do not seek advice or info from the internet.
Talk to your doctors.
Posted 5/6/2013 12:24 AM (GMT 0)
Hope4us,, with those stats you have Hope plus the facts of this gleason6 disease, which is, very, very few ever, ever die from gleason 6, if in fact it is treated when it is still a gleason 6. Send the the slides to whom Tall Allen mentioned, to confirm that status. There is no need to for your mind to work overtime, imagining dreadful things, tho, it is not uncommon. Your husband is having a colonoscopy….., which is a good idea for any man/woman, in that age group who never had one, regardless of any symptoms, ….., because a CT scan showed inflammation, period, not cancer, not a mouse stuck in there, but inflammation. That would be a normal step for a doctor to do. Do chill, which is just a new word, with zero negative connotations, for relax, take it easy, no need worry, etc. Children pick up these vibes. Trust me, this is no where near, no where near where your mind has /is taken it. Now , don't feel guilty over a little panic, just learn from it, turn the corner on it, and move forward with the real hope that you do in fact have. The love of your life will be fine…….
Posted 5/6/2013 12:36 AM (GMT 0)
Welcome to our corner of the world.

Take a deep breath and don't let the "c" word get to you. This isn't like other cancers and the numbers you share are nothing to worry about. Getting it treated would be good and there are plenty of treatments that will work just fine. This is very curable.

It won't be fun. Normal will change, peeing, sex, and other stuff will change but you'll both be around for a very long time to enough that 6 year old when turns to surely 16 to employed 36 year-old looking for a mid-life crisis.

I'd suggest planning a fun day out at a park and just go enjoy life for awhile.

and then research and chose the treatment that will work best for you.

All the best,
Andrew
Posted 5/6/2013 2:04 AM (GMT 0)
Hope,

Sorry you have to be here, but you will get a some great advice here from those who have been through what you going through now. You have plenty of time to educate yourself and the love of your life.

Yes, you do need to be very careful about what you read on the internet, but in my opinion, there is a wealth of information at your disposal, you just need to be very careful of the source. A good doctor should appreciate an educated patient, and it will make the most of your visits and your decision process. Take your time and question everything. A 2nd opinions is always useful, and as my oncologist said “if your doctor has a problem with you getting a 2nd opinion, RUN!”

As far as back the pain... I would have to agree with others, that at such a low PSA level, it is very unlikely related to PC (but I am not a medical professional). My PSA hit 84 before I experienced any muscle / bone pain.

Just tonight, before reading your post, my wife happen to express the exact words that you wrote; “I am appreciating all , the things I was taking for granted”. We just past our 34th anniversary and with your love'd ones prostate stats, there is no reason that you won't be celebrating the same!

Keep the faith, your husband is very fortunate to have you as his advocate.

adjust
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