Low PSA Gleason Score 6

Welcome.
Brachytherapy / seeds might be a good option.
Some early studies have shown a benefit to a vegetarian diet and some articles show a benefit to some specific supplements. Are you on a special diet, etc?
Anyway, good luck with your next PSA test.

How were you diagnosed in your mid 60s with such a low psa?  I assume a positive or suspicious DRE?  Brachy seems like a reasonable option, if you need/want treatment.  Best wishes.

Yeah, I had the same feeling that Purgatory had. While I would absolutely recommend brachy to anyone who is considered a candidate, I wonder why you don't continue AS which has no side effects.

Hi Bluedog,
I'm sure you are aware of the many studies that show no survival benefit to patients over 65 with low risk cancer with treatment. Did you have a followup biopsy and what did that show? Your rise in PSA could be entirely due to your prostate enlarging with age and not due to cancer. Are you seeing a doctor that specializes in AS or did you get any type of a scan, MRI or color doppler to confirm the size of the tumor and if it is actually growing? All of these would give you a better idea of your status before deciding to treat or not. Staying on AS is a good recommendation without confirming evidence that your tumor is indeed growing at a rate that will eventually harm you.
JohnT

Bluedog321 -

I'm going to weigh in on this discussion because of the fact that my situation is remarkably similar to yours:

Dx'd at same time (end of 2011)
at same age (65)
we're both Gleason 6's

My specific numbers below in my signature tell my whole story. My PSA's at time of Dx were a bit larger than yours (low teens), and I'll bet my prostate was much larger (mine was huge).

A major factor in my own decision to seek treatment was the fact that I was positive in 90 % of one core and 70 % in the other. This told me, and my uro agreed, that while my PCa at that point wasn't imminently threatening to me, it would eventually be "on the move," and was something I would likely need to deal with sooner or later. I chose to deal with it sooner.

You didn't mention your own biopsy results, but I assume you have had one for PCa confirmation, since you are now talking about treatments. Maybe that would be a factor in your own decision as it was in mine, you'll have to decide that. If you would like to give us your biopsy results (number of cores, percentages of involvement), perhaps some of us could comment on those numbers.

As my signature indicates, I had a TURP operation a few months before Dx, which made my having a prostatectomy problematic. I also didn't qualify for Brachy because my prostate was too large. So I sort of had radiation (IMRT) by default (successfully, however, as my numbers so far seem to confirm).

Assuming you have more options, I can only concur with the others who have posted that you do have a lot of options available to you with your numbers, and some time to consider them (no need to rush). Probably any treatment would work for you right now. You just need to consider all the factors, possible side effects, etc., and eventually go with the one that seems the right one for you. This might include, as some have already suggested, even staying on AS for a while.

But I would also add that whatever way you go, you need to be as sure as you can be that it is the best decision for you, because there are no "do-overs" with any of these treatments, you will have to live with the results.

Good luck with your decision and treatment!

One of the truly great things about this list is that we can have a vigorous, active, and useful exchange of ideas.

Sometimes we talk about wording. Sometimes we need to.

I just want to say that, personally, I am never offended by this. If someone wants to suggest something to me, I am absolutely going to listen and take it to heart, as it may well be in order. I at the very least entirely respect the offer of the suggestion.

When I was a grad student at the University of Wisconsin long, long ago, I remember passing daily on my way to class by the famous "sifting and winnowing plaque" at the university's entrance. It extolled the need to "sift and winnow" through the mass of data to get to the truth.

That's what we do here, and I am always OK with any suggestions for a better means of doing so.

Thank you so much for that 81, I left for errands and was "troubled" by my post. Bottom line it really is caveat emptor here. I intended to apologize. Due to your graciousness, that is not needed. As I take James Joyce"s words " apologize , apologize, pull out there eyes, pull out there eyes" somewhat to heart, I am not the " corrections sheriff " and will refrain from portraying one . thanks again.

I could never handle AS. I wanted it out yesterday when I was diagnosed. Everyone is different, but no regrets here.

Best wishes,
Tom