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New 73 YO Member with PSA 73

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Posted 10/7/2014 4:50 PM (GMT 0)
I am a 73 YO and have been diagnosed withe prostate cancer. My PSA is 73 (that is not 7.3) and the Gleason test of 7 (4+3). My Dr recommend surgery but has set me up with a radiologist for a second opinion. Any comments?

Edited to provide subject. Jim

Post Edited By Moderator (Tudpock18) : 10/7/2014 11:21:22 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 10/7/2014 5:17 PM (GMT 0)
I'm sorry to hear about your recent diagnosis.

You didn't say what your stage is. Your elevated PSA puts you in the category of high risk PC. Your treatment options depend on further diagnostics - surgery is not useful if the disease has escaped the prostate. Standard protocol is to have a bone scan and CT or MRI. The bone scan will tell you if there are any suspicious bone lesions that may be metastases. The CT or MRI can tell you if the cancer has grown outside of the prostate capsule and if there are enlarged pelvic lymph nodes. You may want to confirm your Gleason score with one of the specialty labs like Bostwick or Epstein, who will also note if there is any tertiary 5.

I think you should discuss these further diagnostics with your doctor so that you can make a more informed decision.

- Allen
Posted 10/7/2014 5:28 PM (GMT 0)
Hello d2 and welcome. Sorry you have to be here but you will find lots of support on this site as well as educated men and women who can help you.

One thing I can suggest right away is to check out the sticky thread at the top of our forum that is designed for newly diagnosed patients: www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=35&m=2652250

Next, you might consider creating a signature (done in the profile section). There you can include things like your age, PSA, G score, number and % of positive samples, etc. This will allow us to have a reference point as you post on this and other threads.

I will second Allen's suggestion to get another opinion on your biopsy slides. The experts he mentioned are highly qualified.

There are many options for treatment of your cancer...you may want to investigate IMRT, LDR brachytherapy, HDR brachytherapy, SBRT or a combination of these. It will be CRITICAL to get whatever treatment you decide upon done by a very experienced doctor...that means hundreds of prior patients.

Stick with us and please ask any and all questions you may have.

Jim
Posted 10/8/2014 3:31 AM (GMT 0)
At 73, major surgery like a prostatectomy is pretty high risk all by itself..Many surgeons get shy about performing this operation on men over 70...There are exceptions, guys in good health and close to their proper weight...Radiation has made great advances over the last 10 years so side-effects have been greatly reduced and outcomes improved..Combinations of Brachytherapy and EBRT are even more effective..Some doctors will first put you on hormone treatment or ADT to shrink your tumor(s) and lower your PSA and THEN operate or use radiation.. Be sure to read Dr. Walsh's book "Surviving Prostate Cancer" to get an idea of what you are facing...Best of luck to you...
Posted 10/8/2014 3:47 AM (GMT 0)
d2,
So sorry you have to be here. I really don't have much wisdom to offer since my husband is just diagnosed recently and we are waiting for our second opinion appointment. Just know you are not alone and you have come to a great place full of people willing to listen and help you. They have been wonderful to me and are always here to answer any questions. There are a lot of resources here and I have found it helpful to go up to the search bar and look at some of the older posts about my concerns. Sometimes there is great knowledge in an older post and it's just buried under the newer ones. Miki
Posted 10/8/2014 2:31 PM (GMT 0)
I had the appointment with the Radiologist and it was interesting. He said that is able to help is I opt to go that way. I have an appointment with my cardiologist on the 22nd of this month and I will ask her about my age and weight. I weigh 225 and am 5 11. I appreciate all of you info. Thanks a lot.
Posted 10/8/2014 5:27 PM (GMT 0)
Has anyone tried holistic approach to cancer.
Posted 10/8/2014 9:23 PM (GMT 0)

d2lvnv said...
I had the appointment with the Radiologist and it was interesting. He said that is able to help is I opt to go that way. I have an appointment with my cardiologist on the 22nd of this month and I will ask her about my age and weight. I weigh 225 and am 5 11. I appreciate all of you info. Thanks a lot.

I am same height but 30 pounds heavier.

paradoxically when my mentor Tall Allen reviewed my detailed SBRT plan with my RO Dr Chris King at UCLA, the weight was actually a bonus in reducing toxicity to bowels

"Tall Allen looked at my treatment plan and was very impressed. He even asked Dr. King how such a low bowel dose was possible - Dr King said it was because of a perfect storm of optimal anatomy and visceral fat. I should have no long term issues from that."

Good idea to keep your cardiologist in the loop as HT worls adversely on some of the cardio metrics.

LupronJim
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