Volume of Cancer in one Core

Yup :-(((

Listen to Jerry and the rest!

Conclusion: No metastasis or disease-specific death were observed in men with Gleason score ≤6 prostate cancer on radical prostatectomy, demonstrating the negligible potential to metastasize in this large subgroup of prostate cancer patients.

Conclusion from a study released July 2014.

You've been worked up too long over a good biopsy report!

Cheers, Doug

I understand everything you are all saying, and I get it about the G6. What is keeping me on edge is the possibility that there is something more in there.

With that said, I know there is no way to know that until after surgery. So, Ok guys, I'm going to put a stake in the ground and make a serious effort to take your advice, and work this out in my mind. It is what it is, and I can only control what I can control, and so far all I know is its a G6, so I'll make every effort, for my own peace of mind, to assume that is what I have, until and unless proven otherwise.

Thanks,,appreciate your efforts to chill me out

Pratoman said...
It is what it is, and I can only control what I can control,

Amen to that. FWIW after dealing with PCa for 12 years I still get anxiety when waiting for PSA results. But otherwise there are more imminent threats to remaining mortal. Case in point: I was at the head of the line at a stop light at the bottom of an off-ramp Saturday afternoon waiting to cross a busy road into a Home Depot parking lot. The light turned green, I was carefully watching the cars opposite me for anyone who might make a turn across my path. Out of the corner of my left eye I saw a car heading full speed down the main road at the red light and hit my brake. She ran the light in total oblivion. A couple of seconds later she'd have plowed into my driver-side door.

Fortunately I had the means to see the threat and the means to control what happened, and now I'm still here to worry for a few days in January when my next blood test is due.

Jim

"@81GyGuy, I just reread your post in this thread, thanks again."

Just trying to help, like the others here.

This really is two diseases, not one. The first one is the one that attacks our bodies, in a kind of mindless, mechanical way, kind of like an evil organic robot creeping along from cell to cell. We attack it with the treatments we have, and hopefully we are successful.

The second one is the one that attacks our minds, and it is much more insidious, and in some ways the more terrible form of the disease. This is because we can leave the situation of our body disease to the doctors, and even let them worry about it for us, if we can do that.

But when it comes to the mind's version of this beast, we are really on our own. Counseling, whether formally with a practitioner or more informally with people like forum members, may help, but ultimately it's our own individual decision as to how we face this in our own minds, and face it daily.

The answer is as individual as each of us is. It may help to realize that there are people right here, and Todd our resident superstar is a perfect example of this, who were written off as soon-to-be terminal by their doctors long ago, and who, lo and behold, are still here, years later, going strong! So really, the odds of living long with this disease are with you, whatever fears in the back of your mind may be telling you otherwise.

There are other things you can try to do if you haven't already. Google things like "psychology of cancer" and such, and find and read encouraging articles. Are you sure you aren't in the grips of a biochemical depression, which is a very common condition when facing cancer? If so, being biochemical, it can be treated medically. Consider that. There's also a thing that I have personally found to be very helpful in a situation like this. That is to examine your mind, to think really long and hard, about the one thing, or maybe it's a couple of things, that you really enjoy doing in life. It could be a hobby, or your relationship with another person, or hunting or fishing, or sports, or just working on your car. Whatever it is that works for you. Come to realize just what that one thing is, that is unique to you. Then, when you feel the dark thoughts coming over you, start thinking hard about doing that special thing, how enjoyable it is, and keep thinking about it. And if possible, go and actually do it! I have found that helps me a great deal to drive away the black dog when it tries to get into my mind.

And for sure you know there will always be a number of us here 24/7 on HW PC, to listen to venting, and such. Anytime. Guaranteed.

Shabadabadoug,{forbear my license, si'l vous plais,}…. I'm a bit OCD , I admit, but its kind like paranoia. Just cause you are, don't mean they ain't out to get ya. Plus attention to detail, while annoying to another, has gotten me more than one documented save in my previous existence. As Walt Whitman said " it isn't bragging if you did it." but then he also said " So I contradict myself, I contain multitudes " Contradiction just means your keeping up with quantum physics. Actually maybe Walt was my previous existence.

Totally accept your quip in the good spirit it was sent… but my second sentence, not sadly, lingers with stillness.

Thanks Yoop, I appreciate your efforts, I don't know why I didn't think of that. I will email him. Maybe wait a couple of days. Thank you.

Prato, don't forget that even with post op pathology you will not know everything which, is the reason for follow up psa tests. To every thought the other thought rides diametrically opposed, but positives are always attached to negatives nd conversely. Having said that it is up to us to make them swap positions and they willingly do that based on our continuous use of our own free will. This free will is transformative and science will eventually discover the mechanics of this phenomenon. Quantum physics is just a tiny step in this process of discovery. As someone once said… " temptation MUST come" I think we all understand the dilemma, as we all deal with it daily, regardless of cancer, depression and whatever negative particle arises. You, like us all, are in the process of becoming… A side note. I have said this before but it is so important, to my view. It is not recognition that we seek but realization. Recognition is picking the fruit, realization is letting the fruit pick you. See what I mean about the dynamics of the binary system which is assuredly the fabric of existence. Off to the gym… to say yes….
Surf has sucked recently. Big waves but all blown out.

Back at ya Mel.

And Logos, I still, someday, want to have whatever it is you have for breakfast!!!!! (:

So to sort of wrap this up, regarding the original topic (80% involvement of one core, rather than depression and mental rollercoasters). thanks to Yooper, I contacted Dr Epstein directly, with a long detailed email reminding him of our phone conversation and giving him every detail of my case, with a list of 5 questions. To my amazement, he responded in detail within 45 minutes. The guy is at the top of the food chain, and more accessible than my urologist.

Basically, here is what he told me regarding the fact that one core had 80% tumor load...

1. it does not affect my chance for primary treatment cure
2. it should not affect my treatment choice, either is still a good choice
3. does not really affect the chance for organ confined disease, but need to wait for surgical pathology to know. And eeven if not organ confined, chance is high that I would still be cured, depending on the final grade but not depending on the 80% of core involved
4. with 3 cores positive, I would typically not be a good candidate for AS. However the 80% core involvement is not as critical, given that all the positive cores are on one side of the prostate, which he called a "favorable finding"


So, now what the hell do I do? I have to find some new thing to worry about. Maybe Rex Ryan and the Jets.

I chose surgery, but I was not a candidate for AS (G4+3, downgraded to G3+4 on a second opinion by Ford Hospital where I elected to have Dr. Menon do my surgery).

If I had the AS, I would not have chosen that. I am a worrier, but my main concern was how do I know I really have say a G3+3. The data I saw was that 30% of them get upgraded. That is a non-starter for me. However, these days they do a LOT more with imaging and other tests, so maybe they are better off at monitoring you. Still, I have my doubts that they can suddenly say a G6 is now a G7. But they may be able to pick up suspicious lesions via the newest MRIs. It would be a harder decision today.

Mel

Now that Science Guy has his own thread that is off and running, I have unlocked this one. Please reply to our new member on his newly created thread.

Jim