What percentage of intermediate risk cancers vanish without treatment?

I have heard that up to 30 percent of some cancers just dissappear or stop growing on their own. Just curious to see if any members have had this experience. If the percentage is correct, we should have several examples in this group. If not, it must be urban legend.

Definitely urban legend. Some may remain indolent for a long time, and sometimes it is missed on a random biopsy, but intermediate risk prostate cancer never disappears without treatment. Where are you hearing stuff like this?

- Allen

There is scandinavian studies that have found that sometimes breast cancers might actually disappear all on their own.

I will note that OP uses the word "intermediate" in the thread title, but it does not appear in the original or succeeding posts. The linked article from 2009, appears to be about "cancer" in general and seems to generally be some sort of promotion for alternative or holistic treatment.

To be clear, I have never heard, or seen posts to the effect of a Diagnosis of "Intermediate" prostate cancer of Gleason 7 or higher going away. Maybe someone who has been around longer than I have has heard of that, but if so it's not going to be 30%. I have seen talk to the effect that a Gleason 7 (3+4) (not 4+3) are being considered by some for Active Surveillance. My understanding of that is they clearly expect to treat at some point but are delaying treatment and potential side effects to extend QOL as long as possible.

I will note that at one time a Gleason score of 5 (primary and secondary combined) was considered "prostate cancer" and is no longer reported as "cancer" I assume due to over treatment. /en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gleason_grading_system

I have seen where some leading experts in the field of prostate cancer today state there is about 30% over treatment.

Some people advocate that a true Gleason 6 (3+3) will never metastasize. Part of the problem is that until you remove the prostate and slice it up you don't know what the pathology will reveal the true gleason score to be.

I will note that there are a number of posters here on Active Surveillance with Gleason 6, some that have been on AS for years and others that have progressed to the point of needing treatment.

I think I have stated this accurately but will appreciate anyone pointing out errors I may have made.

I am skeptical that prostate cancer will just disappear. I have had five targeted biopsies. Cancer was found on the third and fourth, with three cores involved. The fifth biopsy was negative for cancer, just finding HGPIN where the cancer had been found previously.

Do I think that my cancer just went away? No, absolutely not! I know that I still have it, but because it is apparently a small amount of low grade, it may not progress or always be found.

To think that it disappeared could cause someone to stop regular testing and monitoring, and that could have fatal results.

Even if it was 50% , my desire to be an active grandpa (none of my 4 adult kids have children yet), motivates me to not take any unnecessary chances. I have to trust science. I would hate to not take this opportunity to shake this thing off. Diet, prayer and exercise might work but I have to much at steak to experiment. I would say ED is a big concern, but to be honest, my libido has been in the tank for over a year. Maybe it's the cancer? Kinda got used to not wanting sex all the time. In a weird way, maybe PC will help me find another level of intimacy. As for incontinence, I will make pampers look sexy. Saw some cool pants with the urine bag holder. I might rock the leather one.

Who knows, after I get this cancer out I might get my MOJO back. It really doesn't matter. I just want to stay alive, race another Ironman, and one day have my grandkids call me PopPop.

I need a Xanax!

Brava

You are dead on! Well maybe wrong choice- you are spot on! Great attitude.

What percentage of INTERMEDIATE risk [prostate] cancers vanish without treatment?
--probably only a very small percentage, and probable none of the 4+3s

What percentage of LOW risk [prostate] cancers vanish without treatment?
--happens probably more frequently than one would imaging (many examples right here at HW/PC; I would hate to be that guy who opted for surgery (or other aggressive treatment) instead of AS for a low risk case and my post-surgery pathology found NO cancer

What percentage of INTERMEDIATE risk [prostate] cancers remain stable for a long time or forever, making AS a feasible choice?
--a pretty good percentage of 3+4s, much fewer 4+3s

Psa 6.3 Free PSA 17 Biopsy taken revealed a my prostate size to be 6.0 Uroligist said enlarged Results from biopsy show no signs of cancer Dr. says he is happy with result Biopsy did show an abnormality inside the prostate Appointment tomorrow

I'm the guy whose PSA went from 2.85 pre-biopsy to between .54 and .85 post biopsy. Riddle me that Batman. My last PSA was .70, I have a hard time believing that I have PCa now, even though the G6 was confirmed by Johns Hopkins.

Go figure.
~

brava said...
Geetar,

You know what they say, "if you are going to have an unnecessary surgery, have one that goes well." Hope there really is no cancer there.

Thanks for sharing man.

Brava

Brava, in case you missed it Geetar did NOT have surgery. He was one of the really smart guys who chose AS and he is doing great!!!

Jim

brava said...
Geetar,

You know what they say, "if you are going to have an unnecessary surgery, have one that goes well." Hope there really is no cancer there.

Thanks for sharing man.

Brava

Yeah, the only "surgery" I had was the biopsy needle. My theory is that the trauma to the prostate caused by the biopsy caused it to heal itself of the G6 "cancer". I just don't think that if there was G6 PCa present that it was all miraculously removed by one of the cores. There's just no way. And then with my present PSA of .70, I just can't believe there is any PCa present. Even my uro, who is a surgeon, admitted he would not perform surgery on me now even if I wanted it.
~

brava said...
Prostatectomy by biopsy, that's a new technique. Heck, I don't want another one of those. Uro said it was going to be a piece of cake. Almost fainted.

I'm with you brother. I never want another one of those.
~