Question

Nytingale,

Not an expert (not by a long-shot), and I can't comment on his likelihood for a cure. Our RO told us that Randy had an 80% chance of cure, but, unfortunately that didn't happen. Even after radiation, as soon as he stopped ADT, his PSA started to rise. Randy's post surgery pathology was very similar to your husband's, except Randy's prostate was 95% involved and his PSA never went below 10 after surgery. Even so, here we are 5 years later, and he's still doing well. He looks good, feels good, goes to work everyday, and does (almost) anything he ever could.

I truly hope you guys find that elusive "cure", but even if you don't, all is not lost. Living with treatment is still living.

Donna.

My RadOnc has been the only 100% honest doctor to date.
He said if this doesn't cure it, it is incurable.
So, by that reasoning 50%, either it does or it doesn't.
But other factors go into this, N1. EPE+, SVI +, + margin, it depends on how far it has spread beyond.

But his Axumin PET scan was negative, that's awesome!!

They will probably do radiation to the prostate bed and pelvic lymph nodes

Your husbands post surgical report is just like mine except for bladder neck, I'm still here and doing fine 5 1/2 years later.

RandyJoe, Jasper, Alephnull, and GoBucks -

Thanks to all for the replies. RandyJoe it is good to hear from someone in a similar situation and who has experienced a steady state - prayers that your husband continues to maintain where he is for a long time to come. I hope that we have similar results - my husband's post-surgical PSA was good - hoped for zero, but thankful it was low. May that be an indicator for future progress.

Jasper - I tend to agree with you regarding the term cure. My husband is hopeful that will be his endpoint - I have not done anything to dissuade him from thinking his way to a cure. However, after a 30+ year nursing career - much of it spent in critical care - I know that we all have cancer cells in our bodies every day - it's simply a case of whether our bodies can destroy them. With the positive margins, high Gleason, EPE, and + SVI the likelihood that cancer cells remain is more likely than not - may the rad therapy take them to their demise. I once had an oncologist tell me that we would all die of cancer if we live long enough and something else doesn't get us first.

Alephnull - wise words from your RO. My biggest complaint is the variability in physician statements and their inconsistency with the published literature (which isn't all that consistent with due to the lack of good RCOs and the long time spans that the retrospective studies cover without controlling for the wide variability in treatment). My husband has been told by 2 of them that cure is possible - I might add that these are reputable docs from a large center. I know that with his pathology that may not be the case and our best case scenario is that this thing becomes just a condition that is managed like other chronic diseases. However, I don't want to dash his positive perspective either and would expect that physicians would remain consistent to some degree and not take their patients on an emotional rollercoaster ride which is more harmful I think, in the long run. Truly, I don't think the word cure should be thrown around in any diagnosis when cancer is involved.

GoBucks - no offense taken at all fellow Ohioan. I just had my own rant in my response to Alephnull above. After years spent in the acute care setting, I don't believe cancer and cure are matching scenarios - remission yes, permanently assured cure - no. I was truly curious as to what information others were given to make some comparisons. At this point, I'm trying to keep my husband positive - as you pointed out, we have had some good news - low post-surgical PSAs and a negative Axumin. Plus, a slight drop to undetectable following the initiation of ADT. Hopefully, lower still this coming Friday. I think that the docs need to work on consistency in what they say to patients - don't dash hopes right out of the chute, but also don't mention that which really cannot be promised. I will raise that glass with you that he, and you have many zeros in your future.

experts??...words have too much power to be flippant about...plus why box anyone?? Yea Im a hard taskmaster...so you might want to ignore me...and carry on...Im not for everyone...

"I'm tending philosophical with Logos...what is the definition of "cured"?"

dead. same as for drug addiction.

Logoslidat, thanks for the feedback. I feel I must clarify my statement regarding seeking the input of experts here - my intent was certainly not to "box" in anyone - only to seek the counsel of those who have lived this road for a longer time than my husband and I. The definition of expert includes the identification of a person "who has a comprehensive and authoritative knowledge of or skill in a particular area." You all have developed the "skill" of living with this disease, while we are neophytes in this arena as of yet. So yeah, I see you all as experts. I'm sure we'll get there, at any rate we have to learn to deal, as there is no option other than to devolve into a level of inertia where living with any joy ceases. Seeking answers is a way to keep moving ahead, at least for me. Perhaps this isn't the place.