POSITIVE MARGINS FOLLOWING SURGERY. WHAT TO DO NOW?

anniea,

I'm finishing my third week of radiation (IMRT) and have not had any ill effects whatsoever. Everything is as normal as it was before radiation, I ever spread 15 yards of loam this past weekend without any problems. From research that I've done you usually don't have any side effects the first 3 or 4 weeks, after that you may experience fatigue and/or diarrhea.

The treatments are like getting a dental x-ray but longer. I'm sure everyone is different but my treatment consists of being lined up on the table (using 3 period sized tatoos for guides) and then having 2 or 3
x-rays to be sure I'm properly positioned. I am then "zapped" for about 30 seconds each from 7 different angles (360 degrees at every 45 degree angle except 180 degrees). You should have a full blatter during the procedure so I drink 24 oz. of water 1 to 1:15 hours before my treatment time. I only live 20 minutes away so I call before I leave the house (self employed, home based business) to make sure they're not backed up. If they are I just partially empty my blatter and drink more water.

Piece of cake so far.

PSA 2005 3.2, 2006 3.7
Biopsy 8/06, Gleason 6 (3+3), T1c
Radical 11/06
Post-Op Biopsy, Still Gleason 6 (3+3), T2c, right apical margin positive
IMRT (37 Treatments) Started 4/23/07

Hi All!

Thank you for your responces. You are all very helpful & I can't tell you how much that means to us. I have a few more questions and thoughts that I have been thing about. Maybe you can help:

When my urologist did my biopsy he said I had a PSA of 5.09 and a Gleason of 4+4=8, He said it was a aggressive cancer and I needed to take care of it asap. I did and the pathology report says it has positive margins and a new Gleason of 4+5=9. My post-op 4 week PSA is 0.02, My urolgist/surgeron
says this number is "awesome" If I no longer have a prostate but I have positive margins how aggressive is the cancer now? My urologist said he would repeat my PSA in 3 months but if its an aggressive cancer will 3 months make a difference? Also I had a triple spinal fusion 4 weeks prior to prostate surgery, How will I know if I;m having back pain from that surgery or if the cancer has spread to the bones? I am sorry for sounding so confused but I am and am looking to you for some possible answers.
Again Thank You All Your GREAT!!!!!
Anniea

Hi Ben,
That study is the sanofi-Aventis study I believe. The biggest reason I did not like this study was that you will be randomized into one of four catagories.
First no radiation was allowed.

1> Hormones now
2> Hormones and Taxotere now
3> Wait until 0.4 the Hormones
4> Wait until 0.4 then Hormones and Taxotere

And you lose control over your treatments. But also, if this is the same study, then I don't think you qualify. My understanding is that you have to be randomized within 90 days after surgery. If this isn't the study, then can you list that study for my personal reference? Thanks in advance.

Because of my Gleason being 4+3 I did not like the no radiation piece. While I have begun radiation I have been told by my Oncologist that I too would more likely be a distant occurance. That stated, I was using logic on the radiation. If there's a positive margin, then I would like to take no chances and radiate what was not removed. I am continant however, and I know how much that has been an issue for you. It does sound like the pads are getting smaller in count for you though and hopefully you will be off them soon. I can state that there have not as yet been side affects on my HT. I'm two weeks into it and was expecting something right away but actually it has not been bad.

Ben I hope the best for you, and please let us know what you decide to do. Your PSA is cooperating as is mine and with God's blessing we will beat the odds.

Tony