Thanks "Tennis", My biggest challenges at 2 weeks will just be caring for my aging dog, feeding myself, etc. Wife will be the one traveling. Sounds like you've done really well! (After that bleeding...
Thanks for the latest! I always enjoy Bololidat. Poetry and philosophy. And he makes us think. Thanks for your input, island time. One big difference with our numbers is your age. Looks like I'm your...
Thanks responders! As usual the input here is helpful. Halbert: Certainly true that the final call is mine. And it's a wise guess that that will be Scholz's message as well. Seems like most (good)...
I realize it's pretty hard to know just what to do for many of us! I just got a new PSA reading @ 3.45! It was 4.0 in June and 4.3 in Jan. Free PSA still only @ 11%, however, (9% in June, 10% in...
Thanks Iapilot and MK, My TURPS were much longer ago, MK, @ ages 49 and 59 (I'm now 73) but the bladder neck effects are still an important consideration. So too is the scaring internal to the...
Thanks, again, guys! I am doing the Kegels but probably should set a timer or something to help remind me to do another set every few hours. With my past BPH and TURPS, I'm all too (unpleasantly!)...
Thanks all responders! Snow is rare here in western Oregon. I'll do my best to get/stay in good shape. Sounds like the catheter hassle will be the worst part of it. Probably won't go for a run the...
Hi again guys, My Dec. 14 RALP surgery was mentioned in a previous post. My support team (spouse) has travel plans set for Jan. 1. What would you say is the probability that I would need some backup...
Thanks Andrew! And thanks for your poetry posts, too! Whippoorwill...
As you'll see from the signature below and perhaps recall from previous posts, I have been moving reluctantly away from AS and toward definitive treatment for nearly a year. I have now scheduled RALP...
TA, I think you are correct that TURP is a risk factor for urinary complications with any RT. Even that first source I cited above, which does definitely focus on SBRT, and even at times seems to...
TA, Thanks as always for your excellent input! That obstructive voiding symptoms article was helpful and encouraging. I've run across a number of other sources, unfortunately, including at least one...
Hi JNF, Let me get back to you on that possibility, okay? I'm right now a bit distracted by all this prostate stuff. But I do a lot of local area golfing and note that's one of your interests....
Hello TA, I'm not surprised by your comment, of course, and I do trust that our local team is at least up to speed on knowing that SBRT is not a shortened version of IMRT. Actual experience is...
My local RT facility has just announced that they will begin offering SBRT for prostate Cancer and I may be a candidate. This is a quite busy center with fairly extensive IMRT/IGRT experience using...
Halbert, Thanks for that clarification. I'm temporarily restricted to a very slow internet connection and had not read your excellent "My Story" entries until just yesterday. In fact I've still not...
Halbert, Your contribution here is much appreciated (as are the remarks and passages provided by JackH)! I'm curious now whether you regard your own RALP decision as unwise. There is certainly way...
Just a short update here for now. I'm temporarily away from WiFi and thus have only very slow service. My post below indicated results from the in-bore MRI targeted biopsy of that PIRADS 5 area which...
Hello, again: Results are in: "Gleason grade 3+4 = score 7, in 3 of 3 cores, involving 60% of tissue examined, and measuring 17 mm in length. Positive for PNI" From signature below and previous...
TA, you are consistently of much help...and promptly as well! I have had some frustrations with OHSU so far but mostly with their general operation, not the practitioners. I am still trying to get a...
I'm still doing some advance work in anticipation of a possible G4+3 or greater assessment following next week's MRI guided biopsy. I'm anticipating RT if I do get that higher pathology reading and,...
All responses much appreciated! I will try to continue to absorb all this input and move ahead as needed when needed. Thanks! Special thanks to Tall Allen for those further citations and...
Thanks, TA, I guess that's not surprising: worst in ... worst out, for all treatments. Thanks for the reference to PROSTQ. Your three part review of that material was thorough and well done as usual....
Hi again, group, I've finally been scheduled for MRI guided biopsy of that PIRADS 5 area identified previously by MpMRI. It's still a month away, though, and I'd like to use the time productively....
For TA: Good reminders on the PRIAS and NCCN AS guidelines. It's important that G 4+3 must be taken more seriously than 3+4. For ASAdvocate: Nice parachute analogy! I've had mine packed for some time...
Thanks yet again, TA, My plan would be to stay on AS until something worse than Gleason 3+3 is identified or until ECE seems to be solidly confirmed. A new biopsy might find the higher Gleason though...
My urologist who did the biopsy in March had this to say: "I am fairly confident that the tumor was sampled, based on the fact that all 3 left sided biopsies were positive and there was left sided...
Yes, TA, I hadn't seen that thorough review you'd done but had fairly clear understanding that PCa spread from biopsy, etc., was unlikely and also that G6 does not (almost for sure) ever metastasize....
Fantastic, TA!! How do you do it? That first one in particular seems right on target (pun intended?). W...
For Tall Allen, especially: I have just had an excellent exchange with the head radiologist and got some very good follow-up to that MpMRI reading. You will recall that you said the following:...
Thanks for that, ao. I know that so much depends in the expertise of the reader so I'll keep your suggestion in mind. W....
Hi again, TA. Always great to have your input! The 40-60% ECE estimate comes from the radiology report. That portion of my first post above is a direct copy/paste, in fact. It really seemed, though,...
Thanks, ASA, I will keep posting updates. I think you are correct about my interesting G3+3 high volume situation. It also seems unusual to have had two prior TURPS (@ age 49 & 59) for BPH. I find it...
Thanks, TA, I do agree that a targeted biopsy is needed. What I'd hope to get from another radiologist opinion, however, is something more than that vague 40-60% ECE estimation. If ECE is very likely...
Great responses, as usual! Much appreciated, as always. My "in denial" remarks were mostly tongue in cheek. But, wow, the Uro Docs can sure imply that denial is in place once one runs moves beyond...
Hi folks! My absence for the past several weeks is just a continuation of my life of denial, I guess. That and a bunch of follow-up consultations, new tests, and now imaging results. For the general...
Got it, TA! That helps a lot. Fortunately I really like my urologist and will be able to bounce these and other ideas (especially as relates to that very nice linked reference you provide, perhaps?)....
Thanks, T.A., I will review that opening sticky. It is a great resource and though I have read all of it I may well have missed something. What I have most trouble with, of course, is my extensive...
Thanks for these replies. I'll be checking on my likely cost for Prolaris. I've now added fairly full "signature" details which may help explain my difficulties in deciding how to go with various...
Oops! I just now figured out how to use the Forum search capabilities and discovered how much is available on this topic so I'll now read that first. Thanks for being there! Whippoorwill...
I'd be interested in the experience others have had with Prolaris genetic testing. This has apparently now been approved for Medicare coverage (though not necessarily for full coverage by my Medicare...
Ok, good idea but isn't there a bit of a circularity problem: The specialist whose specs I would most want to follow is the one who fits my chosen treatment approach. But that staging imaging is what...
For Tall Allen, especially, Your latest input is again much appreciated! I am working through all the details and it may take some time (no,surprise there, right?). I have read all of that sticky you...
Wow! What a great thorough response from Tall Allen! (Sorry I referred to you by my own pseudonym in that last post! Glad you figured it out) I'll check out the Zumsteg reference for sure. I am aware...
Thanks to each of you! I've really appreciated this site. That long initial thread for the newly diagnosed is excellent! First to JNF: Yes, I'm anxious to see what the reread of my biopsy might tell...
Hi folks, I'm new to the forum and think I have a fairly unusual case. Here is some background: I'm 73 and in quite good general health. My PCa diagnosis was just a few weeks ago. My PSA had shown...