Bad Post-Op Path report

Just got the word from my doc on the Path report.  Gleason 7 with positive margins.  My wife and I are devastated.  Anyone out there in the same boat with positive advice?

Bootheel,
I'm so sorry that you & your wife are going through this. It's really is traumatic and shocking and not what you were expecting at all. My husband and I understand your feelings and all that comes with it. You need some time to come to grips with this and deal with the emotions you're going through.
It was that way for my husband & I too at first, but then we had to make decisions. So you move forward and go to Plan B. Well, actually we didn't have a plan B cause it never entered our minds we'd need one, we didn't know about this forum and didn't know anyone else in our situation! So I'm very glad you & your wife are here, on this forum with people who will want to help you both. I know you will find comfort here.

One thing is certain, it's a good thing you had surgery or you wouldn't have known about this. So, you made the right decision there.
Since your surgery was so recent you still have healing to do. Continue to take good care of yourself and that goes for your wife, too. It's important you both get enough rest - you will be able deal with things better. I'm sure your doctor is planning to meet with you and go over your options. As you know from posting here - there are quite a few of the guys who have had your same result and they will be a big help to you.

My wish for you both is peace.

Susan

Hey Bootheel

Take a deep breath.....  When I found out about my positive margins, about one year ago, I felt like I was kicked right in the mouth.  I wanted despartly to forget about this cancer and just have checkups every six months or so.  Honestly, I probably wouldn't be reading this forum as frequently as I do, if that had been the case.  What will be will be, and I have dealt with the situation I am in.  As you can see by my signature line, I ended up getting adjuvant radiation therapy when my PSA rose to .08, before the reoccurance level, but when something was still there.  My doctors showed me studies that indicated RT within the first year for those with positive margins will decrease the percentage of reoccurance.  One year after surgery and three months following RT, my PSA is 0, and my attitude has improved tremendously.

I was very happy that I chose surgery, so that I had the second option after finding the positive margins.  Be thankful that you know how much cancer you have, and you have additional therapy available to you!  You will find a number of us on this forum who are in the same boat, so keep logging on and listen to your heart and doctors.

Hey Joe,
I certainly know you guys are taken back with this. But you have a great deal of options. I had a similar experience as have the other responders. It's a tough break, and there's some work ahead. I agree with all the above posts, and like Susan says, we had surgery because of the definitive pathology report and we didn't expect any issues. While my high PSA was indicative of a possibility we weren't going to get good news, we didn't expect it but we are glad we have the information. I have done well and have an undetectable PSA. We are not done with our attack plan and will stay vigilant in our research. But know one thing. You can still do quite well with this. The treatments are contraversial for our stage but you have to study the options closely. I've done this and have complete control over my treatment. I have something else for you too. My prayers and promise to answer any questions you might have regarding my experience. Have a close look at the group that has responded you here today. This sight is awesome, and so are these people. God Bless you dear friend. STAY POSITIVE!

Tony

Bootheel

Sorry to hear about your post surgery pathology report. My situation is slightly different from yours in the fact my pathology report looked good after surgery and it was contained. 9 months and two undetectable test later my 3rd on cam back at .2 and not in January it was .3 so it appears I will be on my way to some follow up radiation treatments. That 9 month appointment I remember well and it actually hit me harder I think then being told in the first place I had Pc. After a day to get my sights set again I have the attitude of how lucky I am to at least know I have it, have done the first set, surgery and still have options. I could still be running around and not know that I even have Pc. My doctor is real optimistic because of my post surgery pathology report that what I have is in the prostate bed area and some radiation should and hopefully take care of it. I go back again towards the end of March for one last validation PSA test and meet with a Radiologist to set the next steps. It sounds like we might be able to travel these next steps close together. I won't let it get me down and will be source of information and help to others in the future. The other reason I am lucky is I found this site with so many wonderful people who provide answers and most importantly support. Hang it there, you will be in my prayers and we will travel together.

Norskie

Bootheel - at least wait until you get that first PSA test back. We were in your shoes, but with an "undetectable," our surgeon recommended we wait to do anything. Please note, if it had been anything BUT undetectable, we would have considered our next treatment steps aggressively. With a seriously upgraded pathology staging, we were at a 30%-50% chance of return. Now, 16 months post-surgery, we're still undetectable and our percentage of return has dropped dramatically. It's a gamble, but so far a good one.

Everyone (and their doc) is different - we just wanted to heal and get things back to normal, before we had to face anything else. We're there now and hopefully will stay that way.

You still have many options to consider, along with the worries. While that bad path report shakes you out of la-la land (as it certainly did us), there may be some very good news for you ahead.

Botheel-

Sorry to hear the news.  I think the day my father got the call regarding the pathology report was the worst day of our lives.  It felt like we had made it through the surgery, which we thought would be the worst part, and we all came out of surgery so hopeful. The call from the surgeon devastated us all.

 I will say that our entire family handled the news differently.  My father said he wasn't doing anything else.  (Mind you, this is while he still had in his catheter and was a week post op). I jumped into action reading everything I could, which became an unhealthy obssession.  My mom broke down.  My husband, who happens to be a doctor, really managed to stay positive.  God bless him.  Cancer was taking over all of our lives and not for the good.  You asked for positive news right...well..I am happy to tell you that my dad has recovered extremely well from the surgery.  He is on his second month of Lupron and doing very well.  He is scheduled to begin radiation within a month and we are holding on to the hope that he will be in the group that beats this thing for good.  We had an amazing holiday...no talk of cancer and have all regrouped mentally and have united as a family for round two.  None of us want to be here, but we have options.  As previous posters have mentioned, we are so lucky that radiation and HT is an option.   My dad will be the first to tell you that they are not the most glamourous options, BUT, they are better than the alternative.  You can do this and know that you have a family here supporting you. 

P.S. My last note from experience....the doctors will tell you different things, get all the information you can, make a decision and don't look back.  Peace be with you.

Chayna

My biopsy indicated cores with <5% too. However, even though my post-op pathology report indicated negative margins and negative capsular penetration, the Gleason went from a biopsy of 6 to a post-op 7 (3+4). Obviously more aggressive than what the biopsy indicated. Hang in there, Bootheel.

Dear Joe & Loved One, It’s time to let your mind and body do some healing…. There is time to do more research but you need a well-deserved break to re-group and gain strength (mentally and physically).   The what if’s???  will drain you…   Both of you need to take some “down” time!!!! We are all here ~ to share the strength of love and support that will help to guide you in the days and months to come.   The sharing of so many journeys allows all of us to learn and gain knowledge… that we need to continue our daily walk in the path that we are on.   Some have more stepping-stones in their path… Your friends here are walking with you ~ so the path will be a little smoother.   Continue reaching out ~ you will feel all of us surrounding you! http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb179/mamabluebird1955/BluebirdStayClose.jpg Our thoughts and prayers will be with you as you continue to move forward... In Friendship ~ Lee & Buddy   Your journey is important.... so I'm linking them here! Threads started by bootheel   Post Surgery Rehab Generic Viagra Surgery over Surgery Laproscopy Pathology Report Not scared anymore Perineural Invasion

Bootheel, there is not reason you can't continue treatment and beat this thing.  I am going through radiation right now, on my 23rd out of 40 and doing okay.   Once again trying to close the chapter on PC, hopefully this time we get it done and so will you.