fiddlecanoe said...
Following up on John T,. who said that it is likely you do in fact have cancerous cells in your prostate. Prostate cancer is rampant among older men. They key is avoiding over-treatment, meaning treating with surgery or radiation a cancer that is not dangerous. This has happened a lot, with the result that a lot of guys have serious side effects from treating a non-dangerous cancer. So, I think the best thing you can do now is educate yourself about prostate cancer, Gleason scores, and such, so that after your biopsy you will be equipped to understand what the doctor is saying to you. I did not educate myself adequately, with the result that that conversation was a blur. Also, take someone with you to the post-biopsy visit with the doctor, and take notes.

Dennie,
That right there is some good advice. As many have already said, your odds of having cancer detected by biopsy are pretty high. Why? Because autopsies on men over 60, from places that did not have much PSA testing, men who died of things other than PC, have shown that most of them had some PC in the old gland and had no clue. A fair number even had high risk PC hiding in them. However, even if you are like an average older male and have some PC in there, that is a long, long ways from dying of PC, EVEN IF YOU HAVE NOTHING DONE about IT!

The key to this whole PSA/Biopsy(Bx) thing is being educated before hand, so that you can avoid panic over a very low risk PC and having a "just get it out of there NOW" type of response, which is very commonly encouraged by a surgeon, or at least not discouraged. More and more men are being diagnosed with low risk PC and choosing to do nothing more than watch it closely. And at the very least they can take plenty of time to decide if they really need treatment and if so, which treatment is best for them.

On the outside chance that you- like me- not only actually have a detectable PC but also have a high risk PC, there is still no need for panic, even though you probably will anyway. ;) You will just want to get it treated in a reasonable amount of time, in which case you have a fair chance of either an outright cure, or at the least you still have really good odds of living many years and dying of some of the more common causes of death that normally gets us guys. The odds of that later, even if you have a high risk PC ( but caught early which is most likely the case), are really quite good.

So deep breath, and let's see what that Bx says, and even if it says "PC", let's make sure it also says "panic" before we do so. Because there is a very good chance that even if it says PC, you really don't need to have any kind of aggressive treatment yet, and possibly for years, and possibly never! So start educating yourself, brother, so that you will know how to react appropriately, whatever the news turns out to be.

Remember to take the antibiotic!

Greetz,

My Longshoreman's hemorrhoids required that I be put under for the biopsy, propofol. I am in the 1/2 of people who do not get the feeling of euphoria after though.

My cancer is sensitive to hormones still, so testosterone supplementation would be a "bad idea" for me. You don't know yet, decide that when you do. It is either cancer or it is not. If it is, it is either hormonally sensitive or not. If it is cancer and it is sensitive to testosterone (needs that to grow faster and to metastasize) than IMHO staying on T while on Lupron would be kinda counterproductive.

Something to remember here: you DO have a measure of control over this cancer. A healthy diet, moderation with alcohol, lots of serious exercise and plenty of rest have been shown to slow the progression of the disease over all and in individual cancer cells. In fact, a recent study showed that a strict vegan diet and over-the-top exercise program can almost stop its progression....IF you can stick to that program. Most of us cannot do that, though we should perhaps try, at least.

Glad you're through it. That's book's initial advice of "Stop" is right on. Keep us posted!

Trail Guy curious about that study you referred to? Do you have a link?

Larry

That book has a very solid set of "Myths" and FACTS about prostate cancer in Chapter 1...I'll copy/paste below, for the benefit of those who don't have the book. I'm guessing that now that you are getting smarter and better informed you're probably not quite as friggin' scared!

Since you obviously are a reader (I'm stunned at how few readers there are here), let me recommend another beneficial book for your to read: Anticancer—A New Way of Life. Some great anecdotal stories in there which most people can relate to. A cancer diagnosis is a "wake-up" call to many!

Good luck on your journey!

-Norm




PC Myths (from the book Prostate Cancer Reality Check):

"Early diagnosis with a PSA test will save my life."
FACT: Early diagnosis does not save lives; it puts men at risk for unnecessary and ineffective treatments. Most diagnosed men would live a normal life, never knowing they had prostate cancer.

"I need to be treated immediately."
FACT: Prostate cancer is a chronic disease that is usually slow growing. Most men end up dying with prostate cancer, not of prostate cancer. There is rarely a need to rush towards treatment. Do not make hasty, uninformed decisions you will later regret.

"My doctor always knows best."
FACT: Only you know what decision is best for your life and your body in dealing with prostate cancer. Learn the unbiased facts before making decisions that could affect the rest of your life.

"I must find the best treatment that will save my life."
FACT: Neither of the aggressive treatments (radiation, prostatectomy) has been found to be much better than the other. They are similar in mortality outcomes to doing nothing at all.

"Complications of prostate treatment are rare."
FACT: Complications, such as impotence (up to 60-80%) and incontinence problems, are much more common than believed. All treatments impact the ability to have erections and may damage bladder and bowel control. Psychological harm can also be enormous.

"There is nothing I can do on my own to prevent cancer or stop its progression."
FACT: Cancer is a chronic disease, usually controlled by the body's natural defenses. Living an "anti-cancer" lifestyle may be the most effective way to prevent cancer or slow its progression.

"If I have prostate cancer, I will never be able to have intercourse again."
FACT: Most men with prostate cancer do not need erection-destroying surgery or radiation. Ability to have erections and to slow cancer growth can be improved by an anti-cancer lifestyle.

The section in the book which follows—Why the Myths Die Hard—was incredibly insightful. The book doesn't specifically describe "the Stockholm Syndrome," but it's clear that the author understands how it is that impotent men treated for PC who are so heavily "invested" (physically, financially, emotionally, etc) often scream the loudest in favor of their experiences with radical treatments and their "caring" doctors who "saved their lives."

Post Edited (NKinney) : 5/15/2018 11:24:06 AM (GMT-6)

My recommendation: look for "solid" quality evidence (there's a lot of junk books out there), and look for an accumulation of the evidence. I personally would never follow any one book to the letter; apply your own growing base of knowledge. It's a journey. I would couple your learnings, for example, from Cancer Hacks with the well-vetted Anticancer book I recommended. Learn about the Standard American Diet (SAD, discussed in the Anticancer book, and elsewhere) and work on (I personally adopt the approach of continuous improvement rather than "radical change" which you referenced) aligning to the "MyPlate" guidelines. The biggest problem with today's obesity is that our serving sizes have grown*. There is absolutely NO REASON to have a boring or bland diet. Last night: seared sea scallops, with a mango, cucumber & red onion salad, and sweet potato fries (cooked in air fryer), with a shared bottle shared of Sauvignon Blanc; 3 chocolate covered strawberries for dessert. (Ok, I also had a 16oz hazy IPA before dinner, but I had just biked 14 miles home from work!) Delicious dinner, and good for me! I've heard of people eating things they don't like just because of some wacko diet...I think that's crazy to eat stuff that doesn't taste good when there is so many good tasting and healthy options!

Live Strong! And live smart!


*Footnote: An excellent Cornell study that looked at how the popular cookbook, The Joy of Cooking, has evolved over 70 years. It turns out that in 14 of the 18 recipes published in every edition, the number of calories jumped by 43.7 per cent over 70 years. Since 1996 alone, portion sizes have risen by 33.2 per cent.

Post Edited (NKinney) : 5/17/2018 12:30:42 PM (GMT-6)

RobLee said...
Foods have had no worse effect on us than where we've lived and worked, what we may have smoked in our youth, and what we've had to accept as 'clean water'.

Good point, RobLee. All of those diet & lifestyle factors are contributors. Depending on our own unique body biology and our own unique exposures, some of those factors might weigh in a little more heavily for some, a little less heavily for others…but the magnitude of all of them and any one of them as contributors to our past, current and future cancers is probably roughly similar. With the exceptions of some outliers, probably not huge individual contributors; but also not nothing. But taken in aggregate, these ARE the reasons for our cancer. Sounds like you've read the "Anticancer" book...

Post Edited (NKinney) : 5/17/2018 12:35:04 PM (GMT-6)

Don’t despair Dennie. Now you know, and you’ll get through it as so many others have. No time for feeling sorry for yourself; it could be much worse.

Get a copy of the just released 4th edition of Dr. Patrick Walsh's ‘Guide to Surviving Prostate Cancer.’ It is superb!

Best of luck, brother.

garyi said...
Don’t despair Dennie. Now you know, and you’ll get through it as so many others have. No time for feeling sorry for yourself; it could be much worse.

Get a copy of the just released 4th edition of Dr. Patrick Walsh's ‘Guide to Surviving Prostate Cancer.’ It is superb!

Best of luck, brother.

I went to the bookstore today looking for the other book and found the one that you referenced. Read through it quickly (had a mission run to San Antonio Airport and stopped there for a cup of Joe and pity party break ). It DID look good. Might pick it up this weekend.

Still don't know how to break the news to my wife. Any suggestions?

<Padre>

Post Edited (Dennie M.) : 5/18/2018 8:10:19 PM (GMT-6)

Dennie,

So sorry to hear this. You've already heard some good suggestions. Your doc wanting to do and MRI is a good idea-it may rule out the surgical option, if there is detected spread. You have one of the less common situations, of low PSA higher risk PC. It happens.

For now, you will relax, I bet faster, once you tell your wife what is going on. She knows you had the biopsy, correct? Obviously, I don't know you, or how your relationship works-but you need to tell her, and make sure you include information that says that you are eminently treatable, and have a high likelyhood of a cure. If she starts on jumping on the phone to schedule you for surgery next week, please tell her that PC is not like other cancers, and that the path you're on (getting the MRI so you have more information about where to go from here) IS a good path.

I don't know if you told us where you're located. I would suggest you google "NCCN prostate cancer centers of excellence", and (if you're not there already), arrange for a consult there--that is where you will find the most experienced, best of the best, people for you.

Best of luck, Dennie. I remember when I got 'the call'. I hung up the phone and sat down. For the next hour or so, I don't think I moved. The TV was on--but I don't have any idea what was showing. MY wife got home from work, saw me sitting there and immediately knew something was wrong. I told her what I knew---and her response (it was Friday evening) was, "well, we can't do anything about it right now. Let's go get something to eat." Which was perfect.

Just one suggestion about telling your wife, Dennie.

Best to do it after you're over the initial shock and "devastation", as you call it. As you read the comments above, I trust you realize how much there is to feel positive about. You need to have your head screwed on right, and be feeling positive....so she isn't "devastated".

Dennie, Good Morning sorry to hear about your biopsy results I'm sure you have heard or read on the forum here a about sending out your results for a second opinion. My only recommendation from my personal experience is get your wife involved yes it's not gonna be easy and if she is like my wife there will probably be a few tears once and a while and some asking why I think that's probably normal for any serious disease. Then the two of you find a team and I mean a good team of doctors including urologist, RO and a good hospital or cancer center then choose a treatment that you guys are comfortable with and then proceed. The big thing to remember you do have time you don't have to have it removed tomorrow there are lots of treatments available and new ones are coming along quite often. PCA like any major disease will change what you call a normal life now but soon you will have a new routine and PCA will become part of the norm so that's why you need your wife involved but remember that doesn't mean things are gonna fall to pieces. Watching couples when I was at the hope lodge last winter for 7 weeks saw couples actually lean on each other more as they supported their spouse in whatever kind of cancer they had. It will be alright maybe not quite at first but after you guys realize that you not going to die in the next few days and in all reality you will probably pass away from something other than PCA! Wishing you the best to you and your wife!

Larry