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Posted 5/26/2018 4:08 PM (GMT -5)
First, I turn 54 on Friday and I was diagnosed with PC on Wednesday.

Thank goodness for life insurance exams. On March 1 I did blood work and it showed a PSA of 5.5. I was rejected for weight so I applied through another company and the same lab did more blood work two weeks later and my PSA was 6.4. I did a month of Cipro to rule out infection because I have a history of epididymitis and when that was over I did more blood work on May 1. My PSA was now 9.9. I'm basically going up a point every two weeks, so I may be around a 12 right now.

Since then I've done a biopsy and the left side of my prostate showed about 85 percent cancer cells, but my right side is cancer free. My Gleason scored a 7 (4+3) and I have body and bone scans scheduled for June 4. I have severe back pain at times, but I'm praying it's only referred pain. I have other symptoms that are escalating.

Glad I found this group. I have an incredible support system including a good friend who had a full prostatectomy at age 49, but interacting with others with PC will be helpful. Still, I'm scared out of my mind that it has escaped my prostate because of my sudden PSA velocity. If contained, I plan on having my prostatectomy ASAP via robotic surgery. So, if robots can hold off on world take over until the fall, that would be awesome.
Posted 5/26/2018 4:23 PM (GMT -5)
Hello, Fritz and welcome. First of all slow down. Read the sticky thread at the top of our forum that is designed for new patients. You'll see that one of your next steps is to send your biopsy slides to Johns Hopkins for a second opinion. Next, take a deep breath before you get surgery "ASAP". There are radiation options that you should examine carefully. This is one of the most important decisions of your life and you want to make sure you get educated and make a wise and logical decision.

After you get your second opinion, make sure you contact experts in SBRT, LDR Brachy and HDR Brachy. You need to be your own advocated here and do not rely on your urologist alone or anecdotal experiences of friends.

BTW, the symptoms you are experiencing are very unlikely to be due to the prostate cancer as G7 cancer with your PSA generally has zero symptoms.

OK..calm down now and start the process of logical decision making.

Jim
Posted 5/26/2018 4:41 PM (GMT -5)
The largest percentage of men with "treatment regret" for prostate cancer are those who rushed into surgery. The cure rates for surgery and the several forms of radiation are about the same, but the side effects are not. You should have a long life ahead of you, and you owe it to yourself to choose the treatment that will kill the cancer with the least bad effects on your quality of life.

So, please consult with specialists in surgery, SBRT, and brachytherapy. Most importantly, do not let one speak for the other, as "specialists" often know little besides their own practice.
Posted 5/26/2018 4:48 PM (GMT -5)
This is interesting. I have not spoken to a single survivor or medical professional who had encouraged radiation in my case over surgery. I am consulting with another surgeon on June 6.

I should explain that the ASAP reference was because I am in the down period of my work cycle. If treatment or recovery spills into September until the end of March, it will cause financial and career setbacks. However, I also don't want to make a rash decision.

With that said, I did read through the introductory thread and since I'm in my work slow season, I've done a lot of research. And honestly, the side effects of radiation scare me far more than surgery.
Posted 5/26/2018 5:07 PM (GMT -5)
It's good to consult another surgeon, but you should also consult a radiation oncologist. Hear about radiation from someone who does it and who thinks it works. It's good to focus on side effects. Some fo the most scary-sounding RT side effects are unlikely to occur. But the two major side effects of surgery occur with great frequency. If you really need to get it done fast, that would make surgery more plausible because radiation is normally preceded by two months or so of hormone therapy.
Posted 5/26/2018 5:09 PM (GMT -5)
This is great. Thanks, everyone. Much appreciated.
Posted 5/26/2018 5:54 PM (GMT -5)
Sorry you need to be here. First thing is to get your slides to a specialist to confirm the Gleason analysis. As far as treatment, radiation and surgery have similar success rates. Which to choose is a very popular topic here.
Posted 5/26/2018 9:20 PM (GMT -5)
After you get your scan results in early June, please do share the results with us, and any questions you may have about them. Remember that you can ask for a copy of your scans for your own records, and in the future can hand carry a disk or have the records sent to any other specialist of your choosing.

Another of our long-time posters here, Tall Allen, also has a nice set of information and links to Questions for Doctors on his very informative web blog, Prostate Cancer News, Reviews, and Views.

/pcnrv.blogspot.com/search/label/Questions%20for%20doctors

Charles
Posted 5/26/2018 10:59 PM (GMT -5)
Welcome to HW.

Keep us updated on your progress. Most likely the scan won't show anything.

You should talk to an RO. I had primary radiation and did just fine. either surgery or radiation will work fine. radiation doesn't have the side or long term effects you fear.

Andrew
Posted 5/27/2018 12:02 AM (GMT -5)
As everyone says, because we've all been there, slow it down. Make a decision when your emotional temperature is lower and after you've met with specialists who actually know more about their own specialty than the doctors you've talked to so far.

In case no one else mentioned it yet, get a second opinion on your biopsy slides from Epstein's lab at Johns Hopkins.

Where are you located? We might have some good specialists to recommend.
Posted 5/27/2018 3:56 AM (GMT -5)
As to downtime, I had HDR BT and played golf the next day. Had a sore bottom for a week but other than that no SEs. Something to consider. Denis
Posted 5/27/2018 4:46 AM (GMT -5)
Hi, and welcome.

Yes, do take a deep breath and chill a little. Talk to a couple of docs and collect info for a while, then decide what you think you should do.

ALL therapies come with side effects, and you may end up getting all of the therapies and the accompanying side effects. Or not. While surgical side effects are immediate, some are sort term while others can be overcome with time and effort. Radiation is the gift that just keeps on giving year after year, and getting back off of luprolide chemo...'androgen deprivation therapy' is a lot slower than getting on it.

The psychological/emotional side effects of the DX have already shown themselves and will continue regardless, however, you have made a good start by dropping by here. smile

Be optimistic, as you have at least found out that you have an issue that needs to be addressed, and armed with that information you have a shot at protecting yourself.
Posted 5/27/2018 6:55 AM (GMT -5)
Welcome and good luck. You said you got rejected for weight. Regardless of the treatment you choose get in shape first. This is especially critical!

Hero
Posted 5/27/2018 8:10 AM (GMT -5)
Sorry you have to join our club. Re the back pain, it's highly unlikely that's mets that have spread from the PCa, but I'm sure you'll feel better to get confirmation on that. I'm also of the mind that it's good to check out treatments other than surgery, you want to go into your decision with full knowledge of your options. Good luck and I hope we can help!
Posted 5/27/2018 9:57 AM (GMT -5)
As you consider treatment options, don't overlook the financial side of cancer treatment..If you have decent medical insurance, that should cover much of the cost..But always get "pre-approval" from your insurance company before you okay any treatment. Find out how much of the cost YOU will be responsible for to avoid any unpleasant surprises..
Posted 5/27/2018 10:21 AM (GMT -5)
You shouldn't need to rule out radiation treatment due to return of your busy work season in September. HDR has already been mentioned as a possibility for having your full radiation treatment in a single week. But even with standard radiation treatment you should be able to work. I had 36 daily treatments for salvage radiation and worked throughout. The hospital arranged my sessions for 8:00 a.m. so I could be on my way to work by 8:30. A guy I worked with did something similar. In his case, his hospital was close to work and he just took his lunch break for treatments.
Jim
Posted 5/27/2018 11:33 AM (GMT -5)

trailguy said...
Radiation is the gift that just keeps on giving year after year, .

I'm thinking that statement is based on your experience with SRT? Generally, for those of us who had radiation as a primary treatment, that is simply not the case. There are typically some transient and temporary SE's that resolve themselves in a short period of time. TA has posted frequently about the myth of long term SE's from modern radiation -- I suggest that the OP search back for some of those posts as part of his fact gathering.

Jim
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