Prostate Cancer - Questions

My doctors seem to be doing everything to me but what I need to get rid of this cancer, I have had CT scans and Bone Scan's and Markers put into my prostate. But no one is telling me anything, I am jumping out of my skin. SCARED

TexasEagle ~ KEN

So, what are the details? That sounds unreasonable TexasEagle! Bone scans and CT scans usually have results posted rather quickly. Do you know what your PSA is? How do you know you have prostate cancer?

I don't know the names of the tests ~> I had that test done where they go up the back side and collect samples of my prostate, That came back PSA # 6.5 Prostate Cancer - Cancer on both sides of the prostate. I had [3] markersput into my prostate so that they can line up everything when the Radition treatment's starts ... I am a heavy person [280#] and now I having a problem with the Cat Scan so they can do the radition treatments, My boby is to wide for the scanner. So there going to do something else that I'll find out this coming Tuesday. This has been one nightmare for me. I have been disabled with spinal damage for 30 years and it's just adding more problems to everything.

I hope you understand what I just said ... I do not know the right names for any of this stuff yet.

TexasEagle ~ KEN

It sounds like you had a biopsy and the test came back positive for cancer on both sides of the prostate. It also sounds like you had a CT scan for placement of the prostate prior to getting ready for external beam radiation. They will sometimes put fiducial markers in the prostate (they act like a global positioning system of the prostate) so that during the radiation they can tell exactly where the prostate is and if it gets out of alignment the radiation equipment stops.

There is no one right way to treat prostate cancer and doctors will have different opinions as to what to do. Often the Urologist will say surgery is the best way to go and the Radiation oncologist will say radiation is the best way to go.

You need to call the doctor office and find out your Gleason score from the pathology report. Also you have the right to get copies of all of your medical records.

Have a thorough, and I mean thorough, discussion of the side effects of any treatment you are considering with your doctor, as these can be considerable and many doctors give short shift to side effect counseling with patients prior to treatment.

Depending on your Gleeson score, you may be able to control the cancer with diet, supplements, and exercise.

Other treatments for prostate cancer include active surveillance, radiation, cryosurgery, HIFU, surgery, and androgen depravation therapy. Not all of these will be indicated for you based on your medical records/history.

Prostate cancer is usually very slow growing (depending on Gleason score) and if you do nothing with a low Gleason score cancer you are likely to be alive in 10 years.

Do not be scared, but educate yourself about the disease. It is usually reasonable to take 2-3 months to investigate your options and use that time to choose what you want to do.

Best wishes to you.

Gene

Thank you, What is this Gleeson score your talking about ???

TexasEagle~KEN

When a biopsy is taken the doctor will send the samples to a pathologist.  The pathologist will make slides from the tissue samples and will look at the cells under the microscope.  In addition to looking for cancer cells, the pathologist will grade the cancer with a Gleason grade.  The system is based on what the cancer cells look like and goes from 1 to 5, with 5 being the most agressive and 1 being the least agressive.  The pathologist will give two grades; one for the majority of the cancer and a second number for the next common grade seen.  The two grades are added together and this becomes the Gleason score. 

Most doctors consider a score of 6 to be low risk, a score of 7 to be intermediate, and a score of 8, 9 or 10 to be high risk.

The Gleason score is a pretty good, but not perfect predictor of outcome from treatment and tells the doctor how agressive in treatment they should be.

Your pathology report is available to you and you might consider calling your doctor and having them give you a copy of the report.

On Jun 16, 2012 6:51 PM TexasEagle wrote:

I don't know the names of the tests ~> I had that test done where they go up the back side and collect samples of my prostate, That came back PSA # 6.5 Prostate Cancer - Cancer on both sides of the prostate. I had [3] markersput into my prostate so that they can line up everything when the Radition treatment's starts ... I am a heavy person [280#] and now I having a problem with the Cat Scan so they can do the radition treatments, My boby is to wide for the scanner. So there going to do something else that I'll find out this coming Tuesday. This has been one nightmare for me. I have been disabled with spinal damage for 30 years and it's just adding more problems to everything.

I hope you understand what I just said ... I do not know the right names for any of this stuff yet.

TexasEagle ~ KEN

Just read the responses and Genemyers is right on. Take that advice very seriously and move forward. Don't wait for the doctor to call!!!!!!

Was just reading through the questions and answers given to you. Would definately concur with whats been said. Its your body and your cancer take control of it and the information so you can take action....cheers....Greg

My husband also has prostate cancer he just finished 3rd cyberknife treatment today, with no side affects. He will be done Friday after only 5 treatments.

The others are right don't wait on any doctor, life is to short.