CancerCompass message board discussion started by willa1977 on 1/12/2008 http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,19665,0.htm Sun, 07 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT Sun, 07 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/ Hi all,In my first posting I forgot to include my hubby's age, he is 63.Does anyone know whether cancer encompasses the entire prostate gland before it moves to the bone or other areas?  Or can it travel to other parts of the body without having encompassed the entire prostate.  How long does it take for cancer to travel to other areas? Thank- you willa1977 Sat, 12 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT Most prostate cancers are indolent which has  led to the saying that one would probabnly die "with it and not from it".Agressive cancers (with gleason scores over 8 for example) can more quickly advance to other areas of the body, but it's very unusual for bone scans to show anything unless the PSA readings are over 20. Johnw100 Sun, 13 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT First of all..best wishes at a time when you all should be looking to a ride off in the sunset/retirement...based on what you say, even with a smooth dre and biopsy negative, more or less, ..there is "something going on" as some Dr's like to say....watchful waiting may buy 3-4 years of some comfort but, statistically, the psa numbers are just too high to likely avoid trouble in a few short years....you actually may not know "what" is going on without removing the prostate & maybe 30 lymph nodes...at least in that cavity....if your Dr's advise such...a bad "cell or 2" might be out there lurking and trying to find a home...there are, of course, other possibilities for treatment...but getting rid of the source probably is the most likely way to "know"...and may buy many more years of comfort than 3+...I have been involved for 20 yrs as a lay person in different ca's and was ......(edit problem).....shocked at 62 to hear the ca     word associated with my prostate..anyway, after studying 10,000 blogs & med journals & plus having the very best Dr's in the country advise/do the work (VA contract university Dr's)..I did the above a year ago and have non-detectable psa's.."knock on wood"..anyway, its all a personal choice but you all may want to explore removal and your Dr's advice....best wishes.... Kenny Bouy Mon, 14 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT "PSA NUMBERS"There is no "normal" PSA number. Most "elevated" readings in the gray area of 4 to 10 are traced to benign causes, as many things can cause this including infection/inflamation and the most usual cause of an enlarged prostate which produces more PSA.For a PSA reading to have any real  meanaing, size of the prostate needs to be factored into the equasion: your specialist will have taken note of the prostate size and can provide further advice on that aspect. Johnw100 Wed, 16 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT