Confused RP or Seed...new scared member

Singer · New User Joined: 08 Aug 2005 Posts: 2

I just got my news last week. I'm just about to turn 54 and after a routine physical received a PSA of 5.9. I had the biopsy done and received the news I didn't want to hear. My Gleason is 7 and at Tc1...I'm learning all of these new terms now! My doctor said that on the ultrasound, the area appeared white instead of the usual dark area, and thought I might be ok until the biopsy results said differently. My tumor is small and in a contained area.
Now the big question....what procedure to choose. My doc said that radiation had a 70% chance while RP has a 90% rate of success. Has anyone out there experienced similar scores and chosen a procedure based on scores alone. I want the most effective and less intrusive procedure, but it scares the hell out of me with the possibility of return and the post procedure symptoms. I would appreciate any advise!

gonogo · Regular Joined: 18 Jun 2005 Posts: 25

I was diagnosis when I was 60 yrs, 10-98, PSA 7.1, Gleason 7 never got the staging . Had RP, the Pca had got out to seminal vesicles, nodes clean. After 2.5 yrs PSA .3, had Rad, 3yrs later PSA .31. Next test 2-06, if still raising then all that?s left is hormone treatment, hey you do what you have to do. In October it will be 7 yrs, its like someone unwanted hanging around, you just get used to it . After a lot of adjusting life is good. Good Luck Cool

andyh · New User Joined: 07 Aug 2005 Posts: 5

I'm 51, good health otherwise, no symptoms but a family history. My brother (6 years older) had his out about a year and a half ago. My father died at 65 from the complications of prostate cancer detected too late. I've had a "higher than you would like" PSA for several years and biopsies for two years before getting a cancerous result with a Gleason of 7.

While I personally never thought much about old age, I realize that either of us may be around for 40 years or more yet, so it's not reasonable to consider waiting it out, at least for me. One problem with those other treatments is that most of them make a RP more complicated if they aren't as effective as you want. I had a CAT and a bone scan, and like the biopsy, all indications were that it was contained. I made an appointment for 6 weeks after the biopsy for the RP (you have to give the prostate time to recover from the biopsy....swelling and inflamation complicate the surgery. Six weeks after that my PSA is not detectable.....haven't hit the time for my second follow-up.

But they do a pathology on the removed prostate and all indications were that the cancer had not reached the surface. As far as I can tell, I'm done with it........cancer free. You never really know for sure......but there's nothing that suggests it will be back.

I am dealing with incontinence and lack of sexual function........could be better......could be worse. Personally, for me, the number 1 priority was whatever gave the best chance at total removal and that's robotic RP. Everything else is secondary.

My father's cancer wasn't discovered until it had moved to his bones. Long, slow, painful. If you read the account by DrBill, I added mine to it.

andyh · New User Joined: 07 Aug 2005 Posts: 5

Obviously the PR is invasive, but the robotic surgery is remarkable as far as your physical recovery. I had a hernia repair about 5 years ago and it was much more of a struggle after the surgery. Except for the incontinence and sexual function, which obviously are not trivial, I felt very normal physically about 3 days after the surgery, with good energy levels and mobility. There is this bag strapped to your leg, but it's not a big deal.

Michael Putnam · New User Joined: 26 Mar 2006 Posts: 2

I am 30 days post op robotic surgery and while I've never had surgery I can't imagine a better way to go. I was out of the hospital in less than 24 hours and did extremely well at home. I still 'leak' a lilttle and wear minimal protection but I knew that going in. My gleasons score was an 8 going into surgery and to my surprise it was rescored a 7 after the pathology came back on my prostate and lymph nodes. Sexual function is another story as the doctor had to take one sides nerves but he still thinks everything will 'work' with time. I'm confident in his judgement and would encourage anyone with doubt to go the robotic route if surgery is indicated and you're able to have it. I was walking 2 miles a day within the first 3 days and was back to work in 2 weeks and full schedule after one month. I am 59, all indications are that they got all the cancer and a full recovery is under way. GOOD LUCK

[q Very Happy

uote="Singer"]I just got my news last week. I'm just about to turn 54 and after a routine physical received a PSA of 5.9. I had the biopsy done and received the news I didn't want to hear. My Gleason is 7 and at Tc1...I'm learning all of these new terms now! My doctor said that on the ultrasound, the area appeared white instead of the usual dark area, and thought I might be ok until the biopsy results said differently. My tumor is small and in a contained area.
Now the big question....what procedure to choose. My doc said that radiation had a 70% chance while RP has a 90% rate of success. Has anyone out there experienced similar scores and chosen a procedure based on scores alone. I want the most effective and less intrusive procedure, but it scares the hell out of me with the possibility of return and the post procedure symptoms. I would appreciate any advise![/quote]

Michael Putnam · New User Joined: 26 Mar 2006 Posts: 2

I am 30 days post op robotic surgery and while I've never had surgery I can't imagine a better way to go. I was out of the hospital in less than 24 hours and did extremely well at home. I still 'leak' a lilttle and wear minimal protection but I knew that going in. My gleasons score was an 8 going into surgery and to my surprise it was rescored a 7 after the pathology came back on my prostate and lymph nodes. Sexual function is another story as the doctor had to take one sides nerves but he still thinks everything will 'work' with time. I'm confident in his judgement and would encourage anyone with doubt to go the robotic route if surgery is indicated and you're able to have it. I was walking 2 miles a day within the first 3 days and was back to work in 2 weeks and full schedule after one month. I am 59, all indications are that they got all the cancer and a full recovery is under way. GOOD LUCK

[q Very Happy

uote="Singer"]I just got my news last week. I'm just about to turn 54 and after a routine physical received a PSA of 5.9. I had the biopsy done and received the news I didn't want to hear. My Gleason is 7 and at Tc1...I'm learning all of these new terms now! My doctor said that on the ultrasound, the area appeared white instead of the usual dark area, and thought I might be ok until the biopsy results said differently. My tumor is small and in a contained area.
Now the big question....what procedure to choose. My doc said that radiation had a 70% chance while RP has a 90% rate of success. Has anyone out there experienced similar scores and chosen a procedure based on scores alone. I want the most effective and less intrusive procedure, but it scares the hell out of me with the possibility of return and the post procedure symptoms. I would appreciate any advise![/quote]

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