Your advice
I was diagnosed with prostate cancer last week. After Norman blood test, PSA was 4.95, then Did MRI, then biopsy last week. Results came with Gleason score a 4+3 and 3+4 in 2 areas in the prostate.
I am due to make a CAT Scan next week to check if it has gone beyond, specifically to the bones!
Am I doing the right processes ? How likely it might have gone beyond and to bones ????
Thank you in advance...
Zbasha,
Thanks for sharing your case. Mine was quite similar and your Gleason Score indicates that your in the intermediate risk (3+4) and Stage T2 . A CAT scan is probably a good step,however an oncologist should explain your options because with a 4.95 PSA and your Gleason Score the odds (which should have been shown to you by your urologist) of prostate cancer exiting the prostate capsule may be very low at this point or at all. In any event you have a number of options to explore depending on your age and physical health.
My case was similar diagnosed as T2C and the MRI results moved me to decide on da Vinci Robotic Surgery to remove my prostate in August of 2018. Here's a link to a book review I wrote about Dr. Patrick Walsh's book Surviving Prostate Cancer.
https://prostatecancer.net/living/book-review-surviving/At this point there's no reason to panic but explore all of your options and ask your urologist and oncologist questions about the impact on all of them. Ultimately it's your decision. Good luck on your journey. Bob Tierno, Moderator ProstateCancer.net
Do agree Patrick Walsh's book is one of the best. Early on with my own diagnosis a friend of mine who had just been operated on for prostate cancer had an extra copy of the book. He rang the door bell one evening and handed me the book and said pass it on to someone else who may need it in the future. Not only did i do so I also picked up an extra copy.
There is a lot of info and a lot of pages to read but its amazing how motivated you get once your MD says " you have prostate cancer" ... Dennis (ProstateCancer.net Team)
Thank you for your input. I did the CAT scan and results came back clean.
It was a big scare though 🙁
Moving on, I am now considering surgery and the robotic is one of the options.
Any advise I should consider. Will go through the link you provided
Cheers,
I also documented my decision process and journey in my book The Prostate Chronicles - A Medical Memoir published in May of this year. It is an irreverent (humorous) view of my experience. The da Vinci Robotic Surgery is also detailed in my case.
The book is available on Amazon.Com in paperback and E-Book.
Good Luck,
BobGot the book already and going through it as I am writing this response -😀
Thanks a lot for a good advise and recommendation.
Regards,
Hi All,
I missed telling you I am 55 years old!It is probably one more reason I am extra stressed out !
From readings and from My Dr. my age is another reason why surgery is a good option for me.
Cheers,
Hi Zbasha. Sorry to hear about the diagnosis, but glad you have come to a place you can get information and support. As others have noted, it sounds like you PCa was caught early, which is great. It also gives you numerous treatment options. This article from our editorial team looks at treatment options: https://prostatecancer.net/treatment/. In addition, don't hesitate to ask for a second opinion. As noted in this article on the topic, any decent doctor will be fine with this request: https://prostatecancer.net/living/second-opinion/. I also want to point out the importance of sources of support, which this article goes into more detail on: https://prostatecancer.net/living-coping/emotional-support/. Know this community is here for you. Feel free to keep us posted on how you are doing. Best, Richard (ProstateCancer.net Team)
Following learning the results of my biopsy also needed to go in for a bone scan. Laying on that table was scary as the scan went over me. When the scan finished the technician could tell I was a nervous wreck. As I was leaving she added " while only your doctor can tell you the results of this test ... you should really feel very comfortable now and enjoy having a really ... really ... great weekend"
I left the facility and sat in my car and totally broke down from the relief. This journey for all of us at every stage of disease is a learning experience on how to handle and manage stress. I am so glad to have found this group and the support it offers all of us. Dennis (ProstateCancer.net Team)
