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Question about Gleason Score. Does is change as time goes on?

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Question about Gleason Score. Does is change as time goes on?  
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ChrisR
Veteran Member
Joined : Apr 2008
Posts : 843
Posted 5/21/2008 11:15 AM (GMT -7)
I have been given a Gleason 6 by two different pathologists.  If I let my cancer sit will it always be a Gleason 6 or as time goes on does it get worse?

Just curious...

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41diagnosed
Regular Member
Joined : Jun 2007
Posts : 176
Posted 5/21/2008 1:19 PM (GMT -7)

I'm not doctor, but having done much research, here is what I have understood.  Gleason Scores get worse over time.  PCa is generally, but not always, a slow growing cancer, so the docs don't seem to get too emergent about doing treatment immediately after diagnosis, but recommend not waiting more than 2-3 months. 

Gleason Scores identify the progression of the cancer cells from being very differentiated which is typical of normal cells (low Gleason Scores) to being undifferentiated which is typical of advanced cancer cells (high Gleason Scores).  As the cancer progresses, the cells become increasingly undifferentiated.  If you look up Gleason Score on the Internet you will find pictures that show how the cancer cells appear to be broken apart instead of circular as you would expect of normal cells. 

Also, the more time the cancer has to progress, the more the risk that the cancer will move beyond the prostate into surrounding tissues and other areas of the body (metastasis).  Once this occurs, methods of treating prostate cancer locally (i.e., surgery and radiation) are no longer effective.

So doing something sooner is suggested to be better by many professionals.  To provide a complete picture, however, some advocates recommend watchful waiting, because prostate cancer is so slow growing that it may ultimately not become the cause of death in an individual when other health issues may become more serious and fatal themselves. This argument becomes increasingly stronger with more advanced age.  However, regardless of age, the risks of watchful waiting are highly debated by advocates of early detection and treatment.

Most folks here that I have observed have opted for treatment soon after diagnosis as the progression of cancer is scary, and if it does spread is more difficult to treat.

Hope this information is helpful.


42 yo. now

5/07 PSA 4.65 at routine physical

6/07 biopsy positive for cancer...Gleason 3+4...diagnosed at 41 y.o.

6/07-9/07 manic research and interviews with physicians across the country in search of the "right" decision.  I went to Mass General in Boston, Loma Linda, University of Chicago and Northwestern.

9/17/07 - Radical Retropubic Prostatectomy Surgery at Northwestern Memorial in Chicago by Dr. William Catalona.  Thankful the father of the PSA test was right here in Chicago.

Post op pathology was Gleason 3+4 with negative margins, no seminal vesicale involvement, no lymphatic or vascular invasion, bladder and urethral free and tumor volume was 5% of 27.3g.  

9/27/07 - Catheter removal...let the games begin...

12/07 - Threw out the pads.  I only had to use 1 pad per day for protection against minor drips. 

I started Trimix 8 weeks after surgery with success.

 

I hope someday I won't need injections, but I hope more that my PSA stays at 0 forever.

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livinadream
Veteran Member
Joined : Apr 2008
Posts : 1382
Posted 5/21/2008 5:52 PM (GMT -7)
That is correct information from my research as well, however your primary gleason score is liking to remain the same if it responds to the treatment. Or I should say will probably not get worse. The lower the gleason the better the chance of a total recovery assuming you take evasive action. Even though watchful waiting is proper protocol for some physicians, I am not sure I would go that route. My opinion only, and I am no expert.

peace to all
Dale
My PSA at diagnosis was 16.3

age 46 (current)

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/dalechildress

My gleason score from prostate was 4+5=9 and from the lymph nodes was 4+4=8

I had 44 IMRT's

Casodex

Currently on Lupron

I go to The Cancer Treatment Center of America

Married with two kids

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smilingoldcoot
Regular Member
Joined : Jan 2008
Posts : 338
Posted 5/21/2008 8:38 PM (GMT -7)
While a low gleason score is desired if you have to have one, it does not guarantee that the cancer is still incapsulated. If the cancer is allowed to continue to grow without some type of treatment most likely your gleason score will increase as the Cancer grows.

 There is a smaller chance that it has spread but again, no guarantee. 

There is still much that has to be learned about PCa.

The best in your research and decision making process. 

Richard yeah tongue yeah


Retired USAF Richard & Debbie on The Shores of Toledo Bend Lake Louisiana

Biospy 1/10/08 Gleason 10, Stage T1C  8 of 12 samples positive all Less Than 5% 

U of Florida Proton Therapy Institute

5/2/2008 LUPRON & Casodex

IMRT to start 5/16/2008 for approx 4 weeks with Proton to follow for approx 4 weeks

Turn Stumbling Blocks into Steping Stones and Keep Smiling

Our Journey is on WWW.GLEASON10.COM

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