Gleason score

Hello,

I think you are in good shape. A gleason of six is very good. Also, your PSA numbers are low; I think you are going to be fine.

Good luck.................Shepper.

Had my CAT scan last week; bone scan Monday. Tomorrow I meet with my urologist. It's kind of weird: because the good news will be that I have JUST prostate cancer. When I completed my bone scan, the tech told me that it looked good, that he didn't see any abnormalities other than some arthritis in the knee. But he asked me to take a seat in lobby because the doc at the radiation clinic would need to review the scan. So I'm thinking I'm in good shape. For about 10 minutes. The tech pulled me aside and said the doctor saw a spot on my left shoulder blade, and they took chest X-rays. Of course, they didn't tell me anything. So he might have found bone cancer ... or it was an anomoly or old injury. Hoping for the best.

The news was good. CAT scan showed only a couple of tiny kidney stones. Bone scan was fine. Doc feels spot on shoulder is old injury. Xrays were good. My urologist, who had done 100s of surgeries, wants to operate. Pretty much the standard surgery. Will need to research this a bit, and perhaps get 2nd opinion at the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa. I'm inclined to have the surgery, just not sure which method is best.

I have a consult with Dr. Pow-Sang scheduled.

Mack,

Hope to get those kinds of numbers at Moffitt .... I have a very enlarged prostate, 77 ccs compared to a normal prostate which would be in the 20s. Will ask if that is an issue with radiation versus surgery. My dad had prostate cancer in 1988, treated with radiation. He is still alive today, with no return of the cancer. But he does not remember his PSA, Gleason score, etc.

My urologist had inidcated to me that I would need to wait 6 to 8 weeks after the biopsy to have surgery. Anybody know why that would be the case? ... Scheduled a consult at the Cleveland Clinic on the East Coast of Florida, 1/13. Dr. Jackson is highly regarded and does the robotic surgery. I am also scheduled for consult at the Moffitt Cancer Center 2/13, also highly regarded. Just want to get this done as soon as possible.

Gleason = 7, PSA = 40 Urologist says too aggressive for surgery (radiotherapy not on because of crohns)
Hormone therapy for 2 years PSA = 0.02 so far so good.
Although as I am 54 years old I am concerned for the long term on this treatment.
My urologist obviously can't make promises but assures me that some people have survived for many years with this treatment.
Radiotherapy apparently might be an option if/when hormone stops working, but this is a problem with the crohns and might require a colostomy.
Any similar cases out there ?

I'm scheduled for laproscopic surgery March 7 at Moffitt Cancer Center. Dr. Julio Pow-Sang, who has an excellent reputation, will perform the operation. He said about 8 percent of his surgeries have to be converted to regular open procedure. I'm hoping for the best - my prostate is very enlarged, 95.6 ccs, and I now weigh 265 pounds. Have dropped 10 pounds in recent weeks; have been walking 5 to 7 miles a day to build up stamina. Was hoping to have robotic laproscopic surgery done, but I could not get it scheduled in a timely fashion.

It's been an interesting two months. I had a consult at the Cleveland Clinic and the doctor there said I was not a candidate for robotic surgery because my prostate is too big and I was too large. But in doing my own research I found a number of doctors in Florida who have successfully used robotics on large patients with very enlarged prostates. One doctor in Ocala has developed special instruments for large patients. I would have used him, but he does not take insurance - the bill is $15,000 to $25,000 for a robotic laproscopic operation.

I had scheduled an open procedure with my urologist, who is skilled. But Moffitt said it could do the less invasive surgery. So I cancelled the rrp ... Had my pre-op in Tampa today ... Doc says I will have the catheter for two weeks. Ugh.

ocash,
really pleased its going well for you.
unfortunately my cancer has spread to the bone in the hip joint.
I have had a second opinion from one of the senior consultants in "the beatson clinic" in glasgow, which is as good as it gets over here.
I do agree that I am a bit young for hormone dependancy but with all my other ailments I am just making the best of it, I just keep fighting and hoping for the best.
Like most people on this site hope springs eternal and I try to remain optomistic.
again thanks for your good wishes it's really appreciated.

Just wanted to comment on what one of the posters said above (i.e., why perform a bone scan if the biopsy does not show any metastases)? To the best of my knowledge, a biopsy only helps to project the Gleason score and stage of cancer based on the cancer found in the test samples taken of the prostate--it does not reveal whether or not the cancer has spread beyond the prostate (i.e., metastases). If the Gleason score is lower (usually 6 or under) is it generally assumed that the cancer has not escaped beyond the prostate. If the Gleason score is higher than 6, there is a greater chance that the cancer has spread beyond the prostate. However, having a bone scan and endorectal MRI are important tests to help determine the stage of cancer. Many urologists do not have these supplemental tests performed and it could be a big mistake. PCa patients should question why these tests are not being performed. It is true that both of these tests do not have 100% reliability, but they are nevertheless important diagnostic tests to supplement the biopsy. My urologist, who directs the prostate center at a major hospital, asked me to take both tests and I am glad that I did. It gave me a greater comfort level as to my stage of cancer which helped in my treatment decision.

Good luck to you Elpaso!

Dave

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68, 29-core biopsy 9/27/06, PSA 7.1, Stage T1c, Gleason 7 (3+4) [less than 20% in one area],  Gleason 6 [less than 5% in two other areas], negative DRE, bone scan and Endorectal MRI. Completed 39 Proton radiation treatments 2/22/07-4/18/07.

First PSA test to be taken 7/07.

Post Edited (pcdave) : 7/22/2007 11:19:07 PM (GMT-6)