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Need info in the Pacific Northwest  
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Posted 1/10/2007 2:13 PM (GMT -7)
I've just been diagnosed with prostate cancer.

60 years old, otherwise good health

Gleason 3+3=6

PSA:4 tests since October-22.0, 36.0, 19.2, 26.1

less than 5% in right lobe, none in left lobe

1 out of 10 samples positive

prostrate size 64 cc

no lump can be felt  in rectal exam

early stage, slow growing (judged by Gleason score)

I was treated with anitbiotics for an assumed infection between the 36.0 PSA and the 19.2 PSA.  The PSA scores are high and changing fast, up and down (prostate cancer plus an infection?).

I'm open to either surgery or radiation and am looking for feedback on experienced doctors in the Pacific Northwest.  I'm open to any suggestions or feedback.

All and any help will be appreciated.  Thanks in advance.

 

Posted 1/10/2007 2:34 PM (GMT -7)
welcome,

there are some guys from the northwest around here. hopefully they will get to you.

your PSA scores are kinda scary. Are they going to do a bone scan or anything?
Signficant Other diagnosed: 10/30/06 (age 63)
PSA: 3.7 (up from 3.4 prior year)
Gleason: 3+3
Biopsy: 1/10 positive, 5% cancerous, right apex.

Treatment:  Undecided

Posted 1/10/2007 2:39 PM (GMT -7)

Hi Scott,

I am in Spokane and had surgery at Sacred Heart Medical Center.  There is a robotic doc and a radiation doc at the Rockwood Clinic as well as my surgeon.  If you are nearer Seattle, all options are open including trials etc.  Do a search on prostate cancer treatment and you will find all kinds of links.  This site also has many excellent links.

Good luck an stick around this forum.  We all welcome you....

Jim

Age 72. Diagnosed 11/03/06. PSA 7.05. Stage T2B Gleason 3+3.

RRP 12/7/06. Nerves and nodes okay.

Pathological stage: T2B. Gleason 3+4. Cancer confined to prostate.

PSA on 1/3/07 - 0.04.  Next PSA on 4/4/07.

            "Squeeze before you sneeze!"

Posted 1/10/2007 3:01 PM (GMT -7)
Hi, sorry you had to be here, but we are all here to help each other.

I am a big fan of the robot: more precision, minimally invasive, minimally traumatic, fast recovery, less blood loss, and all that.

May I suggest going to:
http://www.davinciprostatectomy.com/hospitals.html
They have a list of all docs all over the country that use the robot.

Also, if you haven't found it, check out the section of www.msnbc.com called Low Blow. The site was started by an MSNBC writer who got PCa, and lives in the Seattle area. He chronicled his whole experience in a set of stories at that site, and there may be a lead for you there. I think his surgeon was a Dr. Christopher Porter at Virginia Mason Hospital.

The best, and welcome. Please keep us posted, and come back as you go through your planning. There is a lot of good advice here.

dj
dj's stats:

PSA (10/04): 2.9; PSA (2/06):4.4, on Androgel (serum T about 450) at age 56; negative DRE, no symptoms.

PSA (5/06):5.7 with a free PSA% of 8, OFF Androgel (serum T 163). 

Biopsy (5/06): 4/12 samples positive; postitive samples only on right side; max Gleason 4+3=7 (in 2 of the 4 -from area nearest bladder.

DaVinci robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy + bladder lift + Right nerve plastic surgery (8/23/06).

Catheter out 4 weeks postop, due to internal pinhole leak at bladder-urethra junction.

Final pathology report:T2c-both sides,but in capsule; neg. margins, neg. lymph nodes, neg. seminal vesicles; final max Gleason still 4+3=7.

Follow-up PSA (11/06): <0.008; serum T: 195 OFF Androgel (at present).

Posted 1/10/2007 11:19 PM (GMT -7)

Virginia Mason Hospital in Seattle has a great comprehensive prostate cancer clinic.  They arrange a meeting with a nutritionalist, sexual function specialist, radiation oncologist, and surgeon.  There you will recieve plenty of information to help make up your decision on treatment.  Additional research on the internet and this forum will help greatly. 

I personally decided on the Da vinci robotic surgery.  While I must admit to being nervous about my surgery next week, I'm confident that this is the best procedure for me.  I've been working at loosing a few pounds, practicing my Kegals, and at age 57 will be able to recover completely. 

Good luck in your search for your method of treatment.

PSA 4.7 (up from 3.2 one year ago)

Biopsy November 8, 2006

1 of 10 cores positive 5%

2 others questionable (small gland proliferation)

Gleason 3+3

Robotic surgery scheduled January 19, 2007

Posted 1/14/2007 3:26 PM (GMT -7)
Hi Scott,                            A    “Special”   Warm Welcome   to   You!      You’ve come to the right place…. This forum is made up of so many wonderful people to help you on your journey with prostate cancer…   We have veterans, new members, newbies, and lurkers!!!!   We truly are one big family of friends who make the journey smoother.   Your stepping-stones are in front of you and each one will bring knowledge that will help to take away the fear.   Always remember… We are here for you…. on this new path you’ve found yourself on…     Each person has a reason for deciding on the treatment best for them…. and you will also find that on this forum there are so many willing to share their reasons…. And in turn will give you lots of things to think about to help with your decision.   Your decision will be the right decision!!   Knowledge is Power and this is where you gain your power by reading and understanding what you’re up against… and finding the best fight plan for you!!!!   You will find yourself on OVERLOAD and this is normal.   At that time… STOP and take a deep breath and re-focus once you’ve settled down.   It will come together but it takes time.     Buddy & I would like to invite you to click on our link below (in our signature area) to share Our Journey with Prostate Cancer with you.   There are so many other journeys out there and if you go to Helpful Hints for New Members…. You’ll find other links to other Journeys… that will give you input also!!!   I’ll be updating it soon with “NEW JOURNEYS” recently posted so you can just click on the links…. Makes it a little easier to find.   Scott ~ if you don’t have an exercise routine in place…. Start now with getting yourself ready for your journey ahead.   It will truly make things easier and will make the recovery/healing process go much smoother!!!!!   Truly…   Take care and know our thoughts and prayers are with you. Stay with us…. Okay!!!!   You are now a part of this family and we need to know how you’re doing.   In New Friendship ~ Lee & Buddy   Post edited to add Scott's threads:   08-24-07   Muse Questions 01-16-07   Choosing between: da Vinci surgery, regular surgery or radiation???   01-10-07   Need info in the Pacific Northwest   mama bluebird - Lee & Buddy… from North Carolina   v           We invite you to visit our personal thread :   Click Here:   “Our Journey” ~ Sharing is Caring   April 3, 2006  53 on surgery day RRP / Radical Retropubic Prostatectomy PSA 4.6   Gleason  3+3=6    T2a   Confined to Prostate 3rd PSA 08-07-2007 Less than 0.1 Non-Detectable :) Post Edited (bluebird) : 8/25/2007 7:57:05 PM (GMT-6)
Posted Yesterday 7:06 PM (GMT -7)

hawkfan75 said...

Virginia Mason Hospital in Seattle has a great comprehensive prostate cancer clinic.  They arrange a meeting with a nutritionalist, sexual function specialist, radiation oncologist, and surgeon.  There you will recieve plenty of information to help make up your decision on treatment.  Additional research on the internet and this forum will help greatly. 

I personally decided on the Da vinci robotic surgery.  While I must admit to being nervous about my surgery next week, I'm confident that this is the best procedure for me.  I've been working at loosing a few pounds, practicing my Kegals, and at age 57 will be able to recover completely. 

Good luck in your search for your method of treatment.

I'm from the Pacific NW and agree with Hawkfan75 about Virginia Mason hospital.  They have an excellent and well-deserved reputation for prostate cancer surgery (open and robotic) and treatment. Their urology department is highly regarded in the medical community.  

Also the University of Washington Medical Center is a good place to go and has been doing robotics for several years.  One caution:  I've heard thru the local urology grapevine to avoid Paul Lange (author of 'Prostate Cancer for Dummies') for your surgery.  Other than that, there are some top-drawer prostate surgeons there. 

Seattle has one of the world-class centers for brachytherapy if you decide to go the seed-implant route.   

If you'd like some support, e-mail me and we can exchange phone numbers.  

  

Age 58 PSA 2.6 Gleason 5

Bi-lateral nerve-sparing RRP 6/21/06

Cancer confined to prostate, post-op PSA non-detectable

Post Edited (TimG) : 1/15/2007 7:14:38 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 1/31/2007 8:48 PM (GMT -7)
Helping to keep Scott's Journey together: (direct link ~ just click on the title!  Reminder to click on the REFRESH icon once there) 08-24-07   Muse Questions 01-16-07   Choosing between: da Vinci surgery, regular surgery or radiation???   01-10-07   Need info in the Pacific Northwest     Post edited to add new threads for future readers to follow... Scott's journey.   Post Edited (bluebird) : 8/25/2007 8:07:37 PM (GMT-6)
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