help

hi razorback, sorry about your father-in-law, but you came to the right place to find answers to your questions. First of all, I believe that adenocarcinoma is "cancer", just the medical term. "8" is probably the Gleason score. It consists of 2 numbers added together to give you the total score. They take the oddest looking cancer cells and give that a number and then take the second oddest looking cells and give that a number. Like my husband, was a 3 + 3 = 6, but on both sides. That but him into the T2c stage. If it had been on only one side, his stage would have been a T1. Gleasons of 6 and below are believed to be beginning tumors. At 7, from what we were told, the cancer is more aggressive.

To get the most information possible from this great group of people, it would be helpful for you to post some other info. His PSA level and age are important. His overall health is also good info. If you live close, it is also important to go with him to doctor appointments. You you are getting this kind of information, an extra set of ears is important.

Keep posting your questions, and answers will come. Right now, this is a very scary time for you and your family. PCa is very beatable.

Again, sorry you all had to join this group. Courtney

Razorback,

I am truly sorry to hear about your father.  I will try and help with your questions.

Here is the meaning of adenocarcinoma.

ADENOCARCINOMA : The word generally used to describe epithelial tissue in a gland that has become malignant. It is identified in a pathology laboratory and given the name of the tissue affected. eg the prostate gland tumour gets the name 'prostate adenocarcinoma', because its cells resemble the cells of the prostate.

As to the staging of prostate cancer here is the definition.

T1: tumor present, but not dectable clinically or with imaging

• T1a: tumor was incidentally found in less than 5% of prostate tissue resected (for other reasons)
• T1b: tumor was incidentally found in greater than 5% of prostate tissue resected
• T1c: tumor was found in a needle biopsy performed due to an elevated serum PSA

T2: the tumor can be felt (palpated) on examination, but has not spread outside the prostate

• T2a: the tumor is in half or less than half of one of the prostate gland's two lobes
• T2b: the tumor is in more than half of one lobe, but not both
• T2c: the tumor is in both lobes

T3: the tumor has spread through the prostatic capsule (if it is only part-way through, it is still T2)

• T3a: the tumor has spread through the capsule on one or both sides
• T3b: the tumor has invaded one or both seminal vesicles

T4: the tumor has invaded other nearby structures

The meaning of the Gleason scores is as follows.

GLEASON SCORES :This refers to the system of judging the aggressiveness of the tumour. It is one of the factors by which the likelihood of the cancer spreading beyond the prostate capsule is judged. A sample of tissue taken from the prostate is examined under a microscope. Two areas where the cells are not normal are selected [these are referred to as foci]. Each is graded on a scale of 1 through 5, where 1 is well differentiated [good] and 5 is poorly differentiated [bad]. The two grades are added together to give a score on a scale of 2 to 10, where 6 is the mid-point. The most common scores are 5 and 6.

 

Hope this helps some.

Tamu

 

 

hi razorbackflorida,

Don't give up hope. Fortunately there are lots of treatments available for prostate cancer.

Even if he is not a candidate for surgery, there is always various forms of radiation treatment. Options on that vary from proton beam, to IMRT/IGRT, or brachytherapy.

I would enourage you to encourage your mother and/or father-in-law to get copies of his PSA (blood test) and biopsy report. You can also "gently coach" her and him on what to ask even if you are not able to go to appointments.

Best wishes :) You sound like a caring daughter-in-law.

Tanya