Yes, sorry to read the news Ivvcsf.
@lvvcsf – Did you see this in the WSJ this week? http://www.wsj.com/articles/a-better-prostate-cancer-test-1462819119
(It isn’t just about detecting cancer, but better tools for evaluating how aggressive cancers are. If you can’t get to it because of the paywall, pm me with your email and I’ll send the article to you.)
Best of luck.
DH has been following his elevated PSA and has had a biopsy (which was positive) and 2 MRIs. Next PSA in a few weeks. Stay tuned.
PSA for screening may be getting rehabilitated:
Escerpt:
"Initial results from the PLCO trial showed no mortality benefit for men who received PSA screening in comparison with those who did not (N Engl J Med. 2009 Mar 26;360:1310-9). The trial strongly influenced the USPSTF’s current recommendation against PSA screening for prostate cancer.
Subsequent reanalyses of the data have revealed that many men in the control arm of the PLCO trial had received PSA testing, which might explain why their mortality rates were the same as the “screened group.”
Now, data from Dr Shoag’s group reveal that the rate of PSA testing was higher in the control arm than in the screened arm."
I went for my consultation yesterday. There was a good bit of information concerning Gleason Scores, percentages and perineural invasion much of which I don’t completely understand. In a nut shell since it is moderately aggressive it should be treated. There is no emergency, however, I’m not watching and waiting or actively surveying it or whatever they call it. The urologist gave me my options, however, I could tell that surgery is one he encouraged me to consider. I’ll be contacting the James Cancer Center in Columbus as that is where my father went to get his second opinion.
@arabrab I did see that article.
@Ivvcsf,
With a psa level of 3.7 and the fact you qualify for surgery, You should be ok.
There are so many people walking around that have been treated for prostate cancer. Colin Powell, Arnold Palmer, etc.
It sucks that you have it, but you will get through this.
lvvcsf, best of luck to you. If it were me, based on all of the research we did when H faced this decision, I would opt for surgery, and most likely open surgery with an experienced surgeon. The surgeon can literally feel with his or her finger if the tumor is up against other structures, not so with the robotic method. Radiation can used as a backup to surgery if necessary, but not the other way round. I think that is very important.
But you will have to make up your own mind, of course. I wish you the very best.
@lvvcsf, the James is a wonderful hospital. Had a relative in there recently. They are fantastic. All the best to you.
Best to you, @lvvcsf It’s certainly not easy to sort through all the information and opinions.