Prostrate cancer

37chief

Well-known Member
Location
California
Anyone ever have to deal with it? I am going in next week for a prostrate biopsy. reason is my PSA level (what ever that is)is going up a little each year. My uncle had it. It may be on Dad's side. One good thing is most people don't die from it, if found early. Most die from something else. Your thoughts. Stan
 
I was diagnosed in 2006--no symptoms at all.Surgery to remove prostate (nearly died from a bleeding problem--kind of rare) and am still cancer free. A friend of mine was diagnosed last year and he is going to just monitor it for a while. A good urologist should give you some good options. Good luck, Gary.
 
Back around 1998-2000 my PSA was climbing, 4, 6, got up to 10. Biopsy said Prostate cancer. Luckily I found proton beam and was cured, no fuss, no muss, no blood. If your biopsy says PC, don't be in a hurry and let some local yoyo with a knife ruin you. Google proton beam, or LLUMC proton center, or check out the "proton bob" website.
 
Should have added that I had the proton beam cure in the year 2002. Baled and threw 13,000 bales of hay after the cure and every year since.
 
You will know what your options are better after the biopsy. And don't be afraid to ask for a second opinion. 2005 my PSA number went up from the years before so doctor did a biopsy. I bled like the end of the month. Doctor never said anything about that. Cancer percent was low but was cancer. I checked with a different doctor (very cute female from China) and decided with high dose radiation. This was in Indianapolis. Just passed 13 years and PSA is .001 or less and I carry on a normal life without issues. Your results may vary.
 
I flunked my biopsy about 5 years ago at age 61. I was given different options and choices along with just wait and see. I got a second opinion and went to a cancer clinic at University of Michigan and ended up having robotic surgery. I was laid up for a few weeks and been doing good ever since.

You may be ok but if not you will have allot of choices and options. If you have been getting checked all along its probably not too far along and is generally slow growing and curable. My Dad did nothing and still lived to 92 and died of something else.
 
Just had mine removed at Thanksgiving 2017. PSA was a little over 7, all 12 biopsy samples were positive. No symptoms to speak of. Surgery was easy. Recovery/side effects can be rough. Still incontinent and impotent. Getting better but it is taking awhile. Can definantly affect your mind looking in the mirror at yourself in a diaper.
 
I have had two biopsies that were both negative and continued with life as usual.

I am scheduled for a sonogram and needle biopsy on Monday morning.

Procedure will be done in the office and supposedly only take about 5 minutes.

Prefer not to discuss the post biopsy instructions because of women and children viewers.

Hang in there, it ain't the end of the world.
 
Prostate cancer 2011, taken out, good for 4 years, reading went up again. Found a spot near where it was, radiation treatments, readings went up again, found a spot on my shoulder. Radiation on that and will find out in a couple weeks how that went. Take care of it, good luck. Ron MN
 
I've had one biopsy done and it was not fun. I have learned when my PSA level come up to drink cranberry juice or take cranberry pill and that seem to lower them a lot
 
Mt Father was diagnosed with it at 60 years old. They just watched it. He died at age 83 from something else. His PSA always show high but never spiked real high. I have my PSA checked annually and so far nothing. If it does go up and they say prostrate cancer then I am more than likely just going to watch it unless it spikes really high.
 
First off it is prostate, not prostrate (adjective: prostrate
1.


lying stretched out on the ground with one's face downward.)

I was diagnosed 4 years ago at age 55, 12 of 12 biopsies were positive...not good. I elected to go with robotic surgery, picked the right surgeon. PSA started going up 2 years ago and did 37 radiation treatments. So far, so good....they say 5 years out with no increase of psa is considered cured.

At your age I don't think I would bother unless you are having urinary problems or other discomfort as it is a slow growing cancer. They told my dad he needed surgery when he was in his 60's and he made it to 91 without treatment. Lots of different opinions, doctors will like surgery as that is how they make money. Good luck!
 
There's only one thing you need to know at this point. They CAN put you to sleep for the biopsy. I would insist on it. Think of a ball peen hammer on your privates. 12 times in one sitting! The first time is a surprise - the other 11 are pure agony. I would NEVER have another biopsy in the doctor's office.

I had a prostatectomy in 2011. No follow-up treatment, and PSA numbers in the decimals. It's not that big of a deal.

Good luck!!!!
 
I was diagnosed as having enlarged prostate several years ago and the doc wanted to do a T E R P procedure (Trans Eureatheral Reduction of Prostate). He went up the tube and and removed part of it. No driving or lifting for 6 weeks. Only sure thing I know he did was perminant Vasectomy. Bladder still rules my life. Never said anything about my PSA numbers.
 
Wolfman below has some good info. Wish I had known about proton beam back in 2002. Had prostatectomy the old-fashioned way. Remember that a urologist is a plumber first and a surgeon second. Their first response is to cut until the cancer's gone. No cancer, no problem. Wish it were that simple.
 
Stan, from what I hear when somebody is YOUR age (grin), they don't worry about getting it as you will die of something else before it becomes a problem when obtained late in life. I realize that being in your family tree is no consolation. It does seem that genes carry nasties as well as other parental attributes.

I told my Dr. I didn't want the PSA test because at 76 I subscribe to the above and didn't want to know if so. She snuck it in anyway; tested a 3 out of 4 max. As a result I now have a new Dr. and HE knows better. Besides test results are inconclusive as I read besides subjecting you to a lot of medical testing that can be harmful in itself (infection as a result of test method) besides all the mental stress and trips to the lab./Dr./hosp,, and on and on.
 
2016 I started having some pain and having to pee several times in night. 59 years old at time. PSA 6.7 did treatment of antibiotics. Number rose. Had biopsy in fall, 8 of 12 positive for cancer. If you can have them knock you out. I didn?t know it was an option. Had colonoscopy,came back clear. Lots of choices if you decide you want something done. Jan2017 I had robotic surgery. Removed prostate and some lymph node and replumbed. One year anniversary PSA nonexistent. I still experience phantom pain. And pain from surgery. Everyone is different, you decide.
 
74 years od. 4 years ago psa was climbing so biopsies was ordered. Had been thru one about 10years ago not put to sleep and I told them this time no way. So I went to surgery center and was put to sleep and had the procedure. Could not pee and went thru 6 weeks of catheter and bleeding. Went in and had the pee tube relocated and finely got back to normal. Biopsies came back positive for cancer. Watched the psa for two years and went back for biopsy 6 weeks ago. This time it went perfect and no cancer, does not mean no cancer but can rest for a while. Get it done and then decide what you options are.
 
Main thing is everybody is different.

My PSA was 7 in 2011 and has climbed steadily. My wife was treated for stage 3 brain cancer at MD Anderson in 2007 and has survived. Can't say enough good about that place. So I went there when they wanted to do surgery in Tulsa. They had a research program called "watchful waiting" that investigates the viability of the PSA numbers. I joined that because if no one submits to research no progress is made.

I have had probably 12 biopsies, and they are no fun. However the last doctor to do one, a lady named Dr. Hooker, somehow made it painless. I won't go into how I enjoy describing Medicare pays for my doctor.

They keep assuring me I'll die of something else and I keep believing them. However, different than other people, I get a positive for cancer in one or two of twelve needle samples every other biopsy, so my cancer is not widespread and very slow growing.

Get second opinions.
 
I was having problems peeing all the time. Went to my GP and they drew blood. My PSA count was 44.
I was referred to a urologist who after doing a rectal exam said he was sure I had prostate cancer, but wanted to do the biopsies, but I had a history of minor strokes and on blood thinners, so only did 4 biops. The biopsies are uncomfortable, but done rite in the doctors exam room. The doc. got done with them and asked if I was OK. I told him that he didn't even knock my hat off. I wear a ball cap all the time.
All 4 biops came back positive, so moved forward to treatment. First course of action was a shot of Lupron to reduce my testosterone level. That only brought my PSA down to 25. Next step was radiation treatments. Ended up having 44 of them at 8:30am each weekday, for 9 weeks. It was only a 16 minute drive to the hospital, and no hassles with checking in. Just go to reception area and they would come for me. Treatments were painless, taking about 15 min. We met and made lots of good people and now friends there.
I am 100% cured and my PSA is now .020.
Loren
PS I had a reaction to the Lupron. In rare cases it can bring on heart attacks. I had 3 attacks after the radiation treatments were completed. I was supposed to be on the Lupron for 3 years. We stopped those treatments.
They later put 3 stents into me, and then ended up putting 2 more into me.
I am feeling real good now.
Loren
 
I've read all of the responses and it scares me. So far, at 67 my PSA level is good. Sometimes I get up three times in the night sometimes not at all. I once heard a radio doctor say every man over 80 has prostate cancer. Well my dad had the 'roto rooter' done when he was 90 and he was negative for cancer so that proves the radio doctor wrong. By the way, my dad has the distinction of having the biggest prostate the urologist has ever seen by far. Whooee!
 
Depends if it's aggressive or not. Have a co-worker that has his removed two years ago and it came back in the bed where the prostate was. He had 40 rad treatments and is waiting to see if they worked.He has to start PSA testing soon.

Al
 
(quoted from post at 21:12:58 03/15/18) Back around 1998-2000 my PSA was climbing, 4, 6, got up to 10. Biopsy said Prostate cancer. Luckily I found proton beam and was cured, no fuss, no muss, no blood. If your biopsy says PC, don't be in a hurry and let some local yoyo with a knife ruin you. Google proton beam, or LLUMC proton center, or check out the "proton bob" website.
IG DITTO! If this is an option for you, don't even consider anything else!!
 
(quoted from post at 07:36:09 03/16/18) Depends if it's aggressive or not. Have a co-worker that has his removed two years ago and it came back in the bed where the prostate was. He had 40 rad treatments and is waiting to see if they worked.He has to start PSA testing soon.

Al

He probably had positive margins like I had. Think of the prostate as an orange. After the prostate is removed it is examined to see if there are cancer cells in the "peeling of the orange". If so, you have positive margins, which means the cancer may have spread to the prostate bed or elsewhere. I had the "nerve sparing" surgery, which is a catch 22 when you have positive margins. The surgeon has to decide just how close to those nerves and blood vessels he wants to go. I knew it was a risk, but elected to preserve my six life...and yes he did miss a few cancer cells and 18 months later my psa started to rise. I elected to have radiation treatments without hormonal treatment (chemical castration), and it looks like they aimed the radiation to the right spot as my psa dropped to less than .02 and has stayed there for 2 years now. I had my psa checked every 3 months, now we will jump to 6 months as it appears everything is going well.
 
A fellow who used to work for me told me about his father-in-law's experience. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer and scheduled for radiation treatments. During the first treatment, the doctor either did something that hurt him or said something that made him mad. Anyway, he refused to go back for more treatments.

Fourteen years later, he died of something else.
 
My FIL @ 75 had radiation a few years ago, no issues since, my buddy @ 48 had robot surgery about the same time, cancer came back ended up with radiation. Based on these two cases, I would go with radiation.
 
In 2010 I had a HIGH PSA level (blood sample) according to my Family GP. I was sent to a Specialist that was from IRELAND, and assured me he knew what he was doing.
I was placed on my Left side down on a slap in the Hospital. Slap was bloody COLD. There was a Computer screen mounted on a platform in the room. As the Dr. Inserted a probe with a camera and a cutting tool, he removed FOUR biopsy's from various quadrants of my Prostrate. The SCREEN enabled the Dr. to remove biopsy's from the EXACT location that he was interested in.
I was not given any pain killers, or local anesthetics. The first insertion and sample removal hurt. The second insertion and sample removal was terrible. The third insertion and sample removal was like no pain I have ever had. The fourth insertion and sample removal brought TEARS to my eyes and I prayed to GOD I would survive.
I was told to sit up and get dressed when I felt I could.
The Dr. commented he had never had a patient that was as quiet as I was. With tears in my eyes I apologized for being so immature and a little pain is ok.
The Dr. assured me that he had never had a Patient in 500 + patients that did not either have Tears in the eyes of foul words from the Mouths!
Four days latter I received a call at home from a PROSTRATE SPECIALST that I had no sign of Cancer or any Malignant growths.
I'm 65 years of age and my PSA reading is still high compared to other patients but I do not have Prostrate Cancer.

Bob....Retired day after I received call from Prostrate Specialist ,January,31,2011.
 
(quoted from post at 04:52:04 03/16/18) Stan, from what I hear when somebody is YOUR age (grin), they don't worry about getting it as you will die of something else before it becomes a problem when obtained late in life. I realize that being in your family tree is no consolation. It does seem that genes carry nasties as well as other parental attributes.

I told my Dr. I didn't want the PSA test because at 76 I subscribe to the above and didn't want to know if so. She snuck it in anyway; tested a 3 out of 4 max. As a result I now have a new Dr. and HE knows better. Besides test results are inconclusive as I read besides subjecting you to a lot of medical testing that can be harmful in itself (infection as a result of test method) besides all the mental stress and trips to the lab./Dr./hosp,, and on and on.

A psa test is not resulted that way, you may be thinking of a Gleason score. A psa is resulted out as a number, most doctors use a scale that does not go below .02, so it is reported out as less than .02, which is as good as you can get. The numbers go up from there. My first test was an 11, which I didn't think was a bad number, but my doctor did! I then asked what the highest psa he had seen and he said over 300!
 
A few years ago my PSA was creeping up, (under 10) so they did a biopsy, and found a a little cancer, but we are just watching it, with a PSA test every 6 months, and it is staying under 10. A traditional biopsy has some risks involved and it's not real pleasant, so they don't plan to do another unless something changes. I see a Urologist at the Mayo clinic in AZ and one here in MN, I like having 2 opinions! Because I also have Lymphoma I have a little more risk for infection. One thing about the traditional biopsy, it doesn't take long, it really wasn't so bad, but I worried about it for 6 weeks. There is also a type of scan they can use to search for the cancer.
 
(quoted from post at 08:19:22 03/16/18) My FIL @ 75 had radiation a few years ago, no issues since, my buddy @ 48 had robot surgery about the same time, cancer came back ended up with radiation. Based on these two cases, I would go with radiation.

Every case is different and everyone has to weigh their options based on biopsy results, gleason scores, cat scans, MRI results, age and health. If you have 12 of 12 biopsy samples come back positive, you may as well have surgery because radiation would have to cover such a wide area that the results would not be good. If the cancer is found to be just on one side or in just a few samples, radiation or proton therapy may be a good choice...you might have to fight with your insurance company to pay for proton therapy as it is very expensive and only done in a few major cities.
 
When I got on Medicare, part of it was a PSA test that came back positive. Doc sent me to the Urologist where he took the needle biopsy and all came back with Cancer. Bear in mind I had NONE of the typical problems. They ran another PSA test after the biopsy and it had climbed, so that made it 'aggressive'. Two choices-radioactive 'seed' along with chemo that will require a biopsy every six months forever, OR surgical removal. I went with the surgery and go back once a year (this April will be year 4) to have my PSA checked. You see, the Cancer leave 'microcells' in your blood stream that can start growing elsewhere. The good thing is that any future cancer can be identified as long as it's Prostate related. Bad thing is I never quit 'leaking' urine when lifting something heavy or after sitting a while.
 
Be aware that the PSA test can give varying results depending on a lot of things they don't tell you about. If you Google the test on a medical university website, most people's PSA goes up a little every year. My urologist showed me his age chart. Your activities before the blood sample is drawn can affect your number. Everything from having marital relations to riding a motorcycle can raise your number, as can a little bit of urinary tract infection. There are quite a few more factors, but these are what I remember. Look it up, you'll find it interesting.

I am on the wait and watch program at 69 years old. The docs told me I had an enlarged prostate back in my late 40's and started with a "slightly high" PSA test. Then Biopsy #1, 21 samples all came back clean. Switched to self employed and went on the wife's insurance in my 50's, new urologist, new slightly higher PSA, time for biopsy #2. Had 30 some samples with no bad ones. My doctor retired when I was about 65. New doctor couldn't believe how big my prostate was, and sure enough, my PSA was a little higher. I argued about biopsy #3 but but finally let them do one more. Took twenty some samples, and 2 had a few questionable cells. This doctor was part of the University Hospital, and wanted a scan to see if there were any cancerous masses in my prostate that maybe got missed with the biopsies. The scan showed no masses anywhere, just a very big prostate. I told the Doc that after all this testing, if I would have known my prostate was that big, I would have entered it in the county fair!

Younger brother had his prostate removed with robotic surgery a year ago. Was supposed to be fast growing. He said surgery was a breeze and his PSA's have been zeros, he's glad to have it over.
 
I'm 75 and had high psa's for about 7years. Had 2 biopseies that came back showing no cancer but some abnormal cells. Last summer my psa went still higher and doctor did MRI of my prostate and it showed 2 suspicious spots. They did a biopsy on them and they came back cancer with a high gleason score. Doctor then did a bone scan to see if cancer had moved, but it hadn't and so he recommended proton beam radiation. He started me on lupron and I had last radiation treatment last Dec. 14. Saw doctor a month later and was told my prostate was much smaller and my psa was very low. I am to go back in July for a another check up. My story not yet complete, but so far I am thankful for the way things have gone. Hope you have a good outcome.
 

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