Prostate Cancer Therapy

A friend of mine, who is 56 years old, was just diagnosed with prostate cancer. He has a pretty advanced case, gleason grade 9 and I think a PSA under 10. His dad died of prostate cancer. The doctors are worried because a year ago, he was tested and had extremely low PSA levels, but now they are much higher. This could be a sign of aggression. They don’t know if it has spread yet. His doctor has recommended surgery in Seattle.
Has anyone gone through this? Can anyone tell me what the likelihood is that he will be OK?
Oh, just found out the PSA last year was 2 and now is 5.

The Gleason score "grades" tumors on the basis of how abnormal they look when the tissue is examined under a microscope. The more abnormal they look, the more likely they are to grow fast and to spread to other parts of the body. A grade of less than 4 generally means that cancer cells look similar to normal cells. Grades 5 to 7 fall under the intermediate range. Grades 8 to 10 indicate aggressive growth. survival rate is an average of 5 years.i would have a second opinion,and maybe some more tests such as a cat scan,bone scan(this shows what is called (hot spots) to show advancement and a biopsy to examine types.the grading can get complicated what you do need to ask is what his T-score is or TNM this tells basically if a primary Tumor Localized) n is for spread into lymph Nodes (regional)and M Metastatic into other bones(stage 4) or organs.then life expectancy is calculated for each stage. let me know what his Tscore is and email me with any other facts or test results. the best thing you can do is support your friend on his choices and through his recovery.

Someone I know went in for checks after a bad urinary tract infection. They were sent for tests for bladder cancer and a bleeding growth was found in the bladder. They also checked his prostate, it didn’t hurt and they said it seemed very hard, but made no reference to irregularities or bumps.

A transurethral resection of the bladder was scheduled, and when they went in for the op, whatever the problem had been in the bladder was now gone, so it was written off as relating to the UTI.

However, while they were in they did a transurethral resection of the prostate, and removed a section of it because it had enlarged and was causing lots of pressure on his urethra. They said he had a high PSA level, but he also had a reoccurence of a UTI by this point.

No mention was made then or since of hardness or bumpiness, and we are currently waiting on the test results for it (day 12 of waiting now)

I am really praying it could turn out to be BPH or another problem.

It most certainly could be BPH. My father-in-law had a very high PSA at one point and had to undergo 12 prostate biopsies and all came back negative but the wait was terrible. He really only had to wait a day or two but it seemed like an eternity. BPH seems to be very common now days so I wouldn’t call it "cancer" yet. Best wishes. Please post the results to the person with the "best answer" so we all will know if your friend is okay. He’s in my prayers. : )

I had a aggressive cancer grow in my prostate. The prostate was removed in surgery, but four or five years later a doctor found a PSA level of 11. He convinced me to go on Lupron (sp?) which is a hormone to get rid of all testosterone in body and cut off food supply to any microscopic cancer cells in my body. Several tests have shown no sign of cancer cells before or after the every-three month injections began and PSA went down from 11 to 3.

Now, the doc sort of casually mentioned that score is good, but the hormone treatment only works for 10 years. After leaving the office, I thought, this guy just gave me eight years to live. Now that is not like being told you have a month to live like in the movies, but it is not too long.

What happens then? Does prostate cancer start growing all over my body? In the bones? Will it require chemo and radiation and will I have extreme pain from this cancer if it gets in the bones? That is what I am wondering and wondering how to end it all

.. I had prostate cancer in 2005 and had Proton Radiation to cure the cancer.. Proton Radiation has no side effects and a 90% cure rate.. It has no pain or any thing.. I was not sick one single day during or after my treatments.. Proton Radiation is very different from conventional radiation… in that 90 % of the treatment energy is released exactly at the point needing to be treated.. therefore other tissues and organs are not damaged.. there fore you have no side effects.. When I was getting my treatments several people were there getting Proton Radiation who had had surgery and been on lupron.. and several were in their 80s I think Proton Radiation is the very best Prostate cancer treatment available..

There is a website that tells about Proton Radiaton.. it is called PROTON BOB..(BOB stands for brotherhood of the balloon) Go to the website and be sure and read Patient Testiamonials.. from former patients.. you will see what I am talking about.. My first doctor wanted to give me lupron also.. said I could live 10 years and that it had no side effects.. that was a lie I started having hot flashes real fast.. I met one fellow when I was having my treatments and he had been taking lupron for 7-8 years and it caused him to walk all bent over… he said.. ostioprosis … I think said He was 85-86 and other wise in good health… There is also a new book out called YOU CAN BEAT PROSTATE CANCER, written by Robert J. Marckini.. a prostate cancer survivor.. it is great any one with prostate cancer should have it.. It can be purchased at the Proton Bob website, barnes and noble etc..If you are in good health other than the prostate cancer, personally I would sure consider Proton Radiation.. Medicare pays for it.. I took my treatments at Loma Linda Universty Medical Center.. however it is now offerded at 4-5 other locations in the US.. MD Anderson in houston just opened a facility for it.. Lots of doctors dont recommend it because they still think it is experimental, dont know about it, dont understand it.. or it just a pure money thing.. If they dont treat you the way they know how and send you some place else, they dont make any money for the Mercedes payment.. That was the case with the one who wanted to give me Lupron.. I later found out that was the only treatment he used.. was all he knew!!! and he made money selling the lupron.. sad deal… Id be willing to bet if you could have Proton Radiation.. you will be fine.. my psa is now.12.. thats point one three…go to the PROTON BOB website..read it.. especially the Patient Testimonial section.. If you have any questions.. please feel free to email me here on yahoo questions.. I allow emails.. I will even be glad to call and talk to you about my Proton Radiation experiece.. dont throw in the dang towell yet… !!! have a great day. Also I met guys who had PSAs of 50-100 and were cured with Proton Radiaton…. You can probably find some who had that sort of PSAs on the Proton Bob website… Proton Radiation cures the cancer.. and lupron sort of puts it on hold for a while.. hope I have helped.. contact me if you have questions.. again have a good day I read your question again.. I thought you were in your 80s now but your not..man you need Proton Radiation and get your problem taken care of.. If you can get it.. its like being on a 9-10 week vacation.. plus just remember 90% cure rate and little to NO side effects.. its the only way as far as im concerned..

My dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer April of 2007. July 2007 he had the Da Vinci Robot remove his prostate. Now he goes in for regular checkups…..when he was diagnosed his PSA level was 4….now he just had the PSA again and it’s .3. I know it’s not nearly as high as what it was before .3 is a long ways from 4….but what does the .3 mean? The doctor didn’t seem concerned….and my dad is going to go back for a bunch of opinions. Just wondering if anyone can help me undestand what the .3 means. Can those cells be killed off with working out and eating well (which he already does)…or will he prb need radiation or hormone therapy?

I had prostate cancer in 2005. I had Proton Radiation treatments at Loma Linda University Medical Center in Loma Linda Calif. Proton Radiation has no side effects to speak of and a 90% cure rate.. When I was there there were several people there who had surgery, harmone implants and the lupron that did not or was not working… and they were gettin Proton Radiation to get rid of their cancer. They didnt know about Proton Radiation at the time they had the other treatments.. I think it is the very best treatment available for prostate cancer today.. Id say your dad would be fine if he could have Proton Radiation. It is very different from conventional radiation. With Proton 90% of the treatment energy is directed exactly to the point being treated… there fore surrounding tissue and organs are not damanged and the treatment energy is delivered where needed in a concentrated from. There is a website called Proton Bob that tells about Proton Radiation and prostate cancer.. If you go there be sure and read the Patient Testimonial section and you will see how other former patients are as sold on it as I am..you can probably find a testimonial or two from some who had other treatments that didnt work but later took proton and are just fine now.. Also there is a book recently out called YOU CAN BEAT PROSTATE CANCER, written by Robert J. Marckini, a prostate cancer survivor. It is great. It tells all about prostate cancer and then tells all about all of the various types of treatments available today plus the pros and cons and side effects of each type treatment.. It can be purchased at barnes and noble and other book stores or on line at the Proton Bob website.. Its just my opinion, but from my experience with prostate cancer and the treatments.. I think your father would be fine if he could get proton radiation for the prostate cancer… Hope this helps

i was diagnoised with Prostate cancer 18 months ago. i had an biopsy done and out of 12 biops only 1 cancer cell showed up. I have recentely lost my urologist due to insurance. He explained everything too me and for forty-five minutes I listened along with two of my children. After all was said and done I decided on the "wait & watch". He said something else may kill me before my prostate cancer. He said if a male lives long enough he will have "prostate cancer".

Now to the new Doctor, a Navy Dr. that I am not thrilled about. First of he does not believe in the "Wait & watch" theory. In December he wants to do another biopsy regardless what my PSA level reads. My PSA was 5.2 last examination, and anything over 4.0 you should have a biopsy.

This Navy Doctor does not believe in the "watch & wait". He wants to do another biopsy regardless what my PSA level is

Should I go see my original Urologist even though I want be covered with Insurace; i.e. just for a second opinion.

I didn’t understand your question, however frequent PSA is recommended for close follow up of your case…..

My dad has to be treated in 2 months.We are yet to decide the method.Indian doctor is not encouraging my dad to go for this technology.His gleason level is 2+2 and PSA is 32 where as volume is 45*35*36.Density is 31ml.Please help us knowing whether HIFU can help my dad.Your immediate response is highly appreciated.

This is not a standard treatment in the United States. It is still in clinical trials.

July is PSA awareness month. Men over 40 need to have a simple blood test. PSA levels that are high or that change drastically can be a warning indicator of prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer is easily treatable IF caught early!!!

This info is incredibly important. Absolutely have a PSA test done if you are over 40, and repeat the test every year from then on. If it rises significantly, like a half point or more, repeat the test and if the increase persists, discuss with your physician about having a biopsy. If you catch prostate cancer early, it if very treatable. If you catch it late, it can kill you. Enough said.

My husband (who is 45 years old) was diagnosed in Oct of 06′. Gleason 8 (4+4), Stage D. He is on Casodex and Eligard, and his PSA level is now 0.4. His doctors claim he can stay on these meds for many years.
HIs cancer has already spread to his spine, hip, left femur, and lymph nodes in his abdomen.

http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_2_6x_Prostate_Cancer_Survival_Rates.asp?sitearea=

I have been "told" to get a biopsy of my prostate. However, as I have never had any kind of surgical procedure performed on my body, I am very worried, and apprehensive of the RECTAL invasion and possible consequences; even thought prostate CANCER is something to worry about! My age, 63

Do it! My doctors kept putting off even mentioning this test. I’m now 66 and hope to see 67. For over ten years and three doctors, one finally said my PSA was high enough to have a biopsy done. Like you I was apprehensive about having my rectum invaded like this. It turned out to not be as bad as I expected, not something I care to do regularly.

My PSA in 1995 was 4.2 and my doctor gave me antibiotics to see if it would come down. It did and everytime my PSA went up, here came the antibiotics. Last year, I went on Medicare and my PSA was again 4.2. This doctor said it’s not high enough to worry about yet.

I changed insurance and doctors in January. When my PSA came back at 4.3 in February, my new doctor insisted I have a biopsy. This was done in a Urologists office with no drugs. I was relived when it was over. Now came the hard part, waiting for the results.

Out of all the cores they took, my cancer was in 85% of them. My Gleason score is 9 (4+5). The only scores worse than that is 9 (5+4) and 10 (5+5). I have a very aggressive form of prostate cancer. My only treatment is to have 42 extrernal beam radiation sessions over an eight and one-half week period. While they are burning my rectum, I’m also having hormone shots to block my testersone, that’s what makes you a man. In three months I’ll under go another biopsy, to see if I will need to have radioactive seeds implanted in what’s left of my prostate. At this point removal, for me, is not an option.

Removal is the desired treatment since removing the prostate cancels any worry of cancer if the cancer has not spread beyond the prostate. If it has, you must continue on with radiation. With the prostate gone your PSA will now be Zero.

As Larry, the Cable Guy says, "Get R Done"

Additional thoughts: I attended a seminar on Prostate cancer treatments to hear a doctor mention he had a 42 year old patient with a PSA of 2.5 and a Gleason score of 10. PSA isn’t always the answer, the Gleason score, can only be found with a biopsy, is the answer.

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