Well, I just had my latest fusion biopsy as part of my active surveillance protocol at MSKCC, and I was quite happy to hear that none of the samples contained cancer... all benign!
I was diagnosed with Gleason 6 cancer in August 2017 -- 2 of 14 cores, 1% and 3%.
Since then I've had two more biopsies, and both have turned up even less cancer than the original diagnosis.
So, I remain on active surveillance and hang tight until my next PSA sometime in May 2020.
I am very thankful because I know just how lucky I am.
I wanted to report to some good news here because I am grateful for all the support and insight I receive here from the wealth of knowledgeable members.
I recommend all those on active surveillance to practice "mindfulness." @Tall_Allen explained this concept to me shortly after my diagnosis, and it has really helped my mental well-being while maintaining an active surveillance protocol.
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Hope4Happiness
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I am so glad to hear of your success. I had cancer for eleven years and it has been 1 1/2 years since therapy. I am on active surveillance as well and see my doctor in December. Just keep on truckin'.
When I first decided to pursue an active surveillance protocol at MSKCC, many thoughts started rushing through my head. Many of them, dealt with the unknown now, a few months from now, and then a few years from now -- it was an endless factorial.
What mindfulness taught me was to focus on what is known and the here and now -- That is, to focus on what I do know, accent the positive, and try to break down "the future" into segments.
Active surveillance is supposed to provide us with many years, if we're lucky, of life free of the side effects that come with invasive curative procedures. We want to only have treatment right at the "sweet spot" in time. But, as active surveillance maintains our physical well-being, we do not want it to destroy our mental well-being. We must remember "to enjoy life right as it is happening" without it being damaged by endless thoughts of the unknown stretching years out.
I'm going in for my quarterly PSA test this morning. The one thing that has changed from the last time is that I have been doing a lot of inner work with a psychologist and an energy healer. So in addition to going vegan for 15 months, exercising frequently, learning all about plant based nutrition, etc., I feel like I'm in a good place. Hopefully the numbers reflect the same.
Although this 16-core fusion biopsy found no samples of cancer, I still, of course, have the Gleason 6 cancer that was diagnosed back in 2017. That cancer isn't going away.
What this current biopsy reveals (in tandem with the MRI) is that more cancer is not showing up in targeted samples. That is, the probability that the current cancer has spread or developed in new areas of the prostate is statistically low.
Between my current MRI and this recent biopsy, I am now confirmed to continue my AS protocol and avoid invasive treatment for the time being. If my PSA remains stable from this point forward, I should not be looking at another MRI until sometime in 2021 or another biopsy until late 2022 or early 2023.
A biopsy is just a random sample. There is no way any type of 12-, 14-, or 16-core biopsy could cover the whole prostate. All the biopsy does is give a fairly effective random sample of spots around the prostate.
Now, I was diagnosed with Gleason 6 (two cores) back in August 2017. My confirmatory biospy in April 2018 revealed 1 core with Gleason 6. Just because this most recent biospsy revealed no cancer does NOT mean there is no cancer in my prostate -- it just points in the direction that: the Gleason 6 cancer is not spreading rapidly and that cancer with a higher Gleason score is not appearing.
This biopsy tells me that I am clear to continue with AS for at least another six months until my next PSA. The next PSA reading will influence the next move.
As biopsies are far from "complete" and "final," one must play the odds. I would bank on that this biopsy just missed any areas that contained the slow-growing, low-risk Gleason 6 cancer -- which is good news in itself as it shows that cancer is not starting to cover all areas of the my prostate -- than banking on any very long shot of "spontaneous regressions" or "spontaneous remission."
Incomplete information from minimal biopsy cores even after using a 3TmpMRI for targeting is why my doctor performs his Saturation Transperineal 3D Prostate Mapping Biopsy that can yield 100+ core samples encompasing 95% of the prostate still in its original position.
I was diagnosed with Gleason 6 in November 2006 with two cores at 10% or less. First MRI guided biopsy in April 2019 showed NO CANCER! #ProstateCancerSpontaneousRegression
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At age 67 my urologist diagnosed me with prostate cancer (March 5, 2018.)
I can't understand my PSA
Active Survelliance at the moment
Perineal biopsy with local anesthetic
