New diagnosis

[bdriggers]

I'm 56 years old. I have been diagnosed with PCa. My Gleason is 3+3. My highest PSA is 2.2. I'm NOT going to have surgery. I'm researching Proton Radiation at University of Florida. 

[rickcricow]

Hi, I'm 63, and my Gleason is also 3+3.  My PSA is about 14.

Besides active watching, I've had 2 biopsies (2 years apart).  They show 1 core with 15% and no cancer elsewhere.  I'm avoiding surgery or radiation or any other therapy at this point.

Have you had a biopsy to see what's in there?

[bdriggers in reply to rickcricow]

I had fourteen cores. Picture the prostate divided in four quads. Upper left 5%. Lower left benign. Upper right 20%, lower right benign. Lower left all benign.  Lower right upper 30 % lower benign 

[rickcricow in reply to bdriggers]

I'm not as medically enabled as a lot of folks here, so I don't know the exact terminology.  My 1 core with 15% was a slow growing cancer.

I guess there are multiple types.  Good luck!

[JoelT]

You didn't tell us how many cores were positive and how much cancer was in each core.  Unless you had a lot of cancer in a number f cores you should consider active surveillance.  Any treatment will have side effects and with your numbers (subject to the amount of cancer) you should consider persevering your erections and urine countenance.

Joel

[Wrgatewood]

I am a couple weeks ahead of you. I was 7.5 with a 4+3 Gleason. Like you, at 52, I did not want surgery or radiation. Three weeks back I was in Miami and had focal veto ablation. My doctor froze the legions and left the rest of the gland in tact. Patient results have been great and no side effects. I am still healing up, but already flow is back and sexual function is returning. I encourage you to be your own advocate and find the treatment you are comfortable with. I found doctors recommend the treat they know and use. I couldn't get this treatment in Michigan and had to go to Florida. I'm glad I did. Good luck!

[RandyT]

With such low numbers you really don't have to do any treatment now. You are the perfect candidate for watching and waiting. Just keep being minute red every few months to see how fast your Psa goes up. A guy in my support group did that for over three years before having any treatment. Good luck. Randy. 

[maack1]

Please take a read of this and if you fit the parameters, then Active Surveillance should certainly be considered rather jumping into any form of invasive treatment.  Read and discuss with your Urologist since both he and you would then be involved in regular checkups/diagnostics to continue to monitor your cancer and whether the development eventually becomes aggressive:

ACTIVE SURVEILLANCE* tinyurl.com/3r7mm8m

[Btaylor396]

I was the same age and diagnosis. As I shared,  went to UF proton therapy route. PSA is down to 0.9 and dropping.  Glad I went this route.

[dirtfisher]

bdriggers, sounds like you have made the right choice.  You don't say where you are located but there is also a Proton Theraphy Center in Knoxville, TN.  That is where I had my treatments and almost nine months out everything is going fine.

[bdriggers in reply to dirtfisher]

I live in South Georgia. 

[dirtfisher in reply to bdriggers]

Since you are in South Georgia you would be closer to Jacksonville for Proton Therapy. We have a guy in our support group that had Proton Therapy in Jacksonville.  He said he and his wife stayed in a camper the 8 weeks of therapy but they have refined the treatment to where you may be eligible for the 20 treatments instead of the 39,

[bdriggers in reply to dirtfisher]

Dirtfisher, how did you like the Provision Center. Did they use pencil beam. Was it the 4 week or 8 week. Where did you stay?

[S103462]

I was diagnosed 4 years ago w/similar age and numbers as you have. Had a 2nd opinion -- same diagnosis. Decided on Active Surveillance. Initially, went back every  3 months for PSAs & DREs.  No issues.  At the 2-year point, had another biopsy -- no change. Also, had a genetic test done to determine the aggressiveness of the cancer. Those tests showed a non-aggressive situation.  Then, started every 4 months for PSAs & DREs. Will be going for another biopsy next month.  If everything goes as hoped/expected next month, will then go to 6-month intervals between PSAs and DREs and another biopsy at some point. Desire is to hold off any aggressive treatment until it's determined to be necessary. Acceptable risk for me.

[S103462 in reply to S103462]

By the way, here's information regarding the genetic testing that I mentioned above: myprostatecancertreatment.o...

[bdriggers]

Thank you!

[herb_8789]

You might want to take a look at this:    prostatecancerinfolink.net/...

[bdriggers]

I have decided on radiation. I can't decide between IMRT or Proton. I am leaning toward proton. Any advice on these two would be very much appreciated

[AlanLawrenson]

Active Surveillance might be an option for you, dependent on the size of your tumours and percentage of cores cancerous.

I had PBT in Korea. Great treatment, but today I would have focal laser ablation. Dr David Sperling in NY is the pioneer of this technique.

[Bogiedog]

There have been a number of reports (sorry, I can't produce one right now) that question the value of proton beam vs. IMRT, especially considering costs.  If I can dig one up, I'll post it.

[bdriggers in reply to Bogiedog]

I really appreciate that Bogiedog. I doubt you have seen or read any I haven't already seen. After three consults, 60 patients called, and more hours/days erase arching, I'm set on this treatment.  

[bdriggers in reply to bdriggers]

Researching