Aggressive PC

[sbmurray]

Hi again. I'm 58 yrs old. RP July 2016. Mets to lymph nodes. Radiation, Lupron and Zytiga. Do most get told you have a very aggressive cancer? I wanted to see if this is common. Thanks.

[Dr_WHO]

Hello. From what you wrote I would call it advanced. Depending on the type, etc. it may also be aggressive. The difference between advanced and agressive is how fast the cancer spreads and how hard it is to treat. However, for most practical treatments you can treat them as being the same.

I was 58 in 2016 when they found mine. Like you it migrated to the pelvic lymph nodes. Gleason 8, T3N1, Stage 4D1. Mine is a rare cancer (Ductal) that tends to be agressive, hard to detect and treat it was the diagnoses of Ductal that made the medical oncologist state mine was aggressive, not so much that it was in my lymph nodes.

My treatment was similar to yours, but I demanded surgery. Otherwise 38 rounds of radiation, still on Lupron and Zytiga.

How are you doing? Are you getting regular PSA tests and C.T./bone scans? Hopefully they are negative.

[RonL]

After I was originally treated with radiation for GS 9 PCa and my PSA was undetectable for a year after I stopped ADT then it started rising and I went back on ADT but ten months later I became castrate resistant and scans revealed several bone metastasis. I’m now on Zytiga as well as ADT and things are under control for now.

[milto27xabc]

diagnosed 2005--braccy but in 2007 had pelvic lymph node and went on lupron and casodex interrmittent for 10 years with PSA below 1 for 10 years recently PSA to 13 and now on Lupron/3 months and daily Zitiga and prednisone and PSA dropping--obviously not an aggressive cancer but at 85 don't expect miracles--maybe two years?

[BigRich in reply to milto27xabc]

maybe two years? I am not a medical doctor, and I don't know your gleason grade, nor have I seen your scans. But, with the drugs available and possible future chemo. IMO you can up that to 5 or 6 years or longer.

Rich

[vandy69]

Good Morning sbmurray,

It is all about your Gleason score from biopsy. If Gleason 9 or 10, then without a doubt you have an aggressive form of PCa.

Since you had lymph node mets at diagnosis, I am guessing you had high Gleason as well as a high PSA.

Look at my bio for a treatment path. Still here after 5 1/2 years and currently on a cruise to Cuba!

Best wishes. Never Give In.

Mark, Atlanta

[JamesAtlanta]

I agree with Mark’s point about Gleason score. Have you had a prostate biopsy? If so, what’s your Gleason score? Gleason score helps determine how ‘aggressive’ a cancer is. If you have not had one, I’d recommend you get one.

Best of luck in your journey!

Happy Holidays!

James

[j-o-h-n]

sbmurray

Tell that doctor that if he said you've got an aggressive cancer, tell him you want an aggressive doctor.

j-o-h-n Thursday 12/14/2017 6:32 PM EST

[GeoffNoLongerAS]

In answer to your question, diagnosed in 2008 gleason 6 (3+), started active surveillance August 2009, been on AS ever since. PSA stable for a while, now slowly rising. Recent biopsy did not find cancer (NOT cured just have a hard time finding).

So not aggressive and will continue AS as appropriate.

[DFZ4835]

sbmurray,

To answer your question - Urologist and oncologist tell it the way it is. They have no reason to lie about how aggressive your cancer is. Ask your oncologist for a copy of your biopsy report. The Gleason score is on it. Be aggressive and kick pca butt.

Dennis

[bjevans1258]

My husband was told he has a very aggressive PC. Diagnosis July 2016 also, 67 years old. Gleason Score 5+5 for a 10. Radiology oncologist called it a "Unicorn", i.e. rare and uncatchable.

Status is he is doing pretty darn good, some pain in the clavicle (mets to the bones).