New Member : I have prostate cancer... - Prostate Cancer N...

Prostate Cancer Network

4,903 members3,041 posts

New Member

boxmk profile image
9 Replies

I have prostate cancer with a gleason score of 6 (3+3) and PSA around 5. I have had two biopsies 1 year apart with similar results. Always two cores with malignancy and all others benign. Genomic testing was at 11. I have chosen active surveillance with a PSA every 6 months. Any advice?

Written by
boxmk profile image
boxmk
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Read more about...
9 Replies
fiem48 profile image
fiem48

My urologist suggest the same along with the opinions of two others 

ng27868168 profile image
ng27868168

First question.  How old are you?  Next is a little, but very important piece of advice.  Having chosen the Active Surveillance route, make DAMN sure you and your Doc are REALLY actively surveilling your PC. I am a facilitator in our local PC support group as well as an American Cancer Society Mentor and I have witnessed MORE than a few younger men (50-65) who took the "easier way out" (AS) and regretted it later.  Once the PC is out of the prostate gland, it's a whole different ball game an the cure rate drops dramatically.       I am a 22 year PC survivor, had radical surgery at age 52, 36 doses of radiation at 54, and an orchiectomy (testicles removed) at 56 in order to stop the PC.    Good luck.

boxmk profile image
boxmk in reply to ng27868168

Thanks for the advice.  I'm 55.  The cancer was found at 54.   PSA has been from 4 - 5 over the past few years....up and down.  

ng27868168 profile image
ng27868168 in reply to boxmk

The #1 thing you need to remember is that cancer is not like a cold. It very seldom, if ever, goes away by itself and continues to grow without treatment of some kind.  You have an average of 30+ years of life ahead of you.  Don't cheat yourself and your family out of it. 

skillmk profile image
skillmk

Active Surveillance seems to be a viable option for you at this point.  I'm doing the same, and my numbers are similar to yours: Gleason 6, PSA around 5, 1 positive core in biopsy.  My doc suggested PSA testing every 6 months, but I'm doing every 3 months.

boxmk profile image
boxmk in reply to skillmk

Did you choose 3 month PSA for your own comfort level?

skillmk profile image
skillmk in reply to boxmk

Yes, I did.  Friends/family were concerned that I wasn't choosing treatment, so to prevent them from ever saying "I told you so", I'm checking my PSA more frequently.

boxmk profile image
boxmk in reply to skillmk

Thanks....just asked for an increase in frequency. 

boxmk profile image
boxmk

Thanks to those who recommended active surveillance being treated as active. I've asked that my PSA be done every 3 - 4 months rather then every 6 months.

You may also like...

Advice to a new member?

and annual PSA scores still around 5.0 . Other brother had moderate PSA and Gleason scores and had...

New member

Hi my name is rich 49 yrs old and i have a gleason 8/9 , just had an prostatectomy w extensive lymph

New member

for a biopsy, the results of that showed 10/18 had cancer, I was given a grade 3, and Gleason score...

New Member - Building Muscle Mass

the cancer, the tumor had broken through the capsule wall. PSA prior to surgery was only around...

New Member

PC around Christmas of 2018, had RP in Feb of 2019. I just had my first post procedure PCA test...