Radiation Oncologist

[ironmanburg]

Hello, I have a Gleason score of 6 (3+3)and am scheduled to see the Radiation Oncologist and wanted to know if there are any specific questions you forgot to ask on your first visit? I am leaning toward active surveillance but want to make sure I cover all my bases. Thanks.

[Hidden]

You may consider asking about a Decipher test run on your biopsied cancer. Gleason 6 can be aggressive also.

[ironmanburg in reply to Hidden]

I have a Oncotype Dx test pending on the submitted samples. That may be the same as the decipher test. Thanks.

[Hidden in reply to ironmanburg]

I think it is. Should give you some idea what you're dealing with, histology-wise

[ironmanburg in reply to Hidden]

Ok thanks.

[Tall_Allen]

Agree that active surveillance is your best bet. There may be exceptions for a few reasons. NCCN lists these: high PSA density, high # positive cores, high Decipher score, germline BRCA2 mutation. I would add perineural invasion (PNI) identified on biopsy, mpMRI-estimated tumor volume > 0.5 ml, and African-American men. None of those are exclusions, but they bear discussion. I also think it's important to have a confirmatory biopsy (mpMRI-targeted if applicable) within a year. It is also important to do AS within a program and not to try to do it on your own.

You didn't say what kind of Radiation Oncologist you will be meeting with, but here are lists of questions for several kinds:

prostatecancer.news/2017/12...

prostatecancer.news/2017/12...

prostatecancer.news/2017/12...

prostatecancer.news/2017/12...

If you are still considering surgery, here are questions to ask yourself:

prostatecancer.news/2017/12...

[ironmanburg in reply to Tall_Allen]

Thank you so much.