Just diagnosed

[Trvl-wrld521]

Just diagnosed with prostate cancer after a biopsy - Gleason scores of 6 & 7 (4+3). My PSA is 1.67 so I'm looking at a prostatectomy due to low PSA which I guess means a resistance to treatment other than prostatectomy. Had a Bone Scan and CT Scan, nothing has spread. Urologist visit tomorrow to take the next steps. Not sure what to feel at this point - pleased to have found this group.

[Tall_Allen]

Your Gleason 4+3 puts you in the "unfavorable intermediate risk" category. While your low PSA may indicate some radioresistance, it may also indicate that it is a type that spreads more easily -- I don't think you can say there is any advantage to surgery. To see the odds that surgery would be effective, fill out this nomogram:

mskcc.org/nomograms/prostat...

To understand your other options better, you have to make the effort to seek out and meet with experts in each of the following:

• SBRT

• High Dose Rate brachytherapy monotherapy

• Brachy Boost therapy - external beam radiation with a low dose rate (seed) boost to the prostate

All of the above have a better track record of curing your type of prostate cancer compared to surgery because they treat an area outside of the prostate, and the biologically effective dose is high enough to overcome any radioresistance.

I may be able to help you find specialists in those therapies, if you tell me your nearest city.

[Trvl-wrld521 in reply to Tall_Allen]

I live in Naples, FL - about 3 hours south of Tampa, 2 hours from Miami.

[Tall_Allen in reply to Trvl-wrld521]

You are in luck, then! Some of the top specialists in each of those are not too far:

SBRT - Debra Freeman, Tampa

HDR brachytherapy monotherapy - Matthew Biagioli, Orlando

LDT brachytherapy boost - John Sylvester, Bradenton

[Trvl-wrld521 in reply to Tall_Allen]

Thank you! I'm working on and appointment for my 3rd consult with a urologist .

[Trvl-wrld521]

Thank you for taking the time to respond with all the info provided...I will do some research and post once I have more info - 4 of the 12 samples were cancer after the biopsy - 3 at a 6 and 1 at 7 (4+3) - not sure of the size.

[jimreilly]

Best of luck with this and making your decision! Tall Allen and others in this group are wonderful sources of info.

[dhl550906]

Good luck; I'm glad Tall_Allen has given you some additional information.

[NolHaltom]

Best to you!