Prostate

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Morning been told my Gleason count is 6 any advise would help with treatment don’t know what to expect see specialist next tuesday

  • Good morning.

    Welcome to the club that no-one wants to join, but it's really helpful when you get here. 

    It is never great to have any cancer, but prostate cancer can be treated or even cured. Most men will keep going and have a life worth living. 

    If you have prostate cancer, the score to have is 6. You are very likely to have ALL the options, and curative action is certainly on the cards.

    This web page will give you lots of information: 

    https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/prostate-cancer/stages/grades

    Then there is a really good summary of help here: 

    https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/treatment/your-treatment-options/making-treatment-decisions

    This includes a lot of things to think about and ask. 

    Find out as much as you can about your own position. As you become an "Expert Patient" you will help you doctors and yourself. 

    Don't forget that you can call Macmillan Support on 0808 808 0000 from 08:00 to 20:00 and ask questions. 

    They will help. 

    Hope this all helps.

    Steve

    Changed, but not diminished.
  • Good morning  . As soon as I saw your post I thought you might like to watch this video by Dr Mark Scholz.

    https://youtu.be/a0sjUallZQU?si=uQg0YmYOyQrD4Aed

    The thing to take from it is to make sure that it is Gleason 6 3+3 and that you don't have any other higher risk factors which might make treatment a better option. Active surveillance can be a difficult concept for some to get their head round and it is important to have regular PSA tests and repeat biopsies to ensure that there is no escalation. For others the first thought is to whip it out and get rid of the problem but this can have potential long term side effects which have to be considered very carefully. Another option could be focal therapies but these are not available in all areas. Radiotherapy is another option.

    When you see the consultant why not ask "if you or a close relative were in my situation what would you advise". Other questions are -

    Size and numbers of lesions.

    Position in the prostate 

    How many cores were taken and the number of positives along with length 

    Type of prostate cancer 

    Any adverse indicators such as cribriform or perineural involvement 

    Ask for copies of all the reports. Four ears are better than two so take someone with you if you can. You might want to record the meeting and most consultants are happy with this but you need to ask.

    I have also attached an NHS link which gives some information about ED and incontinence risks with different types of treatment.

    https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng131/chapter/Recommendations#localised-and-locally-advanced-prostate-cancer

    I hope this helps but ask as many questions as you like.

  • Hi Admiral 

    A bit more info would help u get the best advice.

    PSA and more than one if you have the last few.

    What does the MRI say in terms of size and presuming not near the capsule edge. Or perhaps you know the staging TNM etc.

    Steve