Well wasn’t expecting that

Hello Finders2dab77 

Interesting post.  My comments (not Macmillan official)

* How can they give your 4 - 8 years if it's curable?  Sorry - does not compute!  Curable - dictionary definition - "able to be cured".

* I am a T3A, PSA of 182 and Gleason 9 (5+4). My urologist said no surgery - it's too risky but let's get you sorted with oncology and we will have you on a "curative pathway". Yes I am still having issues, but all is well.

* I can't go against medical advice but T3A and Gleason 9 with a high PSA - is surgery the best option?

As I said only my personal thoughts - I know you need to be mentally right and I don't want to upset the apple cart, and I know everyone is different - have you spoken to an oncologist?

I hope my ramblings help - good luck with your chosen path.

Best wishes - Brian.

Seems like there is good reason to believe that you are curable if there’s no new information to the contrary.

But, assuming the specialist is getting on with the surgery asap, that can’t be a bad thing.

I’m as confused as you.

If you are ok with the surgery you are in good hands.

Good luck

Hi there

As Brian has already said an amazing thing for the surgeon to say giving u a time span.

Also looks like you are having surgery but I could be wrong there.

Because it has broken through and the PSA is quite high have they talked about a bone scan.

It's ok , looking at your profile I see you had a Pet scan , I believe better than bone scan

Best wishes 

Steve 

Yes a PET scan will find and cancer cell anywhere. A bone scan will only see into the bones.

Good luck

Thanks, wonder why they still do bone scan, perhaps cheaper than PET scan

Steve 

It is cheaper by far but I also think that limiting the use of high dose radiation is an issue. It’s not a great idea to have PSMA pet scan too often, as I understand. In my NHS area, and in my case, I had a PSMA on diagnosis because the bone scan and MRI had not shown spread. If they had shown spread, I doubt they wouldn’t have bothered with the PSMA pet scan. And  Finders2dab77 it’s great you have a clear PSMA and that should be of great comfort. 

Ok but bone scan u  have a radioactive tracer injected so not sure how that compares with a PET high dose  radiation but cost must obviously be a factor 

Cheers

Steve 

That’s true Steve. I did think that afterwards. And I don’t know about the relative dosage. But I do suspect the cost is different. I saw a medic on the US PCRI site say he went straight to PSMA now and hadn’t sent a patient for a bone scan in quite a while. But it seems bone scans are still very much part of the process here. All the best, Phil

And I wanted to add Finders2dab77 that what I’d also learned from listening to and reading comments of a number of experts in this area (including a very clear statement on this by Dr Mark Scholz on the PCRI site) is that consultants etc who blurt out life expectancy predictions should not be given too much attention, especially at a stage where treatment, like yours, is just beginning. Scholz’s point was that no one can predict life expectancy with any degree of accuracy at such a stage. I appreciate you have also shifted from curative to non-curative and that is a shock. But that also just means you have joined a large group of us who know our time is far from up!

I believe the PET scan is chosen for the initial diagnosis only.

A bone scan is used frequently to gauge the treatment responce in the bones as you go along; perhaps every 6 months. (Unlike the PET Scan only being used once)

Good luck