New...apprehensive...scared!

Hi BLR, I was diagnosed with Prostrate Cancer two years ago. I had biopsies, six on each side of the prostrate and they were all cancerous, Gleason score 3+4. I was offered prostatectomy or Radiotherapy with 2 years Hormone Therapy. I opted for the Radio Therapy because it was less invasive. I am just coming to the end of my Hormone Therapy and at the moment my PSA is 0.050, It was originally 33.5 on diagnosis. 
I took some time to decide what treatment to undergo, as there all have there pros and cons. The main thing is there is treatments for you and make a decision when you see what you are offered. What is your PSA?

The last reading was 2.2.

Hi BLR, how do you know your Gleason score whilst waiting fo a biopsy? My understanding is that you can only get a Gleason after biopsy cores have been assessed by a histologist.

As you are only 45 I would probably lean towards prostatectomy if that is available. 

Hello Sorry that you find yourself here but there is a wealth of information from the members on the discussion forums  and you can ask anything .It's natural to feel worried and scared but your PSA is low and you have time to make a considered decision about what treatment to have .Once you have had the biopsy you will know much more you will be told what your Gleason score is this is the indication of how aggressive the cancer is .It's shown as two numbers and relates to how different the cancer cells look to normal cells the scale runs from 2 to 5.  Cells that are given the number 2 are not very different to normal cells whereas cells given the number 5 are very different .The majority number is shown first eg someone with more 3 type cells than 4 would be written 3 ,4  the actual Gleason score is the addition of both numbers in this case the score would be 7

There are many treatments out there these days and when caught in time Prostate cancer is very curable and even when not curable very treatable .You are bound to be worried but once you have the full picture and have been  advised what the best treatment is for you which may be just Active Surveillance where you are monitored until signs of progression are evident you will feel.more in control  .Everyone is different and your treatment will be geared to your own wishes and requirements.I have locally advanced prostate cancer and have just undergone radiotherapy after my prostectomy in February 2020 failed to reduce my PSA which had rapidly risen to 28  .I had hormone therapy for six months ,which I'm still on and then RT my PSA dropped to undetectable after three weeks on hormone therapy and is still undetectable as of last Wednesday which is great .My consultant is aiming for a cure and hopefully I have many years ahead of me I'm 70 in June .So don't panic there is a wealth of good information out there, ask lots of questions and if you want to rant and shout just come to this forum where. everyone is here to support you .I wish you well let us know how you get on 

Bit of a puzzle BLR.  PSA is very low, I'm fairly sure that u r not on hormone therapy?

As Ido says/queries ,  you have a Gleeson score with a biopsy due??? 

 Have u had a scan ie MRI?

With such a low PSa and a lowish Gleeson and presuming a scan will or does show cancer contained then it should be curable with either surgery or RT.

A bit more info would be helpful

Steve

Hello, my journey began when I was having a lot of pain in my pelvic region and thighs. I contacted my GP and arrangements were made for me to have blood samples taken.

My GP phoned me about the blood test results which were all pretty good except for one sample which showed an elevated PSA level of 14 which really shocked and upset me.

My sister recommended that I get an appointment with a Urologist as soon as possible. I was given a DRE and an MRI quickly followed. Yesterday evening on Thursday, 11 March 21 I was given the result of the MRI that cancer within the Prostate capsule was present and it would be necessary to have a biopsy taken to identify the type of cancer.

I've just turned 60 years old and haven't been able to stop getting overwhelmed with terrible thoughts with crying and pulling funny faces (if you see what I mean)

Please feel free to contact me with any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks

Hi BLR, sounds like you're in a similar situation as I am feeling very scared and upset with the whole thing. Just wanted to let you know that it's not easy for any of us to simply sit back and think everything will be ok when your mind plays all sorts of good and bad ideas to worry about.

Some friends have told me to stay positive and strong that's really helped me to focus on the future.

hi i was diagnosed with prostate cancer in September 2020 ,my first biopsies (12) come back negative , this procedure was  not sore just a bit uncomfortable , i had a further biopsy done about 10 days after ,this biopsy was done under general anaesthetic, and i did not feel a thing , out of the 25 biopsies 1 come back with cancer cells and i had a gleeson score of 4 and 3 ,i then went for a bone scan this come back negative, i opted to have the prostate removed , this was done under robotic surgery , i was in hospital for 1 night only and released the next day ,but i developed an infection a few days after , i had a catheter in for 3 weeks , i must admit i did not like it but if u get 1 fitted ask for the long tube 1 where the bag is positioned down at your lower leg , my problem was the short tube 1 kept on slipping down the top of my leg so was putting strain on where the tube entered the penis , once i got the long tube 1 i was fine , as for getting over the op i am nearly there , i have slight incontinence , its when u cough or bend down u have a few dribbles and that's it , the pads i use are small y shaped 1s , they are comfy enough and u don't feel them , ,hope this makes sense and is helpful to you , 

                                                                                                                                                                                 jim       

ps i am now caner free 

I’m sorry I’ve misinformed about the Gleason and biopsy. I had an MRI done and then did that thing where they took 12 samples from my prostate. That was when they gave me the Gleason reading. After doing that was when they now determined I have to do this impending biopsy why they said they’d put me under some sort of anaesthesia while it’s done. The other taking of samples was done while I was awake and laid on my side. Painful! A doctor in London said they shouldn’t have done that and should have done the one with the robotic biopsy, instead of subjecting me to such procedures twice. Contrary to what someone suggested earlier in the thread above, I am not on any kind of treatment or hormone therapy unless you count drinking green tea as treatment . Thank you for your time and responses. And as for prostatectomy, does it mean, at 45, I get to start dealing with in continence for the rest of my life or does that ever go away?