Re: Very Confused Information Overload

[Guest guest]

Well; Met with my Urologist today to go over me results and I'm now

even more confused than before if that is possible...

After he gives me the bad news, he calmly starts going over all my

treatment options. He indicated rule of thumb was in your 70's do

nothing, 60's Radiation, 50's or younger Surgery. I do not know where

he got the scale but that is what he said. So in my case he said

surgery would be my best option but there are many other factors to

consider. First off there are 4 types of surgery, original, Radical

perineal, laproscopic, Davinci (Robot). Here in Miami he said the

best surgeon has only 100 to 150 procedures on the Davinci and he

stated that with both Laproscopic and Davinci it is harder to do

potent sparing surgery.

In my situations young, stage 1 non agreesive, small area he would

reccomend Radical perineal prostatectomy as he can see evrything and

make sure not to hit the nerves etc.

He said no matter which surgery is done the chances of Ejaculation

are non existent, but with perineal he states that chances of

recovering erection back to what a person had before are excellent.

Talked about other types of treatment invited me to get a 2nd and 3rd

opinion and even offered to copy the case file.

HERE IS THE SHOCKER! He told me that chances are me having surgery 6

months to a year from now would not change my outlook not one iota to

take my time, we will do a bone scan now and in 6 months to make sure

nothing has chnge. He also stated With " LITTLE DOWNSIDE of change of

rapid growth, spreading etc, I could wait longer maybe up to 5 years "

You think I was confused before...

> >

> > Sorry to hear about your diagnosis and your understandable

> confusion - some

> > of us are still confused many years down the track :- )

> >

> >

> >

> > I know that many medical men say that the da Vinci procedure is a

no

> > brainer, as they used to say that surgery was the 'gold standard'

> (or was

> > that the 'golden standard " ) when I was diagnosed as what was

termed

> a 'young

> > man' twelve years ago.

> >

> >

> >

> > A " no-brainer' for me is the argument for immediate dramatic life

> altering

> > treatment for what seems to fall within the scope of what is now

> defined by

> > a leading institute as an insignificant tumour being:

> >

> >

> >

> > 1. Nonpalpable

> >

> > 2. Stage T1c

> >

> > 3. Percent free PSA 15 or greater

> >

> > 4. Gleason less than 7

> >

> > 5. Less than three needle cores with none greater than 50% tumour.

> >

> >

> >

> > I made my decision not to have conventional treatment at a time

> when there

> > was no support for Active Surveillance, based on my view of the

> world and

> > its risks. Since then I have learned a fair bit and am glad I

chose

> my path.

> > It is not the path for everyone and I am not suggesting that you

> should take

> > it - merely that you should educate yourself on all possibilities.

> >

> >

> >

> > As to the youth argument, it is important to know that more than

> 50% of all

> > prostate cancer deaths occur in men over the age of 80 - about

90%

> occurring

> > in men over the age of 70. this being the case every young man

> should ask

> > the question " Am I likely to fall in the 10% who die at a younger

> age than

> > 70 " . Of course there is no definitive answer to that, but what we

> do know is

> > that the men who die tragically young have a diagnosis that

doesn't

> resemble

> > yours in any way - they are high Gleason Grade, multiple sites

> often with

> > metastasis by the time they are diagnosed.

> >

> >

> >

> > So think hard, and apply the blowtorch of questioning to any

> suggestions

> > made to you (and read this :- ) http://tinyurl.com/223wgh

> >

> >

> >

> > Good luck on whatever path you choose.

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > All the best

> >

> >

> >

> > Terry Herbert

> >

> > I have no medical qualifications but I was diagnosed in '96: and

> have

> > learned a bit since then.

> >

> > My sites are at www.yananow.net <http://www.yananow.net/> and

> > <http://www.prostatecancerwatchfulwaiting.co.za/>

> > www.prostatecancerwatchfulwaiting.co.za

> >

> > Dr " Snuffy " Myers : " As a physician, I am painfully aware

> that most

> > of the decisions we make with regard to prostate cancer are made

> with

> > inadequate data "

> >

> >

> >

> > _____

> >

> > From: ProstateCancerSupport

> > [mailto:ProstateCancerSupport ] On Behalf Of

> gamlingman

> > Sent: Thursday, 30 October 2008 7:48 AM

> > To: ProstateCancerSupport

> > Subject: Very Confused Information

Overload

> >

> >

> >

> > Received my Biopsy results last Tuesday and I am now also a

> reluctant

> > member of this group. 45 Year old Male, healthy, no symptons

other

> than

> > a PSA of 5.4 up from .5 the year before. Biopsy performed MAN DID

> THAT

> > HURT, reults 1 of 12 samples show 25% tumor Total Linear MM of

> 2.5MM.

> > Not that I hae a clue what any of that means. Gleason 3 +3 =6

> >

> > Now Have not even been back to my urologist yet which is tomorrow

> > morning got the results from my primary who I happen to be in his

> > office when they were faxed. Obviously step 1 is to discuss with

> > urologist tomorrow and go from there. I've got info overload at

> this

> > point.

> >

> > By reading and absorbing everything thankfully everyone has

> provided I

> > am even more confused as ever. Happen to play golf with Doctors

at

> > every corner of the course and bar and they are all friends just

> not

> > urologist. Everyone of them said because of my age, its a no

> brainer,

> > to have the Davinci and be done with it. Again I'm ahead of

myself

> > without even seeing my urologist, but Just looking for some

> feedback as

> > I think I am one of the younger persons diagnosed on this site.

> > Thank you.

> >

>

[Guest guest]

If cancer is growing in your prostate only you can decide on a

treatment. But remember the longer you wait and leave it in, the

closer the cancer can get to the wall of the prostate. If it gets

outside the gland it can be a disaster. Mine seemed to be organ

confined and post surgery biopsy confirmed it. I am happy with my

decision.Please see my other post here.

Bob

>

> Received my Biopsy results last Tuesday and I am now also a

reluctant

> member of this group. 45 Year old Male, healthy, no symptons other

than

> a PSA of 5.4 up from .5 the year before. Biopsy performed MAN DID

THAT

> HURT, reults 1 of 12 samples show 25% tumor Total Linear MM of

2.5MM.

> Not that I hae a clue what any of that means. Gleason 3 +3 =6

>

> Now Have not even been back to my urologist yet which is tomorrow

> morning got the results from my primary who I happen to be in his

> office when they were faxed. Obviously step 1 is to discuss with

> urologist tomorrow and go from there. I've got info overload at

this

> point.

>

> By reading and absorbing everything thankfully everyone has

provided I

> am even more confused as ever. Happen to play golf with Doctors at

> every corner of the course and bar and they are all friends just

not

> urologist. Everyone of them said because of my age, its a no

brainer,

> to have the Davinci and be done with it. Again I'm ahead of myself

> without even seeing my urologist, but Just looking for some

feedback as

> I think I am one of the younger persons diagnosed on this site.

> Thank you.

>