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Prostate Cancer Community

Includes Expert Content

Reply: Dad Diagnosed With Gleason (3+5)

Hi Tim, - Having a world renowned expert like Jonathan Epstein at Johns Hopkins (JH)...

Posted by az4peaks2

13 Replies | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:Dad Diagnosed With Gleason (3+5) Hi Tim, - Having a world renowned expert like Jonathan Epstein at Johns Hopkins (JH)...

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Reply: PSA 6.5 biopsy negative

Hi rib, - It certainly is reassuring that your Biopsy was negative for Prostate Cancer...

Posted by az4peaks2

Hi rib, - It certainly is reassuring that your Biopsy was negative for Prostate Cancer (PCa). Unfortunately, traditional patterned but "random" Prostate Biopsies cannot totally rule out PCa as they find only about 80% of existing PCa cases on an initial attempt.

"Standard" needle biopsies of the Prostate, today, take about 12 tissue samples in a random, but patterned, manor with any additional samples representing either "suspicious" areas seen on the UltraSound images used to guide the Biopsy device location or compensation for an unusually large volumed Prostate gland.

Since the SAMPLES are exactly what they are called, "samples" they do not NECESSARILY represent a totally accurate reflection of the either the amount or the aggressiveness of the Cancer tumor(s) present in the TOTAL prostate. They do, however, (4 out of 5 times) reliably establish the PRESENCE of PCa, if it exists. A subsequent second Biopsy rounds these "positive" (PCa identified) findings to about 90% of existing cases eventually found. The remaining 10% take 3 or more Biopsies to be eventually identified.

Some reasonable assumptions can be made after two or more serial Biopsies are found to be negative (no PCa identified) and to a lesser extent even after an initial negative biopsy. These are (1) that any PCa that might have been missed, is not likely to constitute a widely spread PCa volume within the Prostate itself. (2) Due to #1, it is substantially less likely to presently constitute an advanced PCa, thus increasing the chances of successful treatment and "cure".

However these are assumptions and NOT GUARANTEES, so follow-up monitoring and other possible diagnostic endeavors may be employed to further enhance such findings. Therefore, it should be recognized that "positive" Biopsy results alone are much more "certain" as to the presence of PCa, than "negative" findings are indicative as to its non-existence.

There are other causes for elevated PSA readings, if that was the sole cause for your Biopsy, particularly Prostatitis (Infammation) and/or BPH (Benign Prostate Hyperplasia (or Hypertrophy) so PCa may not be the cause of your elevated PSA. Follow-up may be able to better identify the most likely cause. That will be the most beneficial time to determine your next step in action.

If the decision is to take conservative monitoring action, you should have a formal plan to regularly evaluate diagnostic results and act accordingly to what they tell you is appropriate at the time. I would strongly suggest that you acquire copies of your diagnostic results, for your records, including PSA results and your Biopsy Pathology Report, for future comparison of results and clarification of possible causes.

Good luck! - John@newPCa.org (aka) az4peaks

Good luckView Thread

Posted byaz4peaks2

4 Replies | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:PSA 6.5 biopsy negative Hi rib, - It certainly is reassuring that your Biopsy was negative for Prostate Cancer...

Reply: Veterans Administration awards service-connected c...

History: Originally, there was considerable controversy as to whether exposure to Agent...

Posted by az4peaks2

History: Originally, there was considerable controversy as to whether exposure to Agent Orange resulted in an increased risk of numerous Cancers, including of course, Prostate Cancer (PCa).

Vietnam veterans were now composing a substantial portion of the age-related segments of the general population that were subject to naturally acquiring PCa. Along with very "mixed", and often conflicting Study results, there was no clear-cut answer to the question. Additionally, if it was thought to be a cause, how would it be determined which individual service men were actually physically exposed to Agent Orange during their active duty?

Finally, the controversy was pragmatically resolved by a VA declaration, that it would be ASSUMED that all service men,many years later acquiring PCa, whose records could establish that they had physically served in the Vietnam war theater, would be PRESUMED to have had Agent Orange exposure that caused their PCa.

Realistically, this was a "politically correct" decision, more than one clearly supported by scientific evidence, but due to the factors stated above, it appeared to the decision-makers that this was the most practical and expedient solution to a growing controversial issue, as the men effected continued to age.

As a result, a geographical "war zone" area (and time-frame) was established, that constituted the service area in which one had to have served for AUTOMATIC approval as "cause and effect" of their later PCa diagnosis.

Because of the volume of the such applications, it can take a while for such applications to be finally approved, but it is the qualification of time and location of service that is being checked and not any actual exposure to presumed cancer causing agents that is involved. Approval normally starts at 100% disability and is re-evaluated later, following treatment for any residual morbidity and is usually permanently adjusted downward, unless diagnosed with very advanced disease.

Once approved, reimbursement is paid retroactive to the date of application, so a potential beneficiary needs to be patient, since delays are common. Hope this history helps understand the procedure. - John@newPCa.org (aka) az4peaksView Thread

Posted byaz4peaks2

1 Reply | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:Veterans Administration awards service-connected compensation for Prostate Cancer. History: Originally, there was considerable controversy as to whether exposure to Agent...

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Reply: Proton Beam- is it suitable for advanced cancer?

HFsbertram, - More information is needed to intelligently reply regarding your Father's...

Posted by az4peaks2

HFsbertram, - More information is needed to intelligently reply regarding your Father's specific case, but these realistic "in general" considerations may be sufficient to remove some of the present confusion in your mind

First, there are no absolutely right or wrong answers to your fathers dilemma, since recognized experts disagree on the best way to treat Prostate Cancer (PCa) at various stages of the disease.

Second, your Father's age, is a major consideration when weighing viable treatment options, since the average life expectancy for an 80 year old male, according to Social Security Life Actuarial Tables, is 7.9 years.

Third, statistically, most men diagnosed at the age of 80 are more likely to die of something other than PCa, since it is often, but not always, a slower growing tumor than many other competing threats to survival at more advanced ages.

Fourth, co-morbidity (other diseases and symptoms that may simultaneously exist) are to be considered when weighing advantages and disadvantages of varying treatment options.

Fifth, one of the most important considerations is the clinical Gleason SCORE which helps to determine the likely aggressiveness of the current disease. The effectiveness of specific treatments in "curing" or "controlling" the present disease is highly dependent on whether the STAGE of present disease is thought to be "localized", "locally extended, which is sometimes called regional" or whether it is already "systemic" and is circulating in the blood system.

Unfortunately, some of these factors cannot usually be determined with certainty and the statistical likelihoods (the odds) must be used to predict most likely probabilities.

Sixth, you are already, there is a great deal of misinformation in the public sources (like the Internet), as well as its ability to provide many very good resources. The problem is that the newly diagnosed have little background or scientific knowledge to judge which is reliably accurate and which is NOT.

The fact is that the the strength of the photon rays and the proton rays used in the two forms of Radiation Therapy (RT) are determined, planned and controlled by the those professionals rendering the treatment. At the same level of measurement arriving at the targeted area, the rays themselves, are equally strong and effective at that point of delivery. There are other differences in delivery but NOT in the presently PROVEN or KNOWN effectiveness in Cancer Control.

I am NOT a physician but If you will E-mail me, I will furnish you with my medical background and my telephone number in Scottsdale, AZ if you wish. - John@newPCa.org (aka) az4peaksView Thread

Posted byaz4peaks2

2 Replies | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:Proton Beam- is it suitable for advanced cancer? HFsbertram, - More information is needed to intelligently reply regarding your Father's...

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Reply: Gleason 4+4

Hi, - According to the numbers that you quote in your Post, your Husband has relatively...

Posted by az4peaks2

2 Replies | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:Gleason 4+4 Hi, - According to the numbers that you quote in your Post, your Husband has relatively...

Reply: blood work done

Hi miguelito, - There really is no such thing as A detectable PSA of "0" in PSA readings,...

Posted by az4peaks2

1 Reply | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:blood work done Hi miguelito, - There really is no such thing as A detectable PSA of "0" in PSA readings,...

Reply: When is cancer 100% gone after a radical prostecto...

Hi Woodworking, - Without more information, like a PSA post treatment listing of all...

Posted by az4peaks2

5 Replies | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:When is cancer 100% gone after a radical prostectomy Hi Woodworking, - Without more information, like a PSA post treatment listing of all...

Reply: When is cancer 100% gone after a radical prostecto...

Hi Jim_T, - Technically, a surgically treated Prostate Cancer (PCa) patient is considered...

Posted by az4peaks2

5 Replies | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:When is cancer 100% gone after a radical prostectomy Hi Jim_T, - Technically, a surgically treated Prostate Cancer (PCa) patient is considered...

Reply: Sex Oh Boy

Yes, Prostate Cancer (PCa) is not contagious. Radiation treatment with Brachytherapy...

Posted by az4peaks2

2 Replies | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:Sex Oh Boy Yes, Prostate Cancer (PCa) is not contagious. Radiation treatment with Brachytherapy...

Reply: PSA increase after brachytherapy

Hi an, - The first thing to do is to determine whether these elevations are due to a...

Posted by az4peaks2

1 Reply | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:PSA increase after brachytherapy Hi an, - The first thing to do is to determine whether these elevations are due to a...

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