Guest guest Posted January 11, 2008 Report Share Posted January 11, 2008 Hi. I just found out my dad has prostate cancer. I'm pretty scared about it because I have a fair amount of anxiety issues, so I tend to always think the worst of every uncertain situation. I know a little bit about his test results...I guess his PSA was like 5.6? when they did a biopsy for the cancer. All 12 biopsy samples were positive, and the doctor gave him a gleason score of 3-4...so 7. I guess all of his DREs were " unsuspicious, " at least that's how my dad phrased it. The doctor is confident that it hasn't spread, but they didn't really do any further testing for that yet. I understand this kind of cancer is generally slow growing and very treatable...yet it is CANCER....so I'm pretty freaked out about it. Can anyone give me a little better idea what the outlook is? It seems that by reading the " statistics " on prostate cancer, I just get more confused and don't know whether to be very worried, a little worried, or not at all. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 11, 2008 Report Share Posted January 11, 2008 First this is unlikely to be immediately devastating. Dad sounds to be about where I was 11 and a half years ago. I'm still batting! In fact dad seems to have a better prognosis than me in that I had a positive DRE. With all 12 biopsy samples +ive, if it were me I would be thinking of treatment in about 3 months. How old is dad, is he generally fit? The major treatment choices are said to have about 75% non progression rate after 5 years. There are a number of newer treatments that are used and some of the group report good experiences, but the long term progression rates are not yet set in stone. Dad will need support in choosing which treatment to have, which pros of chances of cure he wants verses which cons he can live with. We are here to listen and give our experiences. Please don't panic, though my daughter had a baby soon after my diagnosis, so I could be a grandad. We now have a lovely 9 year old grandaughter and a one year old active grandson! I'm not saying you should get pregnant, but this is just the kind of thing loving daughters do! Enough for now! Let us know how we can support you further Hambleton Selby Yorkshire England Just wanting some info... Hi. I just found out my dad has prostate cancer. I'm pretty scared about it because I have a fair amount of anxiety issues, so I tend to always think the worst of every uncertain situation. I know a little bit about his test results...I guess his PSA was like 5.6? when they did a biopsy for the cancer. All 12 biopsy samples were positive, and the doctor gave him a gleason score of 3-4...so 7. I guess all of his DREs were "unsuspicious," at least that's how my dad phrased it. The doctor is confident that it hasn't spread, but they didn't really do any further testing for that yet. I understand this kind of cancer is generally slow growing and very treatable...yet it is CANCER....so I'm pretty freaked out about it. Can anyone give me a little better idea what the outlook is? It seems that by reading the "statistics" on prostate cancer, I just get more confused and don't know whether to be very worried, a little worried, or not at all. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 11, 2008 Report Share Posted January 11, 2008 > Hi. I just found out my dad has prostate cancer. I'm pretty scared > about it because I have a fair amount of anxiety issues, so I tend to > always think the worst of every uncertain situation. I know a little > bit about his test results...I guess his PSA was like 5.6? when they > did a biopsy for the cancer. Dad should be doing his own research. Yes, I understand that many men have no idea how to do it and moreover don't want to confront the issue anyhow. But it won't go away if ignored. Having said that, I will say this: (?) is a good and dutiful daughter, and should be commended for trying to help Dad. > All 12 biopsy samples were positive, and the doctor gave him a gleason score of 3-4...so 7. That sounds like a rather bulky tumor. I recommend (as do medics far better qualified than I) that the biopsy specimens, with the paraffin block, be sent to a specialist lab for verification. Reason: Everything that is done from this point forward depends utterly upon the accuracy of the Gleason score. The labs are: Bostwick Laboratories [800] 214-6628 Dianon Laboratories [800] 328-2666 (select 5 for client services) Jon Epstein (Hopkins) [410] 955-5043 or [410] 955-2162 Grignon (Michigan) [313] 745-2520 Jon Oppenheimer (Tennessee) [888] 868-7522 UroCor, Inc. [800] 411-1839 The cost (about $350) is covered by insurance as a " second opinion. " Sometimes the local lab resists. No matter, those specimens (in enlightened jurisdictions) belong to the *patient* not the lab, not the medic. > The doctor is confident that it hasn't spread, but they didn't really do > any further testing for that yet. There is no way the " doctor " (a urologist?) can know that. Microscopic cancer cells are just that: microscopic. > I understand this kind of cancer is > generally slow growing and very treatable... If discovered early. > yet it is CANCER....so I'm > pretty freaked out about it. Can anyone give me a little better idea > what the outlook is? It seems that by reading the " statistics " on > prostate cancer, I just get more confused and don't know whether to be > very worried, a little worried, or not at all. Thanks! I recommend that Dad (and ) explore the objective, encyclopedic and reliable information available on the website of the Prostate Cancer Research Institute (PCRI) at: http://prostate-cancer.org/index.html A good beginning would be the section, " Newly Diagnosed. " Also, _A Primer on Prostate Cancer_ 2nd ed., subtitled " The Empowered Patient's Guide " by medical oncologist and PCa specialist B. Strum, MD and PCa warrior Donna Pogliano. It is available from the PCRI website and the like, as well as Amazon (30+ five-star reviews), & Noble, and bookstores. A lifesaver. I know. " Freaking out " is not helpful. Reminds me of the old saying, " When you're troubled and in doubt, run in circles, scream and shout. " Suppress the fear and put the intellect to work. Regards, Steve J " I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain. " --The Bene Gesserit ny Against Fear From _Dune_ by Herbert Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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