Re: Is removal of lymph nodes an option?.2

[Guest guest]

Sandy,

I forgot to say that my urologist who did the DaVinci surgery did take lymph nodes during the surgery and had them biopsied. He told me he would at our first meeting. Luckily, they were clean. Of course, if you choose one of the radiation treatments no lymph nodes will be taken. They'll be irradiated.

Mike

Subject: Is removal of lymph nodes an option?To: ProstateCancerSupport Date: Thursday, July 22, 2010, 8:23 PM

Hi Everyone. My husband was diagnosed with prostate cancer 2 weeks ago. Initially, we were pleased with his urologist - he was very kind and informative when breaking the news to us. We went to see him last night with some additional questions. We're leaning towards the robotic surgery. Everything I've read says the lymph nodes should be removed and biopsied, but he says he does not do that. I'm truly perplexed by this because how will we know whether the cancer has spread?A little history (I don't have the exact numbers in front of me):My husbands PSA went from around a 2 - 4 from one year to the next. Then it jumped from a 4 to 6+. The urologist did not think cancer would cause such a jump, so he was treated for prostatitis. But after a month on antibiotics, the PSA did not go down. So a biopsy was done, which showed he had prostate cancer. Five cores

had definitive signs of cancer, one was suspiscious and one noted chronic prostatitis. The Gleason was a mix of 6's and 7's, with the first number being a 3 (I think for all or most). I've made an appointment for another urologist for next Wednesday. I also have an appointment with a surgical oncologist at Fox Chase, but could not get him in for another 3 weeks. Of course I'm afraid that we are putting things off too long - I don't want the cancer to spread, but I know we only have one shot at at least trying to get this right the first time. Not biopsying the lymph nodes causes me a lot of concern. Is that something that should always be done? The urologist is saying that the cancer isn't aggressive enough to warrant the removal of the lymph nodes.Any thoughts you can give me on this would be greatly appreciated.Thanks so

much!Sandy------------------------------------There are just two rules for this group 1 No Spam 2 Be kind to othersPlease recognise that Prostate Cancerhas different guises and needs different levels of treatment and in some cases no treatment at all. Some men even with all options offered chose radical options that you would not choose. We only ask that people be informed before choice is made, we cannot and should not tell other members what to do, other than look at other options. Try to delete old material that is no longer applying when clicking replyTry to change the title if the content requires it

[Guest guest]

Hi Sandy

Colin from australia here im 59 i found i had prostate cancer in mid may this year had it removed by 10th of june my PSA was 5.7 and gleason score 6 was as fit as on top of the world was a great shock to me at the time, was told i had about five years left if hadnt been found, had a wonderful Surgeon do the operation for me he took out the lymph nodes,cancer hadnt spread outside my prostate ,i had open surgery not robot for 2 reasons too exspensive and by open surgery they say they can save more of the nerves and things not sure if that is true or not, Im happy with the way im going my first blood test in September to see what my PSA is ,Wish your husband and you all the best

COLIN

To: ProstateCancerSupport Sent: Friday, 23 July 2010 12:01:58Subject: Re: Is removal of lymph nodes an option?.2

Sandy,

I forgot to say that my urologist who did the DaVinci surgery did take lymph nodes during the surgery and had them biopsied. He told me he would at our first meeting. Luckily, they were clean. Of course, if you choose one of the radiation treatments no lymph nodes will be taken. They'll be irradiated.

Mike

Subject: Is removal of lymph nodes an option?To: ProstateCancerSupport Date: Thursday, July 22, 2010, 8:23 PM

Hi Everyone. My husband was diagnosed with prostate cancer 2 weeks ago. Initially, we were pleased with his urologist - he was very kind and informative when breaking the news to us. We went to see him last night with some additional questions. We're leaning towards the robotic surgery. Everything I've read says the lymph nodes should be removed and biopsied, but he says he does not do that. I'm truly perplexed by this because how will we know whether the cancer has spread?A little history (I don't have the exact numbers in front of me):My husbands PSA went from around a 2 - 4 from one year to the next. Then it jumped from a 4 to 6+. The urologist did not think cancer would cause such a jump, so he was treated for prostatitis. But after a month on antibiotics, the PSA did not go down. So a biopsy was done, which showed he had prostate cancer. Five cores

had definitive signs of cancer, one was suspiscious and one noted chronic prostatitis. The Gleason was a mix of 6's and 7's, with the first number being a 3 (I think for all or most). I've made an appointment for another urologist for next Wednesday. I also have an appointment with a surgical oncologist at Fox Chase, but could not get him in for another 3 weeks. Of course I'm afraid that we are putting things off too long - I don't want the cancer to spread, but I know we only have one shot at at least trying to get this right the first time. Not biopsying the lymph nodes causes me a lot of concern. Is that something that should always be done? The urologist is saying that the cancer isn't aggressive enough to warrant the removal of the lymph nodes.Any thoughts you can give me on this would be greatly appreciated.Thanks so

much!Sandy------------------------------------There are just two rules for this group 1 No Spam 2 Be kind to othersPlease recognise that Prostate Cancerhas different guises and needs different levels of treatment and in some cases no treatment at all. Some men even with all options offered chose radical options that you would not choose. We only ask that people be informed before choice is made, we cannot and should not tell other members what to do, other than look at other options. Try to delete old material that is no longer applying when clicking replyTry to change the title if the content requires it