Re: : Get a Second Opinion

[Guest guest]

Congrats on your successful surgery. I had Gleason 4+3 and opted for proton beam therapy, though it was a real toss up between surgery, IMRT and proton beam. Regards, Jim, I had my slides sent from my home town hospital and reviewed at s Hopkins (JH) for the second opinion. JH agreed it was cancer and the Gleason was 3+3. I had my prostate removed at JH and the report after surgery and analysis was the same 3+3 for the removed prostate. The doctor said the cancer was all contained in the prostate so I may be cured. Have not had a post-op PSA yet. As I look back on the last 2 months it was not that bad except for a little leakage which improves everyday. My stream is like I was 21 again and I have no more back ache when I get up in the morning. Plus everything else works. It is a good idea to get a second opinion or at least have the slides reviewed. Make sure you get your PSA tested frequently and encourage all your buddies to do the same. Larry I am writing to share my recent experience. After living with a prostate cancer diagnosis for six years, it appeared that I had reached a crisis and would need treatment. This fear was prompted by a sharp rise in my PSA. As part of the process of deciding on treatment I joined discussions on the internet and found many intelligent and sympathetic men and their wives. I must say you brought me great comfort with your compassion and solid information, and I appreciated you greatly. As it turned out the spike in my PSA was temporary, and a new biopsy [2010] did not find cancer. The biopsy before that [2006] also did not find cancer. This is not to say that cancer wasn’t present, but only that none was found. Because of discussions on the internet, however, I was emboldened to seek a second opinion on the original diagnosis made in 2004. The second opinion from s Hopkins University disputed the original finding. The original pathology report found adenocarcinoma with a Gleeson score of 3+3. The second opinion said the tissue in question was actually benign crowded cells. In other words, I never had cancer in the first place. The doctor who made the original diagnosis re-examined the sample and came to agree with the second opinion. He called me to apologize for his mistake and also wrote a gracious letter expressing sympathy for the fact that I went through seven years of needless anxiety. I have been reluctant to share my good news, since so many of you are suffering. From what I’ve seen of your kindness and compassion, however, I am thinking you will be glad for me. I am grateful to all of you for the support and information you gave when I was contemplating surgery. Believe me when I say I wish all of you the best in dealing with this disease.

[Guest guest]

Mike,

Glad the IMRT worked for you. Surgery was a tough decision but with nerve sparing, a sister who is a nurse, early signs of urinary problems and some friends who also had the surgery, I choose surgery. It really was a piece of cake. They are making great strives in treatment options so surgery may not be necessary much longer. Best of luck to you and all of us who are facing this condition.

Larry

Congrats on your successful surgery. I had Gleason 4+3 and opted for proton beam therapy, though it was a real toss up between surgery, IMRT and proton beam. Regards,

Jim,

I had my slides sent from my home town hospital and reviewed at s Hopkins (JH) for the second opinion. JH agreed it was cancer and the Gleason was 3+3. I had my prostate removed at JH and the report after surgery and analysis was the same 3+3 for the removed prostate. The doctor said the cancer was all contained in the prostate so I may be cured. Have not had a post-op PSA yet. As I look back on the last 2 months it was not that bad except for a little leakage which improves everyday. My stream is like I was 21 again and I have no more back ache when I get up in the morning. Plus everything else works. It is a good idea to get a second opinion or at least have the slides reviewed. Make sure you get your PSA tested frequently and encourage all your buddies to do the same.

Larry

I am writing to share my recent experience. After living with a prostate cancer diagnosis for six years, it appeared that I had reached a crisis and would need treatment. This fear was prompted by a sharp rise in my PSA. As part of the process of deciding on treatment I joined discussions on the internet and found many intelligent and sympathetic men and their wives. I must say you brought me great comfort with your compassion and solid information, and I appreciated you greatly. As it turned out the spike in my PSA was temporary, and a new biopsy [2010] did not find cancer. The biopsy before that [2006] also did not find cancer. This is not to say that cancer wasn’t present, but only that none was found. Because of discussions on the internet, however, I was emboldened to seek a second opinion on the original diagnosis made in 2004. The second opinion from s Hopkins University disputed the original finding. The original pathology report found adenocarcinoma with a Gleeson score of 3+3. The second opinion said the tissue in question was actually benign crowded cells. In other words, I never had cancer in the first place. The doctor who made the original diagnosis re-examined the sample and came to agree with the second opinion. He called me to apologize for his mistake and also wrote a gracious letter expressing sympathy for the fact that I went through seven years of needless anxiety. I have been reluctant to share my good news, since so many of you are suffering. From what I’ve seen of your kindness and compassion, however, I am thinking you will be glad for me. I am grateful to all of you for the support and information you gave when I was contemplating surgery. Believe me when I say I wish all of you the best in dealing with this disease.

[Guest guest]

Interesting deliberating about what might have been with surgery, Larry. The option was taken outta my hands when the DX revealed PC outside the capsule.Que Sera SeratdrTo: ProstateCancerSupport Sent: Sunday, August 28, 2011 1:11 PMSubject: Re: : Get a Second Opinion

Mike,

Glad the IMRT worked for you. Surgery was a tough decision but with nerve sparing, a sister who is a nurse, early signs of urinary problems and some friends who also had the surgery, I choose surgery. It really was a piece of cake. They are making great strives in treatment options so surgery may not be necessary much longer. Best of luck to you and all of us who are facing this condition.

Larry

Congrats on your successful surgery. I had Gleason 4+3 and opted for proton beam therapy, though it was a real toss up between surgery, IMRT and proton beam. Regards,

Jim,

I had my slides sent from my home town hospital and reviewed at s Hopkins (JH) for the second opinion. JH agreed it was cancer and the Gleason was 3+3. I had my prostate removed at JH and the report after surgery and analysis was the same 3+3 for the removed prostate. The doctor said the cancer was all contained in the prostate so I may be cured. Have not had a post-op PSA yet. As I look back on the last 2 months it was not that bad except for a little leakage which improves everyday. My stream is like I was 21 again and I have no more back ache when I get up in the morning. Plus everything else works. It is a good idea to get a second opinion or at least have the slides reviewed. Make sure you get your PSA tested frequently and encourage all your buddies to do the same.

Larry

I am writing to share my recent experience. After living with a prostate cancer diagnosis for six years, it appeared that I had reached a crisis and would need treatment. This fear was prompted by a sharp rise in my PSA. As part of the process of deciding on treatment I joined discussions on the internet and found many intelligent and sympathetic men and their wives. I must say you brought me great comfort with your compassion and solid information, and I appreciated you greatly. As it turned out the spike in my PSA was temporary, and a new biopsy [2010] did not find cancer. The biopsy before that [2006] also did not find cancer. This is not to say that cancer wasn’t present, but only that none was found. Because of discussions on the internet, however, I was emboldened to seek a second opinion on the original diagnosis made in 2004. The second opinion from s Hopkins University disputed the original finding. The original pathology report found adenocarcinoma with a Gleeson score of 3+3. The second opinion said the tissue in question was actually benign crowded cells. In other words, I never had cancer in the first place. The doctor who made the original diagnosis re-examined the sample and came to agree with the second opinion. He called me to apologize for his mistake and also wrote a gracious letter expressing sympathy for the fact that I went through seven years of needless anxiety. I have been reluctant to share my good news, since so many of you are suffering. From what I’ve seen of your kindness and compassion, however, I am thinking you will be glad for me. I am grateful to all of you for the support and information you gave when I was contemplating surgery. Believe me when I say I wish all of you the best in dealing with this disease.