Newbie Trying To Get A Handle On What Comes Next
Just got my biopsy results yesterday (details below) and I'm trying to figure out what decisions I'll have to make and just how much this will change my life. The key things I see in my results are: 1. the right base sample has a Gleason of 4+3, grade group 3; 2. that sample also has perineural invasion; 3. the left side samples were all negative; 4. the other positive sample has a Gleason of 3+4 and group 2.
I have not yet talked to the urologist. I'm scheduled to see him next week. I don't feel confident with this doctor and want to change to another doc in the same practice.
Not only did I learn I have cancer, but I also just got a cardiac test (CTA) showing severe stenosis in my right coronary artery. I'm pretty sure I'm going to need at least a stent. Am I having a great week or what?
I have not yet talked to my cardiologist. That appointment is a month away.
My middle of the night thoughts on this last night included feeling like I've gone from being a young, active, healthy weight, 62 year old who looks 10 years younger than that to the start of being a fat old man with a hint of a urine smell. Plus too much of my self image is tied to being sexually active. I do not want to be in the market for penis pumps any time soon.
I think I have most of the basics down on treatment options and long term outcomes, but I would appreciate your thoughts on the bigger picture - what does this mean for the next phase of my life? If you have treatment opinions, I'd be glad to hear those as well. Thanks.
Here's my results: Prostate gland, Right base, Needle biopsy
- PROSTATIC ADENOCARCINOMA, TOTAL GLEASON SCORE 7 (4+3, GRADE GROUP 3) WITH 60% OF THE TUMOR PATTERN 4, WITH INVOLVEMENT OF 13 MM OF A TOTAL OF 22 MM IN TWO CORES OF PROSTATIC TISSUE
- PERINEURAL INVASION IDENTIFIED
Prostate gland, Right mid, Needle biopsy
- BENIGN PROSTATIC TISSUE
Prostate gland, Right apex, Needle biopsy
- BENIGN PROSTATIC TISSUE
Prostate gland, Left base, Needle biopsy
- BENIGN PROSTATIC TISSUE
Prostate gland, Left mid, Needle biopsy
- BENIGN PROSTATIC TISSUE
Prostate gland, Left apex, Needle biopsy
- BENIGN PROSTATIC TISSUE
Prostate gland, Region of interest #1, Needle biopsy
- PROSTATIC ADENOCARCINOMA, TOTAL GLEASON SCORE 7 (3+4, GRADE GROUP 2), WITH 30% OF THE TUMOR PATTERN 4, PRESENT IN TWO CORES OF TISSUE TOTALING 12 MM OF A TOTAL OF 18 MM OF TISSUE PRESENT