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What was your PSA number when they discovered your cancer?
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2 years ago it was a 4 this year it jumped to 12 and my Gleason score was a 7 out of 10
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I hope everything goes well…. Remember you have a cheerleader over here rooting for ya.
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Hey K9, thanks for the update. Best of luck to you on your road to recovery. We all have loved ones who had cancer, some have beat it and others not been so lucky.
Cancer Sucks.
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Went through this about 4 years ago. My PSA went from a 7 to 12 over a three month period. I'm glad (and lucky) I caught it in time. The lupron was not fun - hot flashes and no erections. I chose the short-term/high dosage radiation - to get it over with. If I had it do over, I might go with the longer term/lower dose treatment - perhaps there would have been less impact on the prostate's production of semen. Dry ejaculations for a couple years, now a little bit of fluid, but not impressive. Hey, but less mess to deal with on solo trips. Orgasms are OK. PSAs are now in the 1.5 range.
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My doc said "its sex without the mess"
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Be strong Smartk9 best wishes a. Prayers your way 🙏
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Best of luck to you K9. I had my prostate removed almost a year ago. PSA had been at 2.0 for years. Then in 12 months went to 2.9. Lucky I had a good urologist who ordered a biopsy. The dry ejaculation sucks but it is what it is. It’s amazing how when you tell people almost everyone has a good friend or family member that has had it. Guys, not all primary care physicians automatically include a psa in your annual physical blood work. ASK THEM TO! It’s one more vial and it may save your life!!!
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I really apreciate you posts and updates, and wish you the best
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I truly appreciate all the kind words and support. All of us who have been through this either personally or family members you have my sincere empathy. One of the hardest things I had to do was tell my son that he to should have his PSA tested yearly because of the family connection of this disease.
What’s sad is that this disease is talked about in hushed tones. Prostate Cancer embarrassing. It took me a while to write about it here, it took me even longer for me to tell extended family and friends of what I was facing and then I was totally caught off guard with just how many of us have gone through the exact same thing and they kept it to themselves or just close family.
I told you when I was sitting in Radiology waiting for my treatment I considered myself healthy. The inner strength of some of these people humbled me and inspired me. Some would go from Radiology straight over to Chemo. But when they completed their final radiology or chemo treatments the “bell was rung” tears were shed and hugs for all.
My hope here has always been to inform everyone of the nature of this disease. What I’ve gone through may not even close to what you might go through or have gone through.
I will close with this…. When people ask how I got my prostate cancer I tell them this,
“Too much sex I wore the damn thing out and now it’s retaliating.”
Thank you all again
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K9 thanks for the update. Your story is an inspiration and testament to your resilience. Wishing you nothing but the best of luck in a speedy recovery.
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"2 years ago it was a 4 this year it jumped to 12 "
Yikes! And 4 is borderline! I don't think you've mentioned this before: Did you have symptoms before your PSA jumped? E.g., supposedly pain or difficulty peeing, etc.? I still have no symptoms. Yet last year it jumped from 3.2 to 4 to 4.5 earlier this year, which caused concern. I'll get my latest numbers next week.
Thanks again for your updates & sorry for what you're enduring.
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Absolutely no symptoms I’ve always had great flow. Even after all the radiation has beat my bladder my flow is still decent. One of my friends, the former coworker had no symptoms and a psa of 2 . His prostate cancer was discovered when he had a MRI done on his back because of an injury. I always had a false sense of security until my PSA .
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All guys should be reading this
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Just a note to add. Before you get ready to take a PSA test be sexually inactive for at least 5 to 7 days. Sexual activity increases your PSA values substantially. Being retired Medical this is what one of my urologist Friends told me.
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backnine, curious how much of a difference in PSA numbers? Hey, I'm not holding off on jerking off for that long (um, I mean having sexual relations with women)! I'll just subtract the difference! 
SmartK9, that's scary in both of your cases. If not through a blood test, how else are we supposed to know we have a prostate problem? MRIs in our lower region? X-rays?
What is a Gleason score & how do you get it?
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Gleason score is your level of cancer . Prostate cancer is not rated in stages like stage 4. Gleason is rated 1-10 however 1-5 are not really considered because it’s of low impact. It’s kind of confusing at least it was for me. They took 12 samples for biopsy from my prostate.
One side had more moderate aggressive cancer rates mix with lower aggressive cancer so it was rated at a 4+3=7. The 4 higher number is bad the other side of my was rated 3+4=7, however there were less aggressive cancer cells in that sample hence the back number since both equal 7 my Gleason score is 7 meaning moderately aggressive cancer. “lucky” for me my cancer had not spread beyond the prostate and because of that radiation with hormone therapy is appropriate as opposed to removal of the prostate. Prostate cancer like all cancers like certain other body parts.. it likes lymph nodes and bone. So my MRI of those areas showed no spread . If it had a whole different plan would have been implemented. One geared to keep me alive as long as possible.
The one friend who had his prostate removed and no symptoms and low PSA is a “one off”. The other person I had lunch with had his prostate removed 15 years ago but his PSA has crept up so now he’s scheduled for at least 5 radiation treatments. Like all cancers you’ll never get it all.
It’s a bitch dealing with this I just have hope my life will return to some sort of normalcy and I can truly enjoy the company of a member of the opposite sex again.
I hope this helps. Just get checked or keep getting checked. The sooner they find it the better.
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| There are 17 comments on this blog. |
