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Am waiting 6 months for the right surgeon - should I wait?
Hi all,
Am 40, PSA of 4.5 and GS of 6. Live in Australia. Just diagnosed.
Going under the knife, but can't get in to see the surgeon I want for 6 months (he assures me no problem waiting until then, but remain a bit wary of waiting that long to get it cut out). Happy top hear any views on this.
Re: Am waiting 6 months for the right surgeon - should I wait?
The simple answer to your question is Yes, you should - assuming of course that the 'right surgeon' is the surgeon who has the best documentated outcome for the surgical procedures he has carried out.
There are many studies that demonstrate that waiting months (or even years, providing you are being properly monitored for any sign of advancement) does not create a greater risk.
I am not suggesting that you should consider Active Surveillance as an option, but if you go to that section of the site, you will find material that should show you why I say that delay is not an issue with a diagnosis like yours.
Re: Am waiting 6 months for the right surgeon - should I wait?
Hi Bruce,
I am 64, PSA 5.6, Gleason 3+3 (6) and was diagnosed in February of 2009. I am having my robotic surgery on the 29th of this month and waited six months for the surgeon of my choice and the hospital with the most experience in RALP procedures. It was a personal decision and suited my needs. I could have had an earlier traditional procedure in May but chose to wait for what I believed to be a better option. I hope that helps,
Re: Am waiting 6 months for the right surgeon - should I wait?
Bruce. I was 60 at diagnosis. PSA 1.75. Gleason 3 + 3. I waited 9 months and now that I have seen the pathology of what they took out, I wish I had waited even longer! Have another PSA in 3 months to keep an eye on things.
Re: Am waiting 6 months for the right surgeon - should I wait?
Hi,
With your numbers I think waiting 6 months to get the right surgeon is a very safe bet. I had to wait 5 months and I used to time to lose some weight, get in better shape and do my Kegels.
Re: Am waiting 6 months for the right surgeon - should I wait?
Bruce, waiting for the best surgeon will always be the best way to go. With your numbers, you have time on your side. I rushed into RP but I had decided whatI wanted to do and I had the right surgeon so the 3 months I waited caused me no problems.
Best of luck and get fit
Joe (H)
Australia
Re: Am waiting 6 months for the right surgeon - should I wait?
The short answer is "yes" with an exclamation mark! I totally agree with Terry's assessment. One of the statements I read when I was considering da Vinci RRP was to be sure to find a surgeon who has preformed over 100 RRP's and who has also performed an equal amount of traditional open RP's in the event there is the need to change course during the surgery. Another factor that played into my waiting on treatment was when I learned that a Gleason 6 cancer “is what it is”; and that is it is a slow growing cancer. It does not mutate into a higher Gleason category. Other cancers may develop in another area of the prostate that potentially have a higher score, but evidently, prostate cancers are what they are.
Re: Am waiting 6 months for the right surgeon - should I wait?
Thanks John - Am looking to use Dr Peter Heathcote of Brisbane, Australia who has 1,400 conventional surgery removals and 70 robotic. A bit under your recommended 100 though.
Re: Am waiting 6 months for the right surgeon - should I wait?
Bruce,
I don't believe I am in disagreement with the comments you are receiving in this string of messages. But I do feel that some qualification is in order.
I would say that the general consensus is that if you go with an inferior surgeon, due to haste, your likelihood of having post surgery problems are significant. And more likely than any loss of outcome that you might incur by waiting six months for a top quality surgeon.
On the other hand, there is some risk in waiting, of course. Though it looks quite small from what you have indicated about your specifics. You don't want the cancer to progress over 6 months from a "curable" cancer to one that you may have to "manage" over many years. It doesn't look likely in your case, but it sure is possible. You might look at the Dana Jennings blog in the New York Times, who had a cancer that turned out surprisingly nasty even though it looked more like yours prior to the surgery. And one does not know if he might have had a simple, good outcome if he had had surgery 6 months earlier.
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/11/11/the-good-cancer/
I don't say all this to get you worrying, but rather to pass along information that I think is merited. Perhaps there is a third option for you, one where you travel farther but get a top quality surgeon sooner? None of this prostate cancer stuff is simple, and we all wish you the very best.
Re: Am waiting 6 months for the right surgeon - should I wait?
Without tons of detail on your case, I would also say wait for the best surgeon you can find.
I was diagnosed (via biopsy) 12/08 and had surgery 6/09. This was felt by all I spoke with to be a reasonable period of time. I was gleason 6 (3+3), considerd T1c.
Good luck and feel free to email with other questions.
Doing well after lapro, more on me here: http://www.yananow.net/Mentors/PaulM2.htm
