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The Gleason could be 3 & 2 = 5 (not really considered cancer) or 5 & 4 = 9 (definitely need to do something soon).
Are you staged T1C or T2A or ?
How old are you?
In any case with a PSA of 8.2 and a doubling time of about 17 months you probably won't die of prostate cancer. Find your nearest Prostate Cancer support group and go to the meetings; you can learn a lot, meet a fun bunch of guys and you'll feel a lot better.
I think Frank gave you some good advice. And we do need more information to help you. One very important piece of information is your Gleason Score. You said it was 5 in your first post. If it truly is 5 then I think you're probably in a very good position, but if the Gleason Grade is 5 that changes the picture.
The Gleason Score is NOT the same as the Gleason Grade. The Gleason SCORE is TWO Gleason GRADES added together. So if you don't know for sure what the number 5 represents in your first post, the Gleason Score or Gleason Grade then find that out and get back with us. There's a lot of people here dealing with this disease so you have someone HERE even if you are alone in other ways. Here's a link to a pretty good explaination of the Gleason Score and Gleason Grade.
Of course no one wants to know there PSA went from 5 to 8.2 in a year but there are a lot of factors that might make that change not so scary. Take a look at Terry's test where he had a PSA test every day for a month and see the variation in the score. His PSA went from 4.5 to 6.0 in Three Days, then back to 4.6 in Four Days.
http://www.yananow.net/PSAexperiment.htm
So hang in there for now until you get the results of the other tests and know for sure what the number 5 is, the Gleason Score or Gleason Grade.
Sorry to have to welcome you to the club you never wanted to join – and for the delayed response from me, although others have given you some good advice.
I was busy enjoying life 13 years+ after my diagnosis, so that at least illustrates that one of the things in store for you with no further treatment might well be to have as good a life as I have in that time – see my story at TERRY HERBERT if you’re interested.
As Frank and Stranger have highlighted, you need to be very clear on the difference between a Gleason GRADE of 5 – the most aggressive form of cancer and requiring early attention and a Gleason SCORE of 5, which is no longer categorised by most pathologists as prostate cancer, and certainly needs no urgent attention.
There is no reason why you have to wait to establish this important point. Ask for and get a copy of your pathology report – you are entitled to it in most countries and States – and see what it says. If it has gobblydegook that you don’t understand and your non-talkative doctor can’t or won’t explain, let us know what it says and we’ll do our best to help you.
I would also suggest, as strongly as I can, that you should have your pathology slides examined by an EXPERT PATHOLOGIST The Gleason Grade is the main driver in the decision making process as to how early and how aggressive you need to be in your consideration of treatments.
The rise in PSA in itself is no big deal. It may or may not be associated with prostate cancer – most elevated PSA results are not because PSA is NOT prostate cancer specific – see PSA 101
I certainly second what Phred has to say. Finf an empathetic doctor who is prepared to explain issues to you. If the pathology report(s) do confirm a Gleason Grade of 5 then you will need some specialised help and it will be important to have an oncologist to head up your team.
I previously responded with a thank you to all that posted back to me but perhaps the server lost it. I feel less alone now. In one more day I have an audiance with the doctor before I move on as suggested. Exact data will be posted
Thanks again
from South Carolina USA
