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The Gleason 8 coupled with the high psa of 13 indicates a high risk PC. The positive margins, psa of .5 and seminal vessicle invasion are good indicators that the surgery was not effective. At this time I would search for a good medical oncologist specializing in prostate cancer as the disease is beyond your surgeon's level of training.
Good luck. (A list of Prostate oncologists by location is listed in the appendix of "Invasion of the Prostate Snatchers" by Dr Mark Scholz.
I had the same problem after my robotic surgery. My PSA was slowly rising so the surgeon ordered many tests (CAT scan, bone scan and a prostascint scan), all of which came up negative. After a year, another doctor (a hematology oncologist) ordered a transrectal MRI that showed half of my prostate still in place. The surgeon claimed it was a "surgical mishap". I had to go through a full course of hormone therapy and radiation. My PSA continued to go up for another year or so before it started to go down.
As a matter of interest did you seek, or were you offered, any recompense for the 'medical mishap'? It seems to me that the event might be categorised by someone other than the surgeon as 'medical malpractice'!
Sounds as if all was well in the end which must have been a relief to you I am sure.
I was not offered any compensation. In fact, neither the hospital nor the surgeon wanted to talk about it other than to say that it sometimes happens. I met with a malpractice lawyer and he didn't want to take the case because he felt it would be too hard to prove.
Paul, that is appalling and lends support to the view I have long held that the concern expressed by insurers and doctors about the high risk of being sued to justify their very high charges and the plethora of tests they order - often from suppliers in which they have a financial interest.
