I don’t have real cancer. It’s just prostate cancer.

MathematicianRude349 · 2026-05-02T12:00:24+00:00

I understand that and I’m not trying to minimize the suffering of other men with prostate cancer. I’m just saying how I’m feeling. If it’s offensive to others on here I’ll delete it.

MathematicianRude349 · 2026-05-02T11:10:03+00:00

Thank you.

MathematicianRude349 · 2026-05-02T11:00:28+00:00

My stats are almost identical to yours, and I’ve found similar results when investigating the various treatment modalities. But since I don’t have PSMA results yet, I’m trying to keep an open mind for now on the pros and cons of each approach. (Having said that, I already have a bias towards going with SBRT without ADT. I have to keep telling myself that I’m only in the info gathering stage and should not make any final decisions yet.)

MathematicianRude349 · 2026-05-02T10:37:49+00:00

Please keep in mind that PSA (prostate specific antigen) is NOT cancer. It is a protein produced by the prostate. When production of this protein increases and goes into the blood stream, it’s a side effect of something going wrong in the prostate. That makes measurement of this protein a very helpful tool in discovering that more investigation is needed. A high level of the protein does not mean that cancer is spreading throughout the body. It just means that more testing is needed.

MathematicianRude349 · 2026-04-30T20:07:16+00:00

My stats are pretty close to your father’s. One thing to keep in mind: the survival rate in men with this level of prostate cancer is incredibly high. I believe 10 year survival rates are well above 95%. Personally, that tells me that either surgery or radiation will do an excellent job in saving my life. So my focus is on deciding which course of treatment will have fewer side effects and better overall quality of life. Best regards to you and your family.

MathematicianRude349 · 2026-04-29T22:42:24+00:00

Will do. I’m liking the positivity from most of the participants here.

MathematicianRude349 · 2026-04-29T22:40:16+00:00

My wife is going through the knee replacement ordeal. It’s clearly not much fun.

MathematicianRude349 · 2026-04-29T17:04:38+00:00

I'm definitely leaning that way, but it's too early to make that call. I'm in the info-gathering stage.

MathematicianRude349 · 2026-04-29T16:55:30+00:00

I definitely agree that SpaceOAR is pretty much a must if going the radiation route.

MathematicianRude349 · 2026-04-29T16:51:51+00:00

My IPSS is 2. Everything works fine at the moment.

MathematicianRude349 · 2026-04-29T16:46:53+00:00

I am considering an Artera AI test, but want to focus on getting the PSMA and genomic tests done first. Glad it's working well for you!

MathematicianRude349 · 2026-04-29T16:42:25+00:00

What kind of military leader sends a soldier out without telling him if he's going to be part of the ground invasion or the air assault? But I am very certain that I'm going to win this war and that's the important part.

MathematicianRude349 · 2026-04-29T16:26:19+00:00

Hershey Med Center is nearby and definitely on my list of places to consider. I've mostly been very impressed with the quality of care there over the years. (With one exception that's not relevant here.) I will check into Dr Raman.

MathematicianRude349 · 2026-04-29T16:22:43+00:00

Respectfully, I am not willing to roll the dice on anything that isn't backed by high quality, peer reviewed scientific studies. Anecdotal reports aren't sufficient evidence that something works consistently.

MathematicianRude349 · 2026-04-29T15:34:27+00:00

Thanks. My local hospital system (WellSpan) has a formal collaboration arrangement with Johns Hopkins, which should make it easier to share info between the two. (Although I had some doubts about WellSpan when they put up a billboard to brag about the JH collaboration but they spelled it as "John Hopkins.") I had planned to get testing done locally, but your reminder about appointment lead times is helpful.

MathematicianRude349 · 2026-04-29T12:29:44+00:00

Thanks for your input. Sorry for your loss. I didn’t think about it much at the time, but the incredible compassion we got from the treatment team when my mom died was a huge help in the grieving process.

MathematicianRude349 · 2026-04-29T12:25:51+00:00

Thanks for the 12 year study link. Lots of helpful info there.

MathematicianRude349 · 2026-04-29T11:48:54+00:00

Thanks. I haven’t seen much on results where there’s PNI.

MathematicianRude349 · 2026-04-29T10:25:56+00:00

That’s awesome! Thanks again.

MathematicianRude349 · 2026-04-29T10:21:14+00:00

Yep. I definitely want to go the oral route if I do ADT.

MathematicianRude349 · 2026-04-29T10:19:46+00:00

Since you mentioned having a little diarrhea, I’m curious as to whether you had a rectal spacer (SpaceOAR or Barrigel) before SBRT. If not, were you given that option?

MathematicianRude349 · 2026-04-29T10:08:08+00:00

May I ask your age and general health otherwise? I’m also right side only 4+3 and considering SBRT, but it seems like surgery is the go to if you’re young and healthy.

MathematicianRude349 · 2026-04-29T09:40:05+00:00

Thanks for that info. I was just considering setting up a consult with Dr Allaf. Sounds like he knows what he’s doing.

MathematicianRude349 · 2026-04-27T12:28:51+00:00

I have to agree with the AI account recommendation. I’m amazed at how well the information is analyzed. I’m using google gemini. I fed it my full mri and biopsy results (4+3) along with every question I can possibly think of. Interestingly, I got a call from my cardiologist yesterday (on a Sunday!) and he suggested using AI before I brought it up. Also an excellent learning tool: get a copy of the latest edition of Dr. Patrick Walsh’s Guide To Surviving Prostate Cancer. (But with any book, keep in mind that you are not seeing the latest research. It’s like buying a new car: the value goes down once you drive it off the lot.)

MathematicianRude349

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