DRE during physical earlier this year by family doctor indicated a hard spot on one side, recommended to get a biopsy by urologist in May, which found Gleason of 3+3=6, adenocarcinoma in both prostatic lobes. There was a 1 mm focus in one of four cores in the left lobe, and a 1.5 mm focus in one of four cores on the right. PSA was 1.4 and gland is 18.2 gms in size.. Staged at T2b PCa.

Options were Radical Prostatectomy, radiation therapy by external beam or seed implant, cyrotherapy, hormone therapy, chemotherapy as well as watchful waiting.

I went to another urologist in the Seattle area who is supposed to be the first in the area to utilize the Da Vinci Robotic, talked about the surgery with the Robotic and watchful waiting. So for the time being, I haven't made the commitment for surgery yet but will probably do so.

I am inclined to do some watchful waiting with my low PSA and relatively small carcinomas.

Would like to hear from anyone with experience or knowledge of someone's experience getting the Robotic surgery in the Seattle area.

Lloyd's PSA is 2.0 ng/ml. Here is his update:

Currently happy that I did not go through with any of the doctor recommended treatments.

I am watching my diet real close with a minimum of red meats and animal fats and processed foods. taking vitamins, saw palmetto, fish oil, pomegranate juice, was taking a concentrated soy bean extract for while, exercising, walk a couple miles or more, most days, which I have done for years. Cut way down on the hard liquor, drink red wine at evening meal time along with a fresh salad most days.

I really appreciate all the info I have gleaned off of this website, it definitely saved me from a big mistake with unnecessary doctor recommended surgery/ treatment, with some very negative possible side effects.

Regards Lloyd

November 2007, still continuing with the careful diet and exercise as described last year.

Two PSA tests over the last year indicated a sight rise to 2.1 ng/ml and 2.3 ng/ml.

Visit with a different specialist, recommended I do another biopsy which I refused, I plan to continue with WW until I see at least a 4.0 ng/ml on the PSA, or have other symptoms.

Regards LL Seattle

Had two more PSA tests earlier last year, 2008, both in the range of 2.2 I figured I was doing pretty good, so I kind of fell away from my healthy diet, more red meat, fast food etc. not much pomegranate juice, missed a lot of saw palmetto supplements, didn't take my vitamins or saw palmetto's for over a month just before last PSA test this Jan 2009 - plenty of red wine though.

DRE was normal, however PSA test, came back at 3.2. Current family doctor really alarmed about a 50% increase - recommending that I go back to Uro doc. I already know first thing he will want is another biopsy, so I have an appointment in late April.

However I am going back on a more stringent diet, lots of broccoli and tomatoes, taking vitamins and saw palmettos, going to get another PSA in April, right before I go back to Uro doc, and if PSA is coming back down, I will cancel the Uro doc, hopefully.

Not much to add, got another PSA check Nov 2009, from a volunteer public survey done by Seattle Prostate Institute, not from regular doc, came back at 3.4. As far as I am concerned that is just fine, my regular doc would probably want me to do a needle biopsy, which I am not going to do unless PSA is >4.0 and I can't bring it down with diet.

Other than that, I am a little pissed at all the consternation they put me thru back in 2004, the unnecessary biopsy, damage and possible contamination from reused sanitary needles, my crotch still itches sometimes from where they inserted needles. Only good thing is it probably made me clean up my diet to the healthy side.

Special thanks to the people running this website, all info very much appreciated.

Quick update.

I am more glad than ever that I did not opt for the recommended surgery or seeds and follow on treatment, radiation etc.

Although PSA about 3 months was elevated up to 4.2, I think it was from not following a good diet, not taking the saw palmetto regularly, and generally not watching my overall health. My present doctor was "very concerned" about rate of increase and wanted me to go to specialist again, but the first thing he will want is another biopsy which I really am not up for.

So I am rolling the dice and taking my chances, I'll get another PSA when I get a chance, but as for now, I think I should be pissed at the doctors who wanted to perform their "treatment" and get me on their treadmill. They have caused me a lot unnecessary mental turmoil. Thinking about how I probably would be wearing a diaper like my neighbor who had the surgery.

Best Regards

Lloyd Lytle

No current update, planning to retest PSA next month.

PSA jumped up to 7.09 when tested in May 2013, had it rechecked about a month later and it dropped down to 6.93. Still too high, been taking extra saw palmetto's and being more careful with diet, still drinking my red wine in the evenings. Will get another PSA check and hope it is going back down.

Had my GP Dr. do a DRE, said it felt normal.

Not quite sure what to do, but sure don't feel like messing with another biopsy, might just let the chips fall where they may. 69 years old.

Fell away from my strict diet of minimal red meat, minimal alcohol, and abundant amounts of fruit and vegetables. Also was stressed out from my wife passing away from pancreatic cancer. PSA went up to around 10 and then up to 15. Got back on the strict diet and lower stress and last PSA (Sept 2014) was 7.6, so feeling much better about that. Still glad I did not go through with the Dr. recommended surgery and treatments.

First of all, a big thank-you to the site administrators, past and present, for maintaining this site and the invaluable information it provides.

I am still on watchful waiting even though my PSA has been up around 10 for the last year.

I am almost 72, except for high blood pressure and this prostate issue, am in pretty good health, drink a little excess red wine with my evening meal, the cheap CostCo stuff.

Not as strict on my diet, red meat etc. as I was for a while after I was diagnosed.

Still darn glad I did not go through with Dr. recommended treatment.

Still bumping along with the watchful waiting, getting PSA checks every 3-6 months, it has been varying around 10-11. Probably pushing my luck, at my age almost 73, not going to do anything drastic unless PSA goes way up or something else changes.

So my PSA has moved up significantly, about 14. might be stress, was told by doctors in Florida that I had a had a severe Aortic Stenosis heart condition and needed a new valve. Got a second opinion months later from heart doc in Seattle and was told it wasn't so bad and come back in one year. Big relief there. Overall health is pretty good, feel good, exercise by walking a mile or two every day, eating healthy, still having couple glasses of red wine with my evening meal. Don't care to get another biopsy, first and only one was no fun. Don't like the re-used needles. Taking my chances and trying to enjoy whatever time I have left.

PSA has risen quite a bit. Was steady around 10 for a couple years popped to 15, then 17.

Regular doc says go back to specialist, specialist will want to do another biopsy.

Don't really care to do that again.

So I'm 75 years old, got high blood pressure, which fluctuates a lot, depending on how well I sleep, and other stress issues from time to time. Also was told I had an aortic stenosis heart valve problem by a specialist doc in Florida, went to another specialist in Seattle and was told it wasn't so bad and to come back in a year.

Got other medical issues too.

So the question is, should one just wait it out and die of something else.

Feel quite good most of the time, stay pretty active, stay on a healthy diet, taking my supplemental vitamins and saw palmetto, and really want to avoid getting on the treadmill of back and forth to doc appointments.

So first of all Thanks to the administrator and the people that keep this website going with all the valuable and appreciated information.

So my PSA has popped up from 17 to 21.9 recently.

Regular doc says to go to a urologist again, so Iv'e been planning on doing that, I seem to go through periods of when I have to pee frequently with a weak stream, and then most of the time it is normal, urologist is just going to want to do another biopsy and I don't care to do that.

Seems to coincide with when my blood pressure is high and when I might not be relaxed enough.

I've was also told by a heart specialist in Florida that I had a severe aortic stenosis problem and he wanted to put in a new heart valve, then went to another specialty team here in Seattle and they told it wasn't so bad and to come back in a year. With all the COVID-19 stuff going on, that has been delayed also.

Otherwise for age 76, I think I'm doing ok, feel good, eat healthy food, take lots of vitamins and supplements, drink 2-3 glasses of red wine with dinner, and stay active. Regular doc also tells me I am pre-diabetic, I also have some arthritis issues.

At my age, not so sure I really want to go through a bunch medical procedures as long as i am feeling good. Had a good friend and neighbor opted to have his prostate cut out, when he was about 70, he had to wear a diaper and went down hill real quick even with all the medical procedures and harsh drugs, he passed away a couple years ago.

So last April of 2021 my aortic stenosis heart problem caught up with me and I had emergency major surgery for a new heart valve, managed to get through that, also had a bad sepsis infection that may have been caused from not being able to take a proper piss and having my urine backed up, since I have been taking Tamsulosin (Flomax) regularly, seems to help to piss, along with some other supplements like Uronazinc bought off Amazon. Latest urologist did a DRE and said my prostate was quite small, usually the problem is from an enlarged prostate. Main problem now is my PSA has jumped up to 37.1 So being almost 79, not sure quite what I'm going to do except what the heart surgeon told me, that I was very lucky to survive and to enjoy life while you can.

So when my PSA hit 40 in late 2020, I firgured I better do something, so I consulted with another urologist, who set me up with PSMA CT scan which indicated prostate cancer and some small spread to lymph nodes, recomended raiation vs surgery.

I contacted Cyber knife radiation at Swedish hospital in Seattle, they set me up for 5 radiation sessions for my prostate and 5 sessions for my lymph nodes, along with ADT for several months along with the Tamsolusun, which I had already been taking. PSA went down to 2.03 Dr. wanted me to stay in meds til PSA went to 0, however I quit meds (temporarily) becuase they made me so weak.

Much improved, however, I've been much weaker, but overall very lucky as I went through a major emergency to replace my aortic valve with one from a cow in April of 2021, along with a battery powered pacemaker inside of my haeart.

So, counting my lucky stars here, thanks for this very imformative website.

Lloyd's e-mail address is: lloydlytle37 AT msn.com (replace "AT" with "@")