Thank you again, Howard. I can definitely describe our prostate journey. I can’t even imagine how can anyone face this situation alone. It applies to all serious conditions of course, but cancer is particularly scary. I am all for AS and even know some guys with G7 (3+4) who are also on AS…although I’d be a bit hesitant.
I will email to you within a week or so with our story. In the meantime if you have specific questions to guide my writing please e-mail oksanaritchie@hotmail.com. Thank you.
I suspect size matters. I will ask one of our columnists who will now.
Will your husband first have another MRI or a biomarker test before rushing into another biopsy?iopsies.
This is a two-part story. I'll publish the second half this week. I talk about the trend away from confirmatory bopsies for Gleason 6s. Keep your eye out.
I'm sure your husband appreciates your involvement in the details of PCa and AS.
thank you for a quick reply. I appreciate any additional information you might find. I also suspect size matters and this is probably why they want to repeat a biopsy again next year.
We’ll have a PSA in 6 months, then another before an MRI. We live in France and from what I understand other predicting type tests (like Prolaris etc) isn’t something they do here. It is also extremely costly and not covered by insurance. We are a team and we are in it together as I say. We do research together just on different levels. It’s been going on since 2019 when my husband has had his first PSA done under my pressure and it was almost 4. Then PSA was going up and this is when we have contacted a urologist. Even at that time we began “treating” it seriously. Whole food plant based diet, various supplements, stress reduction techniques etc…everything most doctors don’t believe in. Just before his last biopsy my husband began taking Pectasol. We intend to beat it.
Look forward to more updates from you! If you hear anything from your fellow columnist please let me know. My heartfelt gratitude to you, Howard.
Great article Howard! My husband is also on AS after being misdiagnosed 2 years ago. Blind biopsy based on MRI that wasn’t multiparametric gave negative results. I was nagging on our urologist and insisted on more imaging done because his PSA kept on rising. Last year a multiparametric MRI showed a significant lesion (Pirads 3) in a completely different part of a prostate. This year another MRI (done at a different center) showed the same lesion with upgraded Pirads score 5. A few weeks ago my husband had a fusion transperineal biopsy and it detected G6 in all 5 cores taken with varying percentage in each core. The lesion is 2,5 cm, a large lesion. I wonder where I can find more information on G6 in relation to the lesion size? Does the size of a lesion bring more risks? Next MRI is in a year and they want a confirmatory biopsy in a year as well. It didn’t shock me, I have learned from Dr Epstein that confirmatory biopsies are often necessary. Any thoughts on our experience and in particular on the lesion size? Thank you in advance.
Oksana,
You're doing great.
I wrote to our columnist and I'm sure he'll answer.
Can you write a column for me on "your" prostate journey, why and how you took this on and maybe encourage more support from other women.
I know guys who are facing this alone. Their spouses think they're making a mistake going on AS.
Please write to me at howard,wolinsky@gmail.com
Howard
Thank you again, Howard. I can definitely describe our prostate journey. I can’t even imagine how can anyone face this situation alone. It applies to all serious conditions of course, but cancer is particularly scary. I am all for AS and even know some guys with G7 (3+4) who are also on AS…although I’d be a bit hesitant.
I will email to you within a week or so with our story. In the meantime if you have specific questions to guide my writing please e-mail oksanaritchie@hotmail.com. Thank you.
Oksana,
Thanks. I'm not a doctor, just another patient.
I suspect size matters. I will ask one of our columnists who will now.
Will your husband first have another MRI or a biomarker test before rushing into another biopsy?iopsies.
This is a two-part story. I'll publish the second half this week. I talk about the trend away from confirmatory bopsies for Gleason 6s. Keep your eye out.
I'm sure your husband appreciates your involvement in the details of PCa and AS.
I do.
Howard
Howard,
thank you for a quick reply. I appreciate any additional information you might find. I also suspect size matters and this is probably why they want to repeat a biopsy again next year.
We’ll have a PSA in 6 months, then another before an MRI. We live in France and from what I understand other predicting type tests (like Prolaris etc) isn’t something they do here. It is also extremely costly and not covered by insurance. We are a team and we are in it together as I say. We do research together just on different levels. It’s been going on since 2019 when my husband has had his first PSA done under my pressure and it was almost 4. Then PSA was going up and this is when we have contacted a urologist. Even at that time we began “treating” it seriously. Whole food plant based diet, various supplements, stress reduction techniques etc…everything most doctors don’t believe in. Just before his last biopsy my husband began taking Pectasol. We intend to beat it.
Look forward to more updates from you! If you hear anything from your fellow columnist please let me know. My heartfelt gratitude to you, Howard.
Great article Howard! My husband is also on AS after being misdiagnosed 2 years ago. Blind biopsy based on MRI that wasn’t multiparametric gave negative results. I was nagging on our urologist and insisted on more imaging done because his PSA kept on rising. Last year a multiparametric MRI showed a significant lesion (Pirads 3) in a completely different part of a prostate. This year another MRI (done at a different center) showed the same lesion with upgraded Pirads score 5. A few weeks ago my husband had a fusion transperineal biopsy and it detected G6 in all 5 cores taken with varying percentage in each core. The lesion is 2,5 cm, a large lesion. I wonder where I can find more information on G6 in relation to the lesion size? Does the size of a lesion bring more risks? Next MRI is in a year and they want a confirmatory biopsy in a year as well. It didn’t shock me, I have learned from Dr Epstein that confirmatory biopsies are often necessary. Any thoughts on our experience and in particular on the lesion size? Thank you in advance.