What is the significance of "bilateral"?

User

Posted 12 Nov 2016 at 19:28

Recently got my diagnosis "3+3 Bilateral".

OK 3+3 understood, bilateral understood but it is in big bold letters on my results sheet. why would this be important?

I am asymptomatic, normal DRE, no visible cancer on MRI.

Many thanks.

User

Posted 12 Nov 2016 at 21:33

I think bilateral just increases the chance of eventual spread. I had 18 lymph nodes removed during operation and five were cancerous , but they made a point of saying bilateral. I guess that's a worse scenario !

User

Posted 12 Nov 2016 at 23:31

Hi Nigel
Just read your profile. Please see mine. My brother just been dX and being offered focal laser ablation.. He lives in Australia. I'm finding out more this week. Have you a T coding ?? My understanding this is in both lobes and would be coded T2c however there are clinical and pathological grading. So I believe the person has highlighted 'bilateral' as Stage 1 however in both lobes. Ie not Stage 2 in their coding system. However it appears from you post that the MRI hasn't seen anything. Are you not considering AS. I see op booked already.

Regards
Gordon

Edited by member 13 Nov 2016 at 00:00 | Reason: Not specified

User

Posted 13 Nov 2016 at 00:18

It just means that they found positive cores on both sides. It doesn't necessarily make any difference to the likely outcomes but they will perhaps think carefully about whether to do nerve sparing on both sides.

Edited by member 13 Nov 2016 at 00:24 | Reason: Not specified

"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard

User

Posted 13 Nov 2016 at 07:40

Gosh that's so similar to my situation. I did have a targeted biopsy, but the lesion was benign. I was lucky that the person doing the biopsy did 6 random samples 5% and <1% on the hits. No "T" score yet.

I felt strongly against AS, it was on offer but because of the family history both the consultant and the specialist nurse thought it was the prudent option. I was even told (after I decided on RRP) that it was going to get me eventually so an early RP was a good option.

User

Posted 13 Nov 2016 at 07:45

Thanks Lyn, that's reassuring. The consultant did ask if I wanted nerve sparing (why ask?) I left the decision to him.

User

Posted 13 Nov 2016 at 11:37

They ask because nerve sparing increases the risk of recurrence - if they just did it and then the patient didn't get remission there would be all sorts of legal claims going on.

AS is a good option for many people, as long as it is done properly. With 5% and 1% you could argue that radical treatment with all its associated side effects (some of which are permanent) is over-treatment and some would choose AS for a while to monitor how it goes, knowing that if the tumour starts to progress they can still have treatment.

"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard

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