I'm interested in conversations about and I want to talk about
Know exactly what you want?
Show search

Notification

Error

is my reaction normal

User
Posted 07 Aug 2024 at 20:30

Hello Everyone,

My name is Ian, I am 66 and have just been diagnosed with prostrate cancer. My Gleeson score was 3+3 group 1 and T2. I had an MRI May 24 and biopsy June 24. I was given the results June 24 and expected to hear what I was told, so it didn`t come as a shock to me. 

The strange thing is I thought such a diagnosis would be frightening  and it hasn`t been infact,   I don`t give it much thought, I seem to think of it more as a nuisance. I am on active surveillance only.

I know I am luckier than other people to have been caught at an early stage, maybe that`s why I am not worried. I just don`t know if this is a normal reaction to such news.

has anyone else had this reaction?

Regards

Ian

 

 

User
Posted 07 Aug 2024 at 22:30

It is fairly normal. We have had a few people post similar to you, and I would say my reaction was fairly similar to yours. Qué sera is a good way to deal with this disease. 

I was G9 so I had to have treatment, my opinion was 'well get on with it' so I can get back to normal. I, like you, was relatively lucky in being on a curative path. Treatment has had some side effects, but I can't complain.

Dave

User
Posted 07 Aug 2024 at 22:48

Sounds like you’re in a good place Ian which will help you through this journey. Everyone reacts differently to their diagnosis but I think most  suffer from some level of shock, and then perhaps anger…… ‘Why Me?’.

I don’t know what treatment(if any?) you are being offered but I wish you good luck whatever it is.

Derek

User
Posted 08 Aug 2024 at 08:17

I think I have gone full the whole range of emotions if I'm honest. I've done the fear of the unknown, I've done the anger (Why me), the fear (am I gonna die soon) and now I'm at the "lets get on with the treatment" stage.

All I want to do now is have the treatment and get things back to normal, or at least learn what the new normal is going to be

Dave

User
Posted 08 Aug 2024 at 10:33

Hi Ian.

Welcome to the forum mate. There seems to be disproportionate number of Ians here. Even my name contains Ian. 🙂

Just as a matter of interest, do you know how many cores were taken in your biopsy and how many of those were Gleason 6(3+3). Did they tell you if you had one or more tumours and where about on the prostate they were? What is your PSA?

I initially had a similar diagnosis to yours, and selected AS. 

At that time I was as cool as a cucumber.  My dad and younger brother had the disease, and I'd had prostate problems for years, I expected it. I was told that I was lucky, and that a lot of consultants didn't even count Gleason 6 as cancer. AS was a doddle and for 18 months my PSA levels remained relatively stable fluctuating between 5.6 and 6.

It was only when they eventually remembered that I was due a follow up MRI, which resulted in a second biopsy revealing disease progression, that the 'cool cucumber' started pooping itself. 😁

Gleason 8 (4+4) in 20 out of 24 cores, (later upgraded to Gleason 9 (4+5) ) with capsular breach T3a. 

Although AS failed for me, I'm still a great fan of it. Apparently only 30% of those on it, require later radical treatment.

I wish you luck and hope that you're in the 70%. My only advice would be ensure that your active surveillance is active, and that you are monitored correctly.

Getting back your original question, I suppose in general people react differently to potentially bad news. In our case, I would think age plays a big part. It must be easier to deal with a cancer diagnosis when you're in mid sixties, than when your 40 or 50 with younger families?

Edited by member 08 Aug 2024 at 14:54  | Reason: Not specified

User
Posted 08 Aug 2024 at 21:14

Hello,

Thank for replying.

You asked about the cores, there were 20 taken with 6 diseased.

The tell me it slow progressing and unlikely to spread. However, I still have a second biopsy coming up at the end of August this time under GA, so we will see what that says.

User
Posted 08 Aug 2024 at 21:28

Just noticed what else you asked the tumer on in a bottom corner of the prostrate,  at the apex where ever that is, and was 4mm. I had been to the doctor several times in the past few months, saw different doctors. They could not feel anything with a dre, my PSA level raised from 4.3 to 4.8 that's when the doctor called me back in, this time finding a bump  in the prostrate. My PSA level has gone down again .

User
Posted 08 Aug 2024 at 21:53

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member
 However, I still have a second biopsy coming up at the end of August this time under GA, so we will see what that says.

Hi Ian.

Good luck mate. I hope it confirms Gleason 6 (3+3) and that the tumour is suitably positioned for you to safely continue on active surveillance.

User
Posted 09 Aug 2024 at 09:55

My reaction was pretty similar, and not at all what I had previously imagined my reaction to cancer might be. Others who knew me said I treated it just like a project at work to be solved.

 
Forum Jump  
©2025 Prostate Cancer UK