Biopsy Results

  I promised biopsy results, and I'll get to that shortly. But I wanted to mention the tool they used on me, I call it the wand of pain.


  Please make sure you are either knocked out or that your Uro waits long enough for the numbing agent to take effect. My Uro waited maybe 2 minutes before he started with the biopsy.


  I felt every dang needle stick, and it was like being poked with a sewing needle each time. To add to this, the clicking he said I'd hear was more like a loud clacking. I jumped every time that thing went off. This was unarguably the most uncomfortable and painful medical procedure I'd been through ever.


  To the results: Gleason score of 8, honestly that's it.


  Now what is a Gleason score? A GS is made up by adding two numbers together. The first number is the grade of how abnormal the most prevalent cancer cells are. The second number is the grade of the second most prevalent cancer cells. Mine was a 4+4. The individual numbers can range from 2 to 5. 2s are generally ignored. It's when both numbers are 3 that they say you have cancer.


  Now to discuss the aggressiveness of PCa by Gleason score.


  Gleason 6 - Low risk, not aggressive, typical treatment is Active Surveillance. You just monitor your PSA results over time. And if it rises too rapidly then you proceed to some sort of treatment. If it's a true G6 it likely will never metastasize.


  Gleason 7 - Intermediate Risk (3+4)s are usually treated like G6 but clearly there is greater risk than a G6. (4+3)s are treated like G8 because that 4 in the leading position is not good.


  Gleason 8 through 10 -- High risk prostate cancer. This means it has a high risk of becoming advanced prostate cancer.  And by advanced, it means it likely will metastasize to your lymph nodes, bones or some organs.