Gleason 6

Active Surveillance Patients International: aspatients.org
The Active Surveillor: howardwolinsky...
0:24 What is Gleason 6 prostate cancer?
2:22 If it doesn't metastasize, why is it called cancer?
4:26 Clinical study examines whether Gleason 6 prostate cancer metastasizes
6:56 Spread is something that occurs before the prostate is removed, not after
7:55 Can Gleason 6 prostate cancer transform into a higher grade?
9:31 Is 50% of all prostate cancer Gleason 6?
9:44 How can a patient know for sure that their grade is Gleason 6?
10:42 Are active surveillance patients less likely to die of prostate cancer?
11:15 How should a patient handle being advised to treat Gleason 6?
13:19 Can active surveillance continue indefinitely?
14:15 At what level is a PSA considered potentially concerning?
15:06 How often does a second pathology result in a new Gleason grade?
16:17 Is there any context in which a Gleason 6 patient should seek treatment?
17:49 Alex's conclusions
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The Prostate Cancer Research Institute (PCRI) is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization that is dedicated to helping you research your treatment options. We understand that you have many questions, and we can help you find the answers that are specific to your case. All of our resources are designed by a multidisciplinary team of advocates and expert physicians for patients. We believe that by educating yourself about the disease, you will have more productive interactions with your medical professionals and receive better-individualized care. Feel free to explore our website at pcri.org or contact our free helpline with any questions that you have at pcri.org/helpline. Our Federal Tax ID # is 95-4617875 and qualifies for maximum charitable gift deductions by individual donors.

[@tshelley4232]

I was diagnosed with 3+3. Urologist strongly recommended surgery removal of prostate. He got agitated as I deemed it not necessary. That was 5 years ago.

[@colemant6845]

BTW... Another amazingly informative video with information that my Urologist(s) have never shared with me. THANK YOU!

[@TERRY-cb2ku]

I'm praying for a Gleason score of 3+3 or something benign when I have my biopsy soon.

[@jamesspadaro1996]

Me too

[@davidmarshall2486]

Thank you I’m a Gleason six getting a MRI done tomorrow needed to see this video and getting another biopsy done under Active surveillance

[@monetizepresentknowledge5621]

I had an MRI targeted biopsy second time around instead of a regular random biopsy. Much more accurate and by the grace of God, results came back benign.

[@mactheslovac8673]

How r u

[@monetizepresentknowledge5621]

@@mactheslovac8673 doing well, thanks.

[@davidmarshall2486]

Fine thank you 😊

[@timothywest3575]

God bless you both for sharing this excellent info.

[@RLTtizME]

I am 76 and recently diagnosed (2/24) with prostate cancer with a Gleason score of 7 / 3+4. I have had my prostate digitally checked at every yearly physical for years. Diagnosed with an MRI, Fusion Ultra Sound used for the biopsy and a follow up PSA of 4.15 this month. My PSA has fluctuated between the 4's and 5's for years. I am on active surveillance for now. I don't think I would ever agree to a Prostatectomy (side effects and quality of life) unless circumstances were dire... but would explore other treatment options as discussed with my Doctor.

[@joeysocks5718]

Thank you for the great information. I’m Gleason 6 for 2 years, and PSA remains steady. I’m in no rush to have surgery or get radiated.

[@afshinPROF]

very grateful for your videos. I had a Gleason 6 diagnosis in 2017 (at 47 years old). I chose RP, which I agree may have been over-treatment. Now at 55 years old I'm having BCR (PSA .21) I had a PSMA scan (a month ago) which showed a small spot on a rib. Pelvic zone was clear. My radiologist thought the spot on the rib might be metastasis, but with the knowledge I've gained from your videos I was able to argue that "Gleason 6 doesn't spread." My team of doctors have now concluded that the PSMA spot was likely a "false positive," probably showing a spot from an old injury. I'll do an other PSMA in 6-12 months to check for any changes. A video on PSMA "false positives" might be a good idea. Thanks for all of your videos, which truly empower your viewers.

[@user-ne1ql1rc1g]

If the radiologist assumed the spot on the rib was an old fracture and it ended up being a metastasis (prostate or other) you would sue him.

[@insanecnc]

I am 61 and my Dr. recommended I get an MRI with contrast of my prostate because my PSA was at 4.4. The MRI showed a couple lesions so my Dr. recommended a biopsy. Out of the 12 or 13 core sample biopsies taken 9 of those samples came back all Gleason 6, 3+3. I am considering just doing active surveillance for now and do a PSA check every 6 months. But what makes me nervous is that 9 out of the 13 samples were considered cancerous 3+3. My Dr. went over a list of options but suggested removing the prostate may be the best option. As far as I know there is nobody in my family history with prostate cancer. My dad passed away at 90 years old but not from cancer and I do not believe he ever had a PSA test in his life.

[@chitterlingsrtasty]

I’m in a similar situation. 10 out of 13 samples initially 3+3. 2nd opinion resulted in the sample from the one lesion being 3+4 (5% of it was 4). First urologist recommended prostate removal (that was with it only being Gleason 6) 2nd urologist recommended whole prostate treatment as well. I’m trying to determine if I do focal therapy for 3+4=7 and AS for the Gleason 6. Waiting on onkotype test to determine what to do on the Gleason 7. I have an uncle who recently passed from prostate cancer in his mid 70’s (im 51). I’m not sure of the specifics of his cancer.

[@williewonka6694]

That's almost my exact situation, age 64, PSA 5.3, Gleason 6 on 9 of 12. Grandfather died of prostate cancer.

[@markusrose9667]

Wish you had addressed whether it makes any sense to get one of those genomic tests after a G6 dx.

[@cheese9879]

I just had a HeLOP and a andenocarcimoma, group 1, 3+3=6 was found. My urologist recommended monitoring.

[@nvan78]

Initially considered Gleason 6 (3+3) in 2017 and been on Active Surveillance since. TURP surgery a year ago to deal with BPH issues as well, but my PSA has not diminished at all (last reading was 22). My sense is something has been missed here. Have a discussion with a radiation oncologist in about a week to see if they can shed any light on this. PSMA - Pet scan in the last two months which showed plenty of activity in the prostate and a suspicious thyroid nodule but thats about it.

[@Giovan_Nino]

Very well put together..been watching this channel for a number of years now. However I’ve noticed you are getting so proficient and know what you are talking about so well, that you have managed to speed up your speech to a level that is now becoming difficult to follow..Just an observation with many thanks for your great work…

[@fredwelf8650]

The issue with 3+3 as with any Gleason score is ‘why does metastasis occur?’ G6 is an ambiguous diagnosis because the underlying belief that it is not cancer belies the purpose of AS and the suspicion that the biopsy missed the cancerous tumor cells in the prostate. Furthermore, there is a skepticism about whether a g6 can become a g7, or a g7 into a g8. If cancer is a dedifferentiating process, why would it stop at 6 or 7 or 8, etc. That is, does the cancer stop with g6, or g7, etc. It’s doubtful. This implicates the “leap’ from a g score to ‘advanced’ or metastasis. In parallel, there seems to be a “leap” from cancer inside the prostate to cancer outside the prostate, to bone or lymph or elsewhere. The leaps indicate that the cause of metastasis is not well understood. Apparently, as cancer cells accumulate in the prostate, the likelihood of a breakout increases. But, might not the biopsy procedure cause cancer cells to escape the prostate. What causes metastasis; how does it occur? What is a metastatic event? Lastly, it is incomplete to claim a fact on the basis of data, as when very few g6’s out of 12,000 eventually developed PC. It is necessary to offer an explanation, reasoning. In other words, why does the probability of cancer increase for any initial condition?

[@graemefraser1948]

“might not biopsy procedure cause the cancer cells escape the prostate?” This is a very good question. My limited research says that it’s possible, but is not considered as a relevant risk by the medical fraternity. Although there certainly seems to be support for moving away from biopsy. My semen was bloody for a month following a random/pattern biopsy….it certainly traumatized my prostate.

[@user-ne1ql1rc1g]

Certainly the complete picture of Gleason 6 prostate cancer is not understood but what is becoming clear is that not all Gleason 6 is the same. Its just that they look the same under a microscope to a pathologist. Genetically there appears to be many different entities that are grouped together as "Gleason 6". It seems a minority of those can dedifferentiate but that many do not. The ones that do not dedifferentiate in fact would not be cancer at all if you could distinguish them from the others. The situation is somewhat analogous to DCIS with breast cancer. Some DCIS goes on to IDC and some never does. Granted alot more DCIS progresses than Gleason 6. Treatment decisions are all about the risk/benefit to each of us. The more information that you can obtain about your personal Gleason 6 the better. I am really looking forward to advancements on the genetic front in the next few years. Hopefully the scientific advancements outpace my PSA advancement.

[@user-ne1ql1rc1g]

@@graemefraser1948 From what I have seen biopsy seeding is a real thing but typically happens with very aggressive kinds of cancers such as sarcomas. Most cancers have to go through various suites of mutations before they can survive in a different tissue "soil".

[@Blanco83]

If Gleason 6 does not spread why do active surveillance? Seems like you waiting for the train to leave the station, then you would be dealing with a bigger problem.

[@user-ne1ql1rc1g]

Because the train may never leave the station and the treatment could be worse than the cure.

[@VictorDeLaCruz536]

In six month, my PSA drop from 213 to 163

[@SeekingWisdom17]

PSA is very high for a GS 3+3. Do you have a high volume prostate?

[@bigr4655]

I had a 13 point biopsy (12 random plus 1 targeted) following a standard MRI that initially did not find anything but later did find a "speck" with another person looking at it. Nine of the 13 had nothing, the remainder had 3 + 3. My urologist says the volume was high at anywhere between 40 to 70% of the length of the core samples themselves. . The volume of a cancer cells never seem to be a topic of discussion, could you one day make a video discussing that aspect? Volume does not seem to be a topic of anyone's videos, and though I don't remember at the moment my urologist has stated that that my " high-volume" is a problem for me.

[@bigr4655]

Btw, I was 59 when biopsy was taken. I'm 60 now in case you have any comments. Thanks !

[@monetizepresentknowledge5621]

I was 56 when I had a random biopsy. That was in 2018. The problem is, it's a "random" procedure. Last year I had a PSMA-PET scan then an MRI targeted biopsy- that's where you're in the MRI during the procedure. These procedures are much more accurate. Don't depend on random medical treatment.

[@monetizepresentknowledge5621]

Sorry, I meant 3+3, not 6+6.

[@user-ne1ql1rc1g]

Is Gleason 6 prostate cancer, by itself, a risk factor for developing Gleason 7 or higher cancer or is the risk the same as a man without prostate cancer, all else being equal?

[@williewonka6694]

good question

[@StarExplorer123]

What if you have Gleason 3+3 but the tumor breaches the prostate capsule? Then what?

[@user-gg2kr3vz5e]

Good question

[@colemant6845]

This is a very confusing PCRI video for me... 11 years ago I was diagnosed with 3+3 PC. Had High Dose Radiation (HDR) and PSA declined to .2 for the last 11 years. Now my PSA has climbed to 6. The PSMA scan showed a single lymph node spread. 2 subsequent biopsies of both the Lymph node and and my Prostate were BOTH benign! Now... I have a Guided Fusion Prostate Biopsy scheduled (June 6th)... Is this the "best" next step??

[@monetizepresentknowledge5621]

I had 3+3 and PSA 17 in 2018. I refused surgery. Last year I had PSMA PET scan and MRI targeted biopsy which was benign. My PSA was last at 15 and I am on active surveillance.

[@williewonka6694]

So, here I am, age 64 with PSA 5.3, MRI identified likely lesion, which biopsy found half the gland, 9 of 12 cores at Gleason 6. Grandfather died of Prostate cancer, losing about 10 years of life. I remember he was told that it was slow growth and he would die of something else. Well, he didnt. Not sure if active surveillance is right for me.

[@postmurrmerkulov9295]

After the biopsy, my result was 3+3. After the operation pT3a and also 3+3. And also R1

[@waelfadlallah8939]

You shouldn't have done the surgery

[@user-uz7kn7px6d]

God bless you for this info...what are yoyr thoughts on creatine snd collogen suplements with a gkeason 6 diagnosis?

[@timstephens2866]

What is the ratio formula, mentioned in the video, between my PSA number and prostate size?

[@TiHerr74]

In my case, my prostate measured 74 mL and my last PSA score was 5.7 ng/mL. So my PSA density is .077 ng/ml/cc. The lower the number, the better with .15 considered an actionable level.

[@richardzelinka9411]

Divide the psa by the prostate size. The conventional wisdom is that any result below .15 is within the range of "normal".

[@orangeguy3314]

Don't get the mri. I got a mri and didn't find anything. Also in the report. It said basically it wasn't good at finding for those having 3+3 or 3+4. Next time I'm going for a mri pet scan.

[@VictorDeLaCruz536]

I was diagnosed last year with Gleason 6 i’ve been on active surveillance for six months. I want to have the robotics surgery. I do not want to have this disease in me What you recommend.

[@dondgc2298]

Look for a video called “why Gleason 6 is not cancer.” And relax and enjoy your life. And keep your prostate.

[@RedAramis4]

I'm going to show this to my urologist. I have 3+3=6 Gleason in 4/12 cores and he's wanting to remove the prostate. If 3+3 doesn't metastasize, I question why the need for a Radical Prostatectomy?

[@cynthiabrenton9615]

Over the last few years my PSA has been slowly increasing. I’m 65. Last fall my PSA reached 4.0 and because of a family history of PC my urologist recommended doing an MRI & followup random 12 core biopsy if the MRI showed anything. 3 of the 12 cores came back with Gleason 6. I dropped approximately 40 lbs this spring on a low carb, no sugar, no alcohol diet. Recent PSA came back at 3.7. Can you tell me if the drop in PSA is most likely related to the weight loss?

[@MyFrank71]

thats a great question

[@johnstewart917]

In 2006 had prostectomy, pathology report gleason 6 3+3. No detectable PSA until 2016 then a slow rise. PSA now 0.2 and has been holding steady for 6 months. I have had PSMA PET and MRI (T3), nothing shows in the scans. My question, can this be a different prostate cancer? When the prostate was removed the tumor had not penetrated the capsule.

[@iamric23]

Why were so many men who were diagnosed with 3 plus 3 operated on to remove their prostate? Is this something that I should have done to me, I also have a 3 plus 3. I forgot to thank the two of you, without these videos I would be lost.

[@monetizepresentknowledge5621]

Because it is a huge business and urologists are surgeons. Don't let them scare you into surgery when 6+6 isn't even considered cancer.

[@jamesdante2335]

Can 3+3 ever lead to biochemical reoccurrence?

[@dondgc2298]

You can’t have recurrence if you have not removed anything.

[@fredwelf8650]

@@dondgc2298. You can have recurrence if you became undetectable or negligible with ADT and the cancer returned increasing the PSA. imo

[@dondgc2298]

@@fredwelf8650 valid point. I was really trying to get at “what are you doing to this Gleason 6 that it has disappeared to the point there can be a recurrence,” given that Gleason 6 is generally not treated. But of course you are correct.