thank you I will have a look a lot of people talk about there biopsie results all we were told it was Gleason 7 but didn’t get a copy 

Hi Miffa11.

I'm not a doctor; however when I was diagnosed I did a lot of background research and picked up a lot of information. I'm also a committee member of our local prostate support group. 

Let's start out with some reassurance: you don't get offered surgery unless there is a really good chance that the operation will cure the cancer.  So, simply being offered surgery is itself good news! 

As [@Billygoat]‍ has said, you are entitled to a copy of your results, plus copies of any letters send to your GP.  As a general rule, you should always ask to see everything!  Armed with this information, you can begin to read around and become an active participant in your treatment, rather than a passive recipient.

The hospital should provide you with this information, but you may find your GP a more approachable source. My GP routinely provided me with prints of all faxes, letters, emails, etc that she received from the hospital.  

After surgery, the removed organ is sent to the pathology lab for detailed dissection and analysis.  The pathologists put their findings in a report which is sent back to the surgeon. This should be available in time for your 6 week follow up appointment.  From this, you should be able to see a detailed breakdown of the Gleason grade of your cancer; eg. 3+4 or 4+3 rather than just the sum 7.  This is a general indication of how aggressive the cancer appears. 4+3 is thought to be slightly more aggressive than 3+4, even though they both add up to 7.  

You should also find the cancer stage.  This is going to be the letter T with a number and a letter, optionally followed by N and M codes.  The number is an indication of how advanced the cancer is. T1 and T2 mean that it's still within the prostate; T3 and T4 indicate increasing levels of spread outside the prostate.  The letter following the stage number doesn't have much significance in surgical cases.   The N and M indicate whether it has spread to local lymph nodes (N) or whether it has it spread further (M).  N0 and M0 indicate no spread, which is usually the situation in surgical cases. If the N and M aren't mentioned, you can assume that there's no spread.

The surgeon should take you through all this at your follow up. Feel free to ask about the Gleason score, the cancer staging, and whether any spread was found. Write the information down so you don't have to remember.  Ask the surgeon about predicted outcome and how to cope with the incontinence.  

Best wishes. 

Hi again miffa like'' tele''said you should have some details eg mine was 4+4=8 T3b N2 M1 psa 1581 that was Feb 2016 grade 4 the last bit they don't always tell you, if you look at billygoat you will see I still have cancer but I manage fine.

Billy

P.s have you had any scans yet. 

thanks for reply no havnt had any scans yet they havnt even mentioned scans as of yet

I will be asking the doctors for a copy they did one thrust biopsie 12 months ago then did a template biopsie about 6 months ago in the beginning it wasn’t my prostate I was there about as I had a bleed on my brain five years ago and had coilings in my head it was Walton and aintree hospital that detected psa levels when they were checking my pertuitry gland 

Hi Miffa11.

You would normally have scans, usually an MRI, prior to surgery.  I had my MRI after my biopsy, but I think it's becoming more common to do the MRI first, then use the results of that to guide the biopsy.

After surgery your PSA should drop within 6 weeks to < 0.1  (less than 0.1).  If this happens, then no more scans will be done providing it stays that low; all being well, it should stay at that low level for life. 

I had a mri after first biopsie but not before or after second one it’s good that you said they only normally remove if there is a good chance it was contained in prostate think I will start asking more questions to them when we go back just wanted it over with as only lost are daughter 12 months ago so last 12 months have been like a nightmare to be honest

Hi just curious has anyone mensioned wearing a bag (cafeter) I think cannot remember proper name just to help you out to start with.. Good luck best wishes.

Billy 

one was fitted for a week after op but was removed last wed and was given pads and ment to be getting referd to incontinent nurse but don’t hav much faith in arrow park since my daughter passed away to be honest