Test result

The speaker discusses the importance of understanding biopsy results for prostate cancer. They explain that adenocarcinoma is the most common type of prostate cancer, but not all cases are the same. The Gleason grade indicates the aggressiveness of the cancer cells. A Gleason score of 7 puts the person in the intermediate risk category. The percentages in the results represent the amount of cancer cells in each sample. Paraneural invasion means that cancer cells are near nerves, but it doesn't necessarily mean they have spread. The speaker encourages the listener to have a conversation with their doctor to determine the best course of action based on their overall health, biopsy results, and personal preferences. They emphasize the importance of asking questions and being proactive in advocating for oneself. All right, let's be real for a second. Nobody wants to be staring at their biopsy results, you know? Yeah. Especially when it's got that big C word looming around. Right. But we're here to help you unpack all that, hopefully make a little more sense of what you're actually looking at. It can definitely feel overwhelming. But that's what we're here for. Exactly. We're going to break it down piece by piece and figure out what it all means for you. Perfect. So today's deep dive, we're taking a close look at, well, your prostate biopsy results. And I'll be honest. When I first saw adenocarcinoma on like medical papers. My heart kind of skipped a beat. Yeah. It sounds like something straight out of like a sci-fi movie, you know? It does. But it's actually just the medical term for like the most common type of prostate cancer. Exactly. And using that term basically confirms that, yes, there are cancer cells present. But, and this is important, not all prostate cancer is the same. Some types grow very slowly and might never cause any actual problems, while others can be more, well, aggressive. That's where the Gleason grade comes in. Those numbers you see, like 3 plus 4 is 7, or 4 plus 3 is 7. Tell us how aggressive the cancer cells look under a microscope. Okay. So I'm seeing those numbers. I'm probably a little confused, maybe a little freaked out. Understandably. What does like a Gleason score of 7 really mean in the grand scheme of things? So a 7 in this case puts you in the intermediate risk category. Okay. Think of it like this. If low risk cancer is like, say, diluted juice, and high risk is that super concentrated stuff, you're somewhere in between. Right. Right. It means we need to really weigh the pros and cons of different treatment options could be surgery, radiation, even active surveillance, which is basically watchful waiting. Got it. Now, my eyes, they always go straight to the percentages, you know, 5%, 10%, even saw 30% in some spots. Right. Like, am I shopping for discounts here? This is serious stuff. Shuckles. I get it. What are those numbers actually telling us? Those percentages show how much of each biopsied sample had cancer cells in it. Okay. It's kind of, imagine you're making a cake, right? Yeah. Some parts might have more sprinkles than others. Cancer isn't always perfectly even. There can be spots that are more concentrated with those cancer cells. I see. I see. So, we've talked about what kind of prostate cancer and how much of it we're seeing. One thing that always kind of throws me for a loop is this phrase, I'm going to try to say it right, paraneural invasion identified. Man, just reading that sounds kind of scary, doesn't it? Can you break that down for us? Absolutely. Imagine your nerves are like a network of roads. Okay. Paraneural invasion just means that some cancer cells are hanging out near those roads, so there's a potential way for them to spread. And this is key. It doesn't mean they have spread. Okay. Just that the possibility is there. Got it. Got it. So, putting it all together, we've got a sense of your specific cancer. We're looking at its type, how aggressive it might be, and that chance it could spread. That's a lot to wrap your head around. Where do we even go from here? You're right. It's a lot to process, but the important thing is you're not alone in this. The next step is really to sit down with your doctor. They'll look at your overall health, these biopsy results, and even your personal preferences to figure out the very best course of action for you. And that's what this whole deep dive is about, right? Giving you the knowledge to have that conversation with your doctor. Absolutely. To ask those key questions. And to feel empowered when it comes to your health. 100%. So, as you move forward with this, think about this. We've learned a lot about how prostate cancer can be different for everyone. And we've looked at your specific results. What questions are you going to ask your doctor? What do you need to know to really understand the specifics of your case? There you go. Don't be afraid to speak up and advocate for yourself. Exactly. You got this.