First breast cancer now prostate cancer

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Traveltext
Traveltext Member Posts: 2,089
edited October 2016 in Male Breast Cancer

A recent study showed that nearly 30% of men who get bc go on to develop prostate cancer as a second primary. Nearly two years post treatment for bc and currently NED, I now have prostate cancer.

Following a recent biopsy, my urologist diagnosed a medium-grade cancer with a Gleason score of 7 and an expected stage T2 to 3. I'll have a PET scan to ensure the disease has not spread to other parts of the body, and I'm booked in for robotic prostatectomy in a couple of months. I have an excellent surgeon for the job and I've complete confidence that I'll have a positive outcome.

Of course, I'm not expecting BCO to be the font of all wisdom on this topic, although I'd love to hear from anyone with a similar diagnosis. In any case, I'll post progress reports in this thread. And I'll stay elsewhere on BCO to share experiences and discuss bc topics with the very many women ( and six men) who I've met online here in the past two years.

There's obviously lots of men out there who are dealing with this particular cancer and there are a few good forums for sharing information and concerns. While I know many men with prostate cancer, I only know one with bc and pc, a guy from New York. We're in touch.


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  • Momine
    Momine Member Posts: 7,859
    edited August 2016

    Not a guy, so no words of wisdom. But with many prostate cases in my family, I am glad you are being aggressive with treatment. I wish you a successful surgery, a clean scan and a fast recovery

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited August 2016

    Traveltext, can't tell you how sorry we are to read that you need to go through another cancer experience. We're all here for you, in any way we can be.


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  • glennie19
    glennie19 Member Posts: 6,398
    edited August 2016

    (((traveltext))) So sorry to hear this. I have a local male friend who has been dealing with both BC and prostate cancer for the last 2 years. Still going strong,, still working and traveling. Sending love and support. glennie

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  • BarredOwl
    BarredOwl Member Posts: 2,433
    edited August 2016

    Traveltext:

    I am so very sorry to hear this. I will be hoping for clear scans and the best possible pathology results from your up-coming surgery.

    BarredOwl

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  • Traveltext
    Traveltext Member Posts: 2,089
    edited August 2016

    Thanks all for the good wishes, I'm using the strength gained on BCO to get me though this one. I get so much from BCO and it is really heart warning to see the camaraderie and fellowship that infuses the posts here. But I often wonder why there are virtually no men with bc out of the US annual 2500 diagnoses posting here, at least over the past two years that I've been around. And while it's good that there are a few sites on MaleBC now, I've noticed men are loathe to discuss medical and psychological aspects of the disease itself. As for prostate cancer, well as a guy in his mid-sixties, I've just in the last week found 10 people happy to talk about all aspects of pc. So I'm thinking perhaps there really is a divide between the two diseases based on gender specificity. Discussion opened.


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  • ElaineTherese
    ElaineTherese Member Posts: 3,328
    edited August 2016

    Hmmm..... I don't know. My Dad's been monitored pretty closely for prostate cancer, and he never talks about it. (I hear about the monitoring from my Mom.) Heck, my Dad can't even discuss my uncle's pancreatic cancer. He was referring to it as an "infection" this summer as though that would somehow lessen the lethality of it.

    Best wishes with the prostate cancer! I understand there are a number of debates about treatment, just as there is with BC.

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  • muska
    muska Member Posts: 1,195
    edited August 2016

    Hi Traveltext, I am sorry to hear about your new diagnosis. Interestingly enough, there are studies indicating a possible genetic connection between prostate and breast cancer, i.e. some genes mutations that are often seen in both.

    My father who is going to be 89 in two weeks, was diagnosed with prostate cancer about 19 years ago. He had surgery, followed by radiation treatment two years later, was in remission for over 10 years, started to progress a couple of years ago and has been on intermittent hormone therapy for the last two or three years. I hope you were caught much earlier and your surgery will be curative. If you have any questions I will be happy to answer them with the knowledge I have accumulated over the last 19 years helping him to make his care decisions.

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  • Beesie
    Beesie Member Posts: 12,240
    edited August 2016

    Traveltext, so sorry to hear about your diagnosis. Pretty much every male in my family had or has prostate cancer, so it's something I'm unfortunately quite familiar with. Hoping your final diagnosis/pathology shows no spread and a non-aggressive cancer

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  • exbrnxgrl
    exbrnxgrl Member Posts: 12,424
    edited August 2016

    Sorry to hear of the new dx. Thinking good thoughts for you

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  • eggroll
    eggroll Member Posts: 150
    edited August 2016

    I just want to tell you how sorry I am to hear this... you've been such an awesome voice in this community and I hope you get some support. Keep us posted as you feel comfortable... thanks for all you do.

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  • nihahi
    nihahi Member Posts: 3,841
    edited August 2016

    Traveltext.....adding to the voices of others that you come through the PC safely and continue on with a great life. No matter which kind...it seems rather unfair (to put it mildly) to have to fight the cancer crap a second time.

    I do think there are "gender differences" in how many things in life are processed. Women, in general, tend to be more willing and even more "needing" to reach out emotionally to others. I think the discussion threads support this, imho. I hope you find the support and "community" that you are seeking.

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  • sbelizabeth
    sbelizabeth Member Posts: 2,889
    edited August 2016

    Traveltext, I'm so sorry you're faced with slugging through yet another episode. But I echo everyone else here--you have been an encourager, a source of information, and the torch-bearer for many, many other men who have struggled through breast cancer. Because of you, I wear a blue ribbon in October and have the opportunity to educate friends and family.

    Let us be by your side and support you through this diagnosis and treatment, as you have done for so many of us. Gentle hugs.

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  • octogirl
    octogirl Member Posts: 2,804
    edited August 2016

    Agreed with all that has been said, traveltext. So sorry to hear this diagnosis but wishing you the best. Hugs!

    Octogirl

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  • ShetlandPony
    ShetlandPony Member Posts: 4,924
    edited August 2016

    Oh no! I'm sorry to hear this bad news. Best wishes that treatment will go smoothly for you and that you'll find good support.

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  • MinusTwo
    MinusTwo Member Posts: 16,634
    edited August 2016

    TravelText - on no, what a discouraging finding. I'm going to add this thread to my favorites and I hope you'll continue to update us as you journey though this new forest. We want to hear about you whatever it is. My brother has been doing "watchful waiting" since 2013 when he had a TURP and they found cancer cells. Now his PSA and biopsies indicate he needs to move forward. He's currently trying to decide between a) surgery; b) radiation; or c) Proton rads.

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  • cp418
    cp418 Member Posts: 7,079
    edited August 2016

    I'm so sorry to hear you going through this again. My uncle (age 80) was dx 3 months ago stage 2 with both lobes affected - one side Gleason score 7 and the other 3. All scans were clear. He was immediately started on anti-androgen therapy and just had HDR procedure last week. Next he will start 5 weeks of local radiation therapy. Both his brothers also had prostate cancer. Keep us posted and wishing you an easy journey.

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  • Englishmummy
    Englishmummy Member Posts: 337
    edited August 2016

    Oh no! Thinking of you Traveltext. Hugs.

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  • ksusan
    ksusan Member Posts: 4,505
    edited August 2016

    I'm really sorry to hear it.

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  • Lucy55
    Lucy55 Member Posts: 3,044
    edited September 2016

    Traveltext ..So sorry to hear this ..Thinking of you .

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  • Mominator
    Mominator Member Posts: 1,575
    edited September 2016

    Traveltext, I'm so sorry to hear about your pc diagnosis. I've heard there are many pc treatment options, and I'm sure you'll be researching them as well as you have been bc.

    I'm surprised by the recent study you cited that nearly 30% of men who get bc go on to develop prostate cancer as a second primary. That's a lot of prostrate cancer! I wonder if there has been any genetic testing of these men? Or could the treatments for cancer be associated with an increased risk of prostrate cancer.

    According to Myriad, there are at least 13 genes that have been linked to breast cancer. Of those 13 genes, 3 of them are also linked to increased risk of prostrate cancer: BRCA1, BRCA2, and CHEK2. I know that BRCA1 and 2 have a 60-87% risk of breast cancer, and are associated with increased risk of male breast cancer (as well as ovarian, and pancreatic cancers, BRCA2 also melanoma). I'm not sure about CHEK2 risks for male breast cancer per se.

    Myriad recommends genetic testing of any male who has had breast cancer.

    https://www.myriad.com/healthcare-professionals/disease-education/breast-cancer/

    My uncle had prostrate cancer about 20 years ago and pursued a treatment option that would preserve his sexual potency. I can ask him about that if you wish. I hope the standard of care treatment now has addressed those problems. Yikes!

    https://www.myriad.com/changing-lives-men-prostate-cancer/

    I wish you well in your prostrate cancer journey.

    Mominator

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  • Traveltext
    Traveltext Member Posts: 2,089
    edited September 2016

    Thanks for your response Morninator, the reference to the recent study on men getting PC following BC is HERE.

    There are only around 17,000 males diagnosed worldwide with BC each year and 903,000 cases of prostate cancer. 1,383,500 women get breast cancer each year worldwide.

    Not sure if treatments for BC cause PC, more likely we are talking genetic mutations. I have a BRCA1 variation.

    Until I get the results of my PET scan next week I won't have an idea of how radical the surgery will be, and consequently how much incontinence and ED (common side effects of surgery) will potentially result. The surgeon's skill and whether nerve damage can be avoided in the attempt to get clear margins are all part of the equation. Yikes, as you say.

    In just a couple of weeks I've found a whole bunch of men around my district who have been through PC and have lots of advice to offer. Just like with women and BC, I guess. Best of all I have found four more guys in the US with BC and PC to chat to. Gotta love the internet!

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  • ChiSandy
    ChiSandy Member Posts: 12,133
    edited September 2016

    (((Traveltext))). Wish you could catch a break--it’s so unfair. Hope you have an easier time dealing with pc. If it hadn’t been for Richard (“Shaft”) Roundtree and Kiss’ Peter Criss, I would never have heard of male bc before I came to BCO and heard your eloquent voice in support of our bc brothers. Hopes and prayers that you find your way through this.

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  • Mominator
    Mominator Member Posts: 1,575
    edited September 2016

    Traveltext, that is an interesting study. The abstract only mentioned BRCA2, although as I've noted above there's at least 3 genes associated with both BC and PC. Colon cancer was listed as the next highest primary cancer after prostrate in that study. Both BRCA 1 and 2 are also associated with colorectal cancers. Are you due for a colonoscopy soon? As if you didn't have enough on your plate already.

    Your signature is full of so much useful information. When I first read some of your posts on other threads, I had just presumed that you had no genetic mutations since they weren't listed. My mistake. Now I see after reading through some your other posts that it is BRCA1 VUS.

    I didn't bother listing my STK-11 VUS, since I had thought the BRCA2 overrides it in terms of my breast and ovarian cancer risks. Looking over the chart, I see that STK-11 is associated with increased risk of breast, ovarian pancreatic cancers, plus colon, gastrointestinal, and "other" cancers. I have reflux issues. So I just added the VUS to my signature.

    Incidentally, I did mentioned my STK-11 VUS in one of my first posts, and Stephanie/Longtermsurvivor reached out and introduced herself to me. I've learned so much from her since then.

    Now that you have both BC and PC diagnoses, you're probably wondering/suspecting your VUS may actually be quite significant. It may be useful in your signature to help you find more guys with both BC and PC.

    Also, have you registered at FORCE (facingourrisk.org), NCCN (nccn.org), and/or PROMPT (promptstudy.org)? I know some, if not all, of them are funded or owned by testing companies. However, they at least are keeping track of all these mutations and helping to keep us informed.

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  • Traveltext
    Traveltext Member Posts: 2,089
    edited September 2016

    Thanks all for the comments and best wishes. Woohoo, he PET showed all clear except for the spot on the prostate that we already knew about. The urologist spent a lot of time explaining the options and we agreed that surgery was the best option so that's booked in for 9 November. Naturally, I'm quite relieved and in celebration mode, despite the fact that living prostate free is not the most fun.

    Mominator, Actually, the abstract was not just BRCA patient specific, and included "male pts diagnosed with breast cancer (BC) between 1990 and 2012"

    The conclusions have ramifications:
    "Male breast cancer is associated with other primary cancers in one-third of pts, most commonly with prostate cancer. These results have implications for evaluation of screening strategies and germline panel testing beyond that for BRCA, in these men."

    I'm pushing for men with BC to be given annual screening for PC. Also, BRCA men should be put into annual screening programs like women are, since these people have, at the very least, the same odds of developing BC as women.

    I have registered at FORCE. I believe we'll know more about the genetics as time goes by and databases show patterns.

    It took me two years to find 10 men with BC and 2 days to find 10 men with PC. Plus, I've recently hooked up with five guys in my situation, a very exclusive club.

    Meanwhile I'll continue to post at BCO where women have been so supportive.


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  • Meow13
    Meow13 Member Posts: 4,859
    edited September 2016

    I am so sorry to hear of your prostrate cancer. We need cures soon.

    Take care traveltext.

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  • Valstim52
    Valstim52 Member Posts: 1,324
    edited September 2016

    congrats on the good PET results Traveltext. Woo hoo.

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  • sbelizabeth
    sbelizabeth Member Posts: 2,889
    edited September 2016

    Traveltext, doing the happy dance here in California. YAY!

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  • Hopeful82014
    Hopeful82014 Member Posts: 3,480
    edited September 2016
    I'm so glad to see that your scan was clear - it's about time you caught a break! I'm very sorry you're going through all this though. I hope that having been through bc has given you tools to help through this experience.
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  • BarredOwl
    BarredOwl Member Posts: 2,433
    edited September 2016

    Hi traveltext:

    Thank you for that great news!

    BarredOwl

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  • Denise-G
    Denise-G Member Posts: 1,777
    edited September 2016

    So glad to read this! 

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