Posted on 08/04/2025 3:13:32 PM PDT by ConservativeMind
A new study reveals that some men who are diagnosed with "Grade Group one" (GG1) prostate cancer may actually be at higher risk than biopsy results suggest.
The researchers conclude that relying on biopsy grade alone can lead to underestimating disease risk and misclassifying individuals who may benefit from definitive treatment with either surgery or radiation. Biopsies test only small areas of the prostate, so they can miss more advanced or aggressive cancer cells.
The study found that one in six men with GG1 category cancer turns out to have intermediate- or high-risk cancer when other clinical features are considered in addition to biopsy results.
"There is a misunderstanding that 'low grade' and 'low risk' are the same. Here, we show clearly that they are not," said Dr. Jonathan Shoag.
The data included about 300,000 men who were diagnosed with cancer that was localized to the prostate. Approximately 117,000 of those men had a biopsy that was categorized as GG1. This grade is often used synonymously with a low risk for progression to metastasis.
But what if some of these men harbored more aggressive prostate cancers than suggested by their biopsy grade alone? Dr. Al Hussein and his colleagues further analyzed the individuals in the GG1 group with their clinical data such as PSA levels and tumor sizes. When all the data were factored in, the researchers discovered that more than 18,000 of these men had higher risk cancers that are often treated with radiation therapy or removal of the prostate (radical prostatectomy).
"Our data show that up to 30% of patients who were diagnosed with GG1 but were in the higher risk category underwent active surveillance, which means they were potentially undertreated," Dr. Al Hussein said.
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
Bkmk
Just grateful to God mine was detected and treated early in 2019.
I was diagnosed by the VA in 2020 and I’ve been on active surveillance ever since.. My Gleason score is a 3+4. Every six months I have a PSA test as well as either a MRI or biopsy. I’ve also had genetic testing twice (Prolaris) that predicted without treatment there is a 97.5 chance of remaining free of metastasizing.
What was your PSA? I was successfully treated with ADT and proton radiation last year.
I have a PSA of 81, Doc wants a biopsy but MRI etc shows no cancer. This is the 3rd urologist I have had. Caught the other 2 giving false testing so don’t trust any of them.
If I were you, I’d get robotic surgery by a great urologic surgeon. My urologist at MD Anderson is just about the best in the world. Get a great surgeon and ED and urinary problems won’t be a problem.
If you want, I can ask him for a recommendation in your area.
81? I thought my PSA was high at 31. I just finished radiation therapy three weeks ago and with the Lupron and drugs I’m taking now my PSA is down to <0.064. I’m still healing from the radiation but I’m feeling better all the time.
Just found out today that John, my neighbor, has prostate cancer. His brother is flying from Florida to Spokane to take him for surgery across the state in Seattle.
John eats nothing but horrible junk food. Plus he doesn’t have medical insurance. Medicare will apparently pay for his surgery. I tried to get him to get med insurance but he’s apparently too stupid.
Wow. Crazy. Mine was about 7.2. MRI showed a lesion, biopsy confirmed that it was cancer.
My PSA was an 8 when I was diagnosed in 2018 and at last screening it was 0.1. My doctor tested me when I was 55 with zero symptoms and no indication from the manual exam. I did the radiation treatments followed by the radiation pellet implant procedure. Not sure if ADT was an option but don’t recall it mentioned when I chose radiation over surgeical removal.
My PSA was an 8 when I was diagnosed in 2018 and at last screening it was 0.1. My doctor tested me when I was 55 with zero symptoms and no indication from the manual exam. I did the radiation treatments followed by the radiation pellet implant procedure. Not sure if ADT was an option but don’t recall it mentioned when I chose radiation over surgeical removal.
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