YANA - YOU ARE NOT ALONE NOW

PROSTATE CANCER SUPPORT SITE

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Al S and Donna live in New York, USA. He was 52 when he was diagnosed in August, 2008. His initial PSA was 2.1 ng/ml, his Gleason Score was 7 and he was staged T1c. His choice of treatment was Active Surveillance. Here is his story.

In March of 2008 after getting my annual physical my doctor saw that my PSA was 2.1 up from 1.5 the year before. Rectal exam was normal.

I was referred to a urologist given the rise in PSA from the prior year. In July 2008, my digital rectal scan was fairly normal and my rectal exam showed no tumors to the touch. My free factor PSA was 8% however so a biopsy was recommended.

In August 2008 I got a biopsy which came back a positive with a Gleason score of 3+4 with 20% cancer found in the right mid gland and 30% in the left apex.

My first inclination was Da Vinci Surgery but after meeting with my urologist yesterday I've decided to go for active surveillance with a change in diet, PSA tests and digital rectal scans every 3 months and an annual biopsy.

Any input from people taking a similar path is very much appreciated.

 

UPDATED

November 2008

 

 

I got a second opinion on my biopsy hoping for a lower Gleason score and diagnosis. Instead it came back worse. Of my 3 positive cores: 2 cores were upgraded from 3+4 to 4+3 and one core was upgraded 3+4 to 4+4.

So my active surveillance program went quickly out the window (although my no red meat and no dairy active surveillance diet & my exercise program did not) as of October 30th, 2008 I started to be treated as a high risk radiation patient. This entails nine months of hormone therapy (Trelstar & Casodex) plus brachytherapy (seed implants) after the third month of hormone therapy followed 30 days later with 5 weeks of external beam radiation therapy to get any PC cells that may have escaped from the prostate. I'm glad I've made this decision and begun treatment.

The day I started my HT I got a baseline PSAs test which came back as unchanged over the last 6 months which I attribute to radically changing my diet upon learning of my diagnosis in August.

 

UPDATED

February 2009

 

 

It is now 112 days since I started my hormone therapy and two weeks since I had brachytherapy. So far I have been fortunate with few side effects from both treatments.

On the hormone therapy front I've had no hot flushes, little fatigue, no mood swings, and was able to have sex during the first 3 month phase. I have seen a big drop in libido however.

As far as the brachytherapy it all went smoothly. I received 70 Paladium-125 seeds on February 3rd. I did have a strange experience during the brachytherapy procedure when I "woke up" during the last part of the procedure and was able to hear my oncologist announce "I'm going to implant the seminal vesicles now." I then felt him push in the final 7 or 8 radioactive seeds. I felt no pain - just a hard push to my pelvic area.

Taking a pee and removal of the catheter went smoothly after brachytherapy and I was released the same day. For several days I had burning during urination but nothing since. I have had no increase in urgency and have taken a daily Flomax which has helped maintain fairly normal urination. I have had no rectal side effects so far.

In early April I will start the 5 week external beam radiation treatment(EBRT) and will update my profile once that is over.

 

UPDATED

July 2009

 

 

Yesterday I took my final Casodex pill in what has been a 9 month HT/ Brachytherapy/ EBRT treatment.

The brachytherapy and EBRT went fine with minimal urinary issues. I've stopped Flomax and have no urinary issues to speak of today.

The hormone therapy went pretty well also. I did experience total loss of libido and sexual function starting in he 3rd month. My testosterone went from 414 to 19.5 over the 9 months. I also experienced weight gain going from 205lbs to 229 lbs.

I met with my oncologist this week and got tested for PSA. Happy to say that my PSA result was 0.00. Hoping it stays like this..

Back in six months for my next PSA test.

Al's e-mail address is: al142s@aol.com