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Allister Murphy and Laura live in Belfast, Northern Ireland. He was 51 when he was diagnosed on February 18, 2008. His initial PSA was 153.0 ng/ml, his Gleason Score was 7 (3+4) and he was staged T3bN0M1b. His choice of treatment was ADT (Androgen Deprivation Therapy). Here is his story.

Had blood and urine test after (briefly) passing blood (just once). Re-occurrence of previous kidney stone problem suspected (11 years ago). Test showed kidney OK but PSA "elevated". What's a PSA I asked?

No symptoms of any kind, no peeing problems, no pain - age 51 at diagnosis February 18th 2008 - Diagnosed T3b N0 M1b with advanced metastases to entire torso skeleton (bone scan). PSA 153.0 (Jan 08) rising to 214.0 (Feb 08).Gleason 7.

Opted for STAMPEDE (Systemic Therapy in Advancing or Metastatic Prostate cancer: Evaluation of Drug Efficacy) trial and got Zometa & Celecoxib arm. Initially on Zoladex but now on Decapeptyl and 50gm Casodex.

Unusually for HT (Hormone Therapy) patients I have virtually no side effects other than loss of body hair and dry orgasms. Still playing soccer and rugby and living life to the full :-)

 

UPDATED

January 2010

 

 

My PSA had been climbing slowly but steadily all of 2009. It had never gone sub 1.0 and is now 19 and probably higher. The consultant did switch me from Zoladex to Decapeptyl (Triptorelin) a few months ago but after an initial response the PSA just started to climb again. Casodex 50mg just doesn't seem to work for me either.

The good news is that my testosterone has never been at castrate level, bottoming out at 1.6 nMol/L and now at 4.0 nMol./L. The PSA has always followed the variation in testosterone so the oncologist does not think I am hormone refractory (yet). Today (Jan 11th 2010), I started on Degarelix (Firmagon) with a 240 mg double injection. I expect to lose libido (something Zoladex never did to me) but this is a small price to pay if the PSA comes down.

Still playing soccer and rugby and loving life. My stomach hurts a bit but then no pain, no gain! I'll update in a few weeks :-).

Allister's address is: allister.murphy@btinternet.com