YANA - YOU ARE NOT ALONE NOW

PROSTATE CANCER SUPPORT SITE

BRONZE

Anthony Davis and Roxana live in Mississippi, USA. He was 55 when he was diagnosed on December 19, 2007. His initial PSA was 4.21 ng/ml, his Gleason Score was 6 and although he says he was staged T1a, from his story it seems this should have been T1c. His choice of treatment was Proton Beam Therapy. Here is his story.

I had just turned 55 on November 22, 2007, and went for a 6-month check-up for my diabetic condition. This is when my primary care manager notice my PSA was 4.21 ng/ml. She immediately did a DRE (Digital Rectal Examination) and made a referral to the local urologist for further testing.

A biopsy was done on December 19, 2007, and the results delivered on January 2, 2008-- Positive for prostate cancer. Spoke with the local urologist January 7, with suggestion to have the Da Vinci prostatectomy. Went for a second opinion at the University of Alabama-Birmingham Kirkland Center January 17th. The urologist, Dr. Ampling, Navy Vet, also suggested the Da Vinci procedure. However, I ask him when UAB would get the Proton Beam treatment (PBT) at their facility, and he said they were still discussing this, due to the lack of space near the current facility. He was more aware of the PBT than the previous urologist. When I ask what he would do in my situation, he flatly stated that he was biased toward surgery, but knowing that I had researched all the various methods of treatment, he said make the one that is right for me, as I'm the one who have to live with the decision.

I will have my initial PBT consultation at the University of Florida PT on February 1, 2008. Jacksonville is my hometown, so I won't have trouble staying with family or the military base, since I'm a retired disabled Vietnam Veteran. I hope to start my treatments on or about March 3, 2008. Will post more as I go.

Later:

Received my new blood test results today, 28 Jan 08 PSA 4.9 Free PSA 0.43 % Free PSA 8.8 BUN 9 Creat 1.2

 

UPDATED

March 2009

 

 

I finished my proton therapy treatment on July 29, 2008. At the time of my release, my PSA reading on July 28, 2008 was 2.2; down from 5.7 at the start of treatment. In October 2008, my first PSA reading for the first three months after treatment was 1.1. Last month I had my first follow-up appointment with UFPTI, and my PSA reading was 0.7. My next appointment in Jacksonville is September 8, 2009, at which time I look forward to my PSA level to be at 0.4 or 0.3.

Please pass to others at the YANA site. Hopefully, all men facing this condition will do their research and choose the best treatment for them, short of surgery.

Anthony's e-mail address is: jehiel80@hughes.net