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PROSTATE CANCER SUPPORT SITE

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Dan Lock and Merry live in Illinois, USA. Dan was 54 when he was diagnosed in October, 2004 His initial PSA was 12.0 ng/ml his Gleason Score was 7 and although he has not stated his staging, it seems it would have been T1c. The treatment he chose was Surgery. Here is his story:

I had been watching my PSA rise from 3.8 ng/ml to 4.2 ng/ml for about a year. My urologist did a biopsy in his office with a negative result. He recommended a PSA test every 6 months.

The next PSA, was 6.10 ng/ml and he wanted another biopsy with more samples done in a surgery room. The result was again negetive.

After about two years my PSA rose to 8.20 ng/ml, he suggested another biopsy, negative again. I was going nuts with all the worrying. He suggested I join a Study group. During that time my PSA rose to 12.0 ng/ml. This time the biopsy was positive. 6 out of 12 samples positive all on the same side.

I elected surgery. I was young and in good health. The surgery went fine. Margins were good, lymph nodes and vesicles clear. My doctor was pretty sure he had gotten it all. My first three PSA tests were 0.10 ng/ml. I was feeling good for the first time in about 5 years. The PSA tests were 3 months apart.

The fourth test was 0.20 ng/ml. Now I'm scared again. The doctor said, "No big deal. It doesn't mean the cancer is back."

The next test it is up again 0.40 ng/ml.I'm planning my funeral. He says, "Don't worry. Have a nice Christmas." He put me on an antibiotic for one month. The next PSA. is 0.50 ng/ml.That last test was January 2006. He has ordered me a bone scan and I am to receive radiation treatments. I meet with an Onocologist Feb. 10 to discuss the details.

 

UPDATED

October 2006

 

In March I started 38 treatments of salvage radiation. One month after the treatments my PSA was 0.70 ng/ml it was 0.50 ng/ml before the treatments and had been rising about 0.20 ng/ml every couple of months. The next PSA reading was 1.90 ng/ml.This didn't look good to me but the oncologist said let's do another test in 30 days. On Sept. 19th my psa was 3.40 ng/ml.. NOT GOOD. He sent me back to my urologist. I was expecting to get put on hormones. but he wants to wait 2 more months and get one more test before we start the hormones.

I am hoping he knows what he is doing. I have heard that radiation and cause a spike in the PSA before it starts to work but neither doctor had heard of it.

Has anyone had this happen or hear of it before?

Please contact me if so.

Thank you Dan.

 

UPDATED

November 2007

 

My current PSA is below 0.05 ng/ml which is as low as my oncologist test will read. I am on Lupron only, started in November of 2006. My PSA dropped very fast and has been undetectable for 6 months.

My Oncologist decided to not give me another shot of Lupron until my PSA is about 0.30 ng/ml. I have read on PPML about other drugs I could be taking while off cycle, but my Dr. doesn’t venture much from the common treatments. Since it is working well right now I will do as he says but, I may at some point take over my treatment

 

UPDATED

January 2009

 

After salvage radiation my PSA rose to 4.4. I added an oncologist to my team.

I was put on Lupron only for about 12 months. My PSA dropped to below 0.05 but after 3 months it started to rise again. The doubling time was about 30 days.

I was put on Lupron again but the PSA didn't drop as fast as the first time so my Dr. added Casodex an the PSA dropped back down to 0.30 after one month.

I go for my next Lupron shot in March 2009.

 

UPDATED

July 2010

 

 

I am currently on chemo (Taxotere) I'm getting my 5th treatment next week. It has brought my PSA from 40 to 0.2 I will get 10 treatments every 3 weeks apart.

The chemo makes me pretty tired by the fourth day but I'm still working and I have not been sick yet. It is really not bad. I hope it works a long time..

Dan's e-mail address is lockshop@osfhealthcare.org