YANA - YOU ARE NOT ALONE NOW

PROSTATE CANCER SUPPORT SITE

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Dennis Dennis and Maggie live in Arizona, U. S. A.. He was 60 when he was diagnosed on February 23, 2009. His initial PSA was 5.8 ng/ml, his Gleason Score was 7 and although he does not state his staging it seems likely he was staged T1c. He is undecided as to his choice of treatment. Here is his story.

I was diagnosed on February 23. I am scheduled for a bone scan on March 2 and have appointments with several doctors over the next two weeks to find out what my options are.

I am considering brachytherapy, Da Vinci surgery, and Novalis radiation treatment.[Novalis is the trade name for machinery that delivers IMRT (Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy) as a form of EBRT (External Beam Radiation Treatment)] I am leaning toward the Novalis treatment, but will make a decision after I speak with doctors.

 

UPDATED

April 2009

 

 

After a negative CT and bone scan and after visiting one surgeon and three radiologists, my choice of treatment was IGRT (Image Guided Radiation Therapy) at Scottsdale Healthcare.

Scottsdale Healthcare offers the Novalis system, which is able to accurately deliver a high amount of radiation (8.5 GY) to the prostate with less side effects than surgery.

As of this date, I have received 7 treatments and have 38 to go. According to Dr. Flores, the radiologist in charge, the chances of incontinence is nearly zero and the chances of impotence is about 50% (which usually occurs after about two years because of scarring during treatment. Often, however according to Dr. Flores, Cialis or Viagra works well when impotence does occur.

I'll let you know how I'm doing after treatment ends. Incidentally, I have begun taking Vitamin D3, which according to some studies, makes prostate cancer cells more sensitive to radiation.

Also worth noting is that my PSA at time of diagnosis was 5.8. Just prior to treatment, however, my PSA was 4.4.

 

UPDATED

June 2009

 

 

I just completed 45 treatments with Brain Lab's Novalis, IGRT system. The only side effects of the treatments have been some burning upon urination and the need to urinate more frequently. I have had no problems with ED, but as with most radiotherapy treatments, ED could develop within two to five years.

I will have my PSA measured in two months and then again six months after that.

I would like to commend Dr. Flores and the staff at Scottsdale Healthcare, all of whom were very caring and made the treatments a pleasant experience.

 

UPDATED

August 2009

 

 

My treatment with IGRT ended just over 8 weeks ago. My PSA before beginning treatment was 4.4. I received the results of my 8 week follow up this afternoon, and my PSA now stands at 0.79. Needless to say, I'm delighted with this result!

I will have my PSA checked again in six months.

 

UPDATED

February 2010

 

 

It has been one year since my diagnosis. I chose the Novalis treatment - targeted radiation - after considering all the options carefully. So far, so good. My PSA before treatment was 4.4. Two months after treatment my PSA was .79 and now, six months later it has fallen to .31. The only side effect I have noticed is a slight diminishing of erectile function, not enough to make a difference but enough so that I am considering using Cialis or Viagra to provide a boost.

I will have my PSA checked again in August.

Dennis' e-mail address is: dmyoung@cox.net