YANA - YOU ARE NOT ALONE NOW

PROSTATE CANCER SUPPORT SITE

GOLD

Dennis & Marcia Newkirk live in Oklahoma, USA. Dennis was diagnosed with PCa on January 17, 1998. He was 48 years old with a PSA of 2.6 and a Gleason of 3 + 3 = 6. He elected to undergo RP.

His story: My PSA has remained <0.1 since surgery. I've done a great deal of research on Prostate Cancer and I would be happy to help anyone I can. I am not a physician.

UPDATED

7 November 2004

 

Dennis is now 55, his PSA is still below 0.10 ng/ml and he moves into Silver Status, having completed five years after his treatment.

 

UPDATED

March 2007

 

Dennis is now 57 and his PSA is 0.08 ng/ml after moving to a secondary treatment of Avodart after a slight PSA rise to .08 four years ago, I've had no changes.

 

UPDATED

July 2008

 

During my last visit with Dr. Charles "Snuffy" Myers he said that he really doubted that I have a recurrence even though I do have a detectable PSA. It is doubtful that there is any indicated doubling time. If there is, the doubling time is more than two years. His comment was, "At this rate, you'll be a 115 years old before it gives you any problems."

 

UPDATED

November 2009

 

 

My PSA reading in August was 0.16. Dr. Charles Myers of Charlottesville, VA remains unconvinced that the PSA is related to cancer. It may be a small amount of remaining post-RP prostate material. Even if it is cancer, the doubling rate is so slow the issue seems essentially irrelevant to him. In fact, he said that he didn’t know what I would ultimately die from but it would not be PCa.

I remain on Avodart and watching my intake of certain foods. It has now been almost 12 years since I ate beef or pork, for example.

My primary advice to newly diagnosed men is to research before they decide that surgery or radiation is best. Also, pay careful attention to your emotions and thoughts. The greatest battle I have had from diagnosis, through treatment, and for some time after treatment was emotional not physical. The end of the word has not come! Don’t give up.

Dennis's Email address is: dnewkirk@hhbc.com