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PROSTATE CANCER SUPPORT SITE

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Don Muridan and Niki live in Washington, USA. He was 42 when he was diagnosed on March 21, 2009. His initial PSA was 8.66 ng/ml, his Gleason Score was 4+3=7 and he was staged T1c. His choice of treatment was Proton Therapy. Here is his story

At 42 I was having a routine physical exam by my M.D. My PSA came back elevated at 8.66. My MD referred me to an Urologist where a biopsy was performed. Well, I received the phone call from my urologist about 3 days later. I'll never forget this day. I was driving when I took the call. I remember joking with my doctor saying "so what's the good news?". He said, "Well, I am sorry but 4 out of 12 cores came back positive for prostate cancer, I need for you to come in asap so we can discuss treatment options". I remember immediately pulling over and just thinking "how can this be happening". It was sort of surreal.

I visited with him a couple days later and he recommended having surgery (Da Vinci). During this meeting I had a list of questions and just felt he was a young doctor, great guy but if I was going to have surgery I wanted someone with more experience. I asked him if he had to have the same surgery who he would choose. He immediately referred me to a prominent surgeon in Seattle. Well, I did my research and this surgeon was probably one of top surgeons in the country who specialized on Da Vinci Robotics.

I met with him and we scheduled a surgery date. However, before I even met him I was diligently doing research about PCa, treatment options and statistics. I came across proton therapy and after joining a group online and asking many questions plus research I decided to cancel my surgery date. It seemed to me that the 5 to 10 yrs disease free statistics were the same as surgery (for localized PCa). Plus proton therapy treats not only the entire prostate but the surrounding area. Also, quality of life issues were more favorable vs surgery. I am scheduled to start proton therapy at Loma Linda Mid May 2009.

I am anxious but also a little nervous all at the same time. I can't explain my feelings. I have no symptoms, I'm completely healthy. I workout regularly, run, hike, ski and etc... I have led a fairly healthy life style. I was even a vegetarian for about 15 years. My life style is very active/athletic running multiple marathons etc.. I don't feel like I have cancer never mind I am now technically a cancer patient. It's absolutely mind numbing this is happening. What I have realized this disease doesn't discriminate. It may sound like I am complaining here because I sorta am but in real life with family, friends and my employees I am upbeat and I downplay my situation. I don't want my loved ones to worry and I really do think in an odd way if you're going to have cancer this is a better one to have since it has a high cure rate. I am optimistic I will beat this. My link to PCa is probably genetic since my grandfather passed away from PCa years ago.

Well, this is my story to this point. I didn't plan on taking this type of journey but since I'm here I pray and I mean really pray this journey turns out positive. Maybe I can turn this into a positive experience by helping other taking this journey. Feel free to contact me if you wish. I will do another update after my treatment starts. God bless.

 

UPDATED

January 2010

 

 

Well, its September 2, 2009 [Maybe when it was written, but it is January 2010 right now!]. My last day of treatment was on August 7, 2009. I had 45 treatments (all protons, no photons, Gantry #3) at Loma Linda Medical University. My doctor was Dr. Bush.

Before my treatment started I was a little concerned about being put on hormones because I took another PSA test at my Urologist office back home. My PSA came in at 11.8 (yikes!) from 8.66 psa. I think it was higher because my biopsy was only 8 weeks prior which probably affected the PSA test. When I arrived at Loma Linda for my treatments Dr. Bush had me take another PSA test. My new PSA test now came in at 9.8 (go figure??). I heard that if your PSA is over 10 and GS 7or higher you’re a candidate for hormones. I was very pleased when Dr. Bush told me "No, you're not going on hormones".

I have to say my treatments were fairly uneventful concerning side effects. Starting around treatment #15 I felt a slight burning sensation when I urinated but nothing that Ibuprofen couldn't help. I don’t have any ED or incontinence issues.

My experience at Loma Linda was a very good one. The staff was very kind and caring. I attended some of the support groups on Wednesday nights which are awesome and entertaining. I was initially the youngest guy receiving treatments but around week 2 I loss that honor to a 37 year old from Spokane :). I spent a lot of time training at the Drayson Center, running and cycling. I met another guy from Germany (also a patient and runner) and we ran every day on the Santa Ana river trail (trail starts about 2 miles from the hospital). Since I'm originally from Southern California it was truly a radiation vacation for me because I was able to visit old places, visit new places, see old friends, make new friends and seeing my father weekly was awesome. Also, Niki (my girlfriend) came to California and was with me for most of the entire treatment and was a great help. Everyday we got up at 5:45 am and drove to the hospital (1hr away) with me for my treatments. Niki was a real trooper. I really appreciate Niki's support more than you can imagine. She was also Detlef & my running partner:).

Besides all the fun I had and you hear about (i.e, radiation vacation). I do realize the seriousness of having PCa and the bottom line is we all just want to be cured and nothing else really matters. My choice of proton treatment over other forms of treatment is a decision I cannot 2nd guess. I don't have any regrets and if I had to do it all over I would still choose this form of treatment. I didn’t choose robotic surgery because I wanted not only my entire prostate treated but my margins and seminal vesicles as well. Surgery in my mind would only remove my prostate but what if it's in the margins or seminal vesicles? Surgery per my GS and PSA statistics wasn't enough. This was the reason why I chose proton radiation over surgery not because it's invasive. Secondary decision factors were quality of life issues. Proton has a great record for having low ED and Incontinence challenges.[This is a contentious issue - men who have had Proton Beam Therapy consistently claim low side effects - and quote studies to support their statement. Those opposed to PBT discount the studies and say there is no real proof of better outcomes.] Like all other treatments I will have to monitor my PSA for the rest of my life. My first PSA test (post treatment) is scheduled in December. I'm obviously hoping and praying its low. It can take up to 2 1/2 years to reach your nadir after this form of treatment.

I was thinking the other day about how I should define this portion of my life since having cancer when people ask questions. I've been feeling awkward when people ask "How are you feeling?" "How is your cancer situation?". I didn't know how to answer these questions. I would love to say "Oh, I'm totally cured!!” It dawned on me.....I was a cancer survivor starting the last day of my treatment. Everyday for the rest of my life starting August 7th (my last day of treatment) I am a cancer survivor.

Livestrong.....Go Protons!!

Don Muridan

Later: It's now January 2010 and last month I had my 1st follow up PSA test after my treatment. Before my treatment my PSA came back at 9.8. Now I am very pleased to say it dropped to 3.2. I am not taking any hormones so this is the real deal. I had about a 60% drop. Loma Linda Medical state they like to see about a 50% reduction in PSA at the 4 month post treatment psa test. My next PSA in April and I will update then.

On a side note....more great news. Prior to my treatment we were trying to have a baby. I even went to the sperm bank prior to treatment incase we needed to have invitro. Well, we are now 11 weeks pregnant and it happened naturally. My best to everyone and feel free to contact me if you have any questions.....

don m..

Don's e-mail address is: donm@nventure.com