YANA - YOU ARE NOT ALONE NOW

PROSTATE CANCER SUPPORT SITE

BRONZE

Don Messick seems to live in Texas, USA, at least some of the time. He was 71 when he was diagnosed on April 2, 2009. His initial PSA was 5.9 ng/ml, his Gleason Score was 6 and although he says he was staged T2, it seems that was his pathological staging and that he would have been clinically staged T1c. He is undecided as to his choice of treatment. Here is his story.

I am 71 years young and in excellent health, notwithstanding Prostate Cancer! Late March, 2009 I had a biopsy done on account of my PSA reading of 5.9 and was in Switzerland on April 2, 2009 when I learned of the positive readings from the biopsy. After a few hours of shock, I went on a strict alkaline diet with supplements of Grape seed extract, Vitamin C, E, CoQ10, Omega 3, pro-biotics and anything else I could find that was of an antioxidant nature. Thirty days later my PSA was 4.7 BUT that didn't change the fact that I had a positive biopsy. (Other readings were Stage T2, Gleason 6, prostate size 26 gms).

Within two weeks I was back in San Antonio, Texas discussing the various treatment options. I have gone in a circle starting leaning to proactive watchful waiting then to seed implants then proactive watchful waiting then IGRT then surgery then seed implants and then finally I found HIFU (high intensive focused ultrasound) which is available in Europe, Canada, Mexico and other places BUT not in the USA as it is not yet approved by FDA. (To learn more about it you can Google HIFU and get lots of info. [or you might even have a look on the YANA website at HIFU!!])

So I am now researching HIFU and will see if that holds up to scrutiny, if not, I will go for Brachytherapy (seeds).

I will update as anything significant happens.

 

UPDATED

July 2009

 

 

My last entry spoke about my intention to research HIFU. I went to MD Anderson Cancer Hospital in Houston and was tested and qualified for the HIFU trial. I decided against it as it seemed too aggressive a treatment and the doctor, although highly respected, had only done eight proceedures at the time.

I decided on Brachytherapy and had the proceedure done on June 17. I had virtually no pain and very little in the way of side effects, other than some soreness in the privates. Only very minor problems with continence and no problems with potency after a couple of weeks.

Had my three week check up on July 9 and seemed to have passed with flying colors, although it is still early days. My next doctors appointment is January 29 and will update after that meeting unless problems arise before.

My urologist oncologist is Dr. Michael Sarosdy of San Antonio has done over 1000 seed implants. I am very pleased with my treatment choice and the doctor who performed it.

 

UPDATED

November 2009

 

 

It has been five months to the day since I had brachytherapy and today I received the results of my first post treatment PSA test which came in at a good news 0.86. I am feeling great with very very little in the way of side effects.

Don's e-mail address is don@donmessick.com