Eugene
Gaines lives in Ohio, USA. He was 78 when he was diagnosed on 28 June 2005. His
initial PSA was 11.1 ng/ml and his initial Gleason Score was 3+4=7. He was staged
T2c and his treatment choice was: Hormone Therapy. Here is his story:
I
am 78 years old with Quadruple bypass in 1990 and two of them collapsed in 2000
and blockage in two others with no way to fix.
Biopsy
28 June 05 was Gleason score 3 + 4 = 7, PSA 11.1 ng/ml up from 8.4 ng/ml last
year. Stage was T2C. Urologist recommended castration. Going back next week to
discuss other options.
We
settled on Hormone Therapy and I received my first Zoladex implant on 8 Sept 05.
He checked my PSA then and it was 13.5 ng/ml. He requested a bone scan which came
back negative.
I
had my second implant on 8 Dec 05. Urologist requested a PSA test for 9 Jan 06
and see him on 12th Jan. My PSA was down to 1.2 ng/ml. He said if my PSA was down
and the second bone scan was negative we would watch and wait for my PSA to rise
and he would start the treatment again.
I
received my 3rd Zoladex implant on 6 Mar 06 and my 4th and last on 6 June 06.
My PSA on 8 June was 0.5 ng/ml. Bone Scan on 13 June was negative again. Now we
watch and wait. Except for the hot flashes and fatigue no other side effects and
they were minor compared to some of the side effects of other treatments.
In
December 2006, my PSA was 0.3 ng/ml, in March 2007 0.6 ng/ml. In February 2007
during routine cardiology vist I was admitted to hopital and had a pacemaker installed.
In June 2007, my PSA was 1.2 ng/ml.
When
it gets up to 4.0 ng/ml my family doctor is referring me back to Urologist to
resume treatment.
I
went to FP to get my PSA on 19th Dec and had been coughing since Thanksgiving
and taken cold pills, one 7 day round of antibiotics and was on third day of higher
dose and he decided to admit me to hospital.
At
ER he said I had pneumonia and congested heart failure. When the results came
back he said the bactieria was MRSA. I was in the hospital until today on IV Antibotics,
Lasix (Lost 3 pounds)water.
Got
home today and my PSA had dropped from 4.0 to 3.3.
Here
are my treatments from last post.
02/05/08
PSA 0.6 Testosterone 4
03/21/08
ADT ZOLADEX Implant and started CASODEX 150mg
04/16/08
PSA 0.1 Testosterone 28
06/20/08
Stop Cosadex started ADT Zoladex implant.
Eugene
is now 81 years old, his current PSA is 0.10 ng/ml and he says:
Will
be getting another Zoladex implant 12/05/08
I
am satisfied with the treatment I chose.
Haven't
posted for awhile. My thyroid is out of whack and my echocardiogram showed my
ejection factor had dropped from 55% to 35% so I spend most of my time in bed.
Here is my update on PSA readings.
September
2008 Zoladex implant
November
2008 PSA 0.1: Zoladex Implant
February
2009 PSA 0.1 Going on Holiday from treatment .
Eugene's
e-mail address is : ogaines@cinci.rr.com
