Fred
Barnabe lives in Colorado, USA. He was 58 when he was diagnosed in March 2003.
His initial PSA was 1.5 ng/ml, his Gleason Score was 3+3=6 and he was staged T2a.
His choice of treatment was Watchful Waiting. Here is his story.
On
or about March 17th, 2003 I was diagnosed with prostate cancer. My age was 58.
The diagnosis was done by means of a biopsy.
The biopsy read:
a.
Prostate, right, core biopsies: benign prostate tissue with focal glandular atrophy.
b. Prostate left, core biopsies: adenocarcinoma, Gleason score 3+3, stage
T2a, percent organ confined = 81%, involving a single small focus in one core,
less than 5% of biopsy tissue.
Eight cores were taken - four from right
side, four from left side. At the time my PSA was 1.5. This all came about by
my primary doctor thinking he felt a small lump on the right side of the prostate
during a yearly physical exam. He suggested I see a urologist that he recommended.
The urologist, while giving me one of the quickest rectal exams I have ever had,
confirmed the primary doctor's finding and suggested a biopsy. Upon getting a
second opinion from a radiation doctor, and he giving me a digital rectal exam,
I was told, by him that my prostate felt normal for a man my age.
This
made me a little confused and sceptical. Upon further research and study I decided
on "watchful waiting" as a form of treatment till more radical treatment is necessary.
My last PSA read 5.0 with a free PSA of 9.2%. All of the digital rectal
exams, of which I am having 2 to 3 a year, are not showing huge abnormality (no
lumps felt). I am taking a variety of vitamins and supplements i.e. Wobenzym,
Vitamin E & D, selenium, omega-3 fish oil,ip-6 & inositol, Nexrutine, garlic oil,
& prostate support.
I quit smoking, maintain my weight, exercise daily,
eating lots of fruits and vegetables, and cut back on red meat and dairy consumption.
Any questions please feel free to do so.
Fred's
e-mail address is: denfre1@peoplepc.com.
