YANA - YOU ARE NOT ALONE NOW

PROSTATE CANCER SUPPORT SITE

BRONZE

Joe B and MJ live in Massachusetts, USA. He was 59 when he was diagnosed on August 20, 2009. His initial PSA was 4.1 ng/ml, his Gleason Score was 3+3=6 and he was staged T1c. He is undecided as to his choice of treatment. Here is his story.

I am a 59 year old living on Cape Cod. I have prided myself as someone who has taken fairly good care to live and eat the right way since I was a young adult growing up in the Boston area. I stopped smoking as a teenager and stopped drinking soft drinks back then and started learning about eating and living better. Biking early on and running and skiing later on. I felt I was on a path for a long trouble free life as long as I took supplements and exercised and watched what I ate.

My mother passed away of Cancer in her mid sixties and my father had prostate Cancer at 80. He was a long time smoker, and lived until 92.

My PSA has always run around 2.3 until Nov 08 when it was 4.2, than 3.6 in Jan 09 and 4.1 in Jun 09. That one surprised me. I was just turning 59 - Happy Birthday big guy, life has a curve ball for you.

12 pin Biopsy Aug 09, Report Aug 20,2009. 5 benign, 2 atypia, 1 hg pin, 3 5% cancer, 1 70% cancer. Since Biopsy, decreased sexual functions and bloody semen. Watching, but should go away as prostate heals.

We are now exploring the best procedure with the least side effects.

How do I feel? I'm Pissed Off, Angry and Scared.

 

UPDATED

January 2010

 

 

After much research and several consults with friends and doctors I chose the Proton Beam Radiation treatment at Mass General Hospital(MGH) in Boston. I believe it will work best for me.

I wasn't up to another surgery and the risks involved, but I would have been well on to the road to recovery by now if I had chosen the surgery. I have just finished the first 4 radiation treatments of an estimated total of 39, following 3 months of wait time to be scheduled. I was on a "cancellation list" hoping to be scheduled sooner, but that didn't happen.

I have no side effects so far, but it's still early. For the first week I receive an ultrasound and an x-ray as well as the proton beam at each session. After that, an ultrasound and proton beam at each session, with an x-ray once a week. I also have a consultation meeting once a week with my radiologist.

I will update as needed.

JFB.

Joe's e-mail address is: jambalayajoe@yahoo.com