YANA - YOU ARE NOT ALONE NOW

PROSTATE CANCER SUPPORT SITE

BRONZE

Joe H and Sandy live in North Carolina, USA. He was 67 when he was diagnosed in November 2009. His initial PSA was 5.0 ng/ml, his Gleason Score was 6 and he was staged T1c. His choice of treatment was Active Surveillance. Here is his story.

I have had yearly physicals - DRE (Digital Rectal Examination) since I was 55. Three years ago (2006) my PSA rose from under 2 to 2.5. In 2007 it was 3.2 and in 2008 it was 3.6. Although my DREs felt normal, my family doctor referred me to a urologist who decided to do a biopsy. A 12-core biopsy showed no cancer. Last month (November 2009) my PSA was 5.0 and another biopsy was scheduled. This time they found cancer in two cores with <5% in either core.

In the past month I have talked to surgeons and radiologists but haven't come up with a treatment plan I can feel comfortable with. Overall I am in good health, exercise regularly and am semi-watchful of my diet. I have no sexual/urinary/bowel issues and am hesitant to take on a treatment that may create some.

Every doctor we talked to said- based on my age (67) and the apparent slow growth of this early-stage cancer I would be a good candidate for virtually any treatment including active surveillance. While my lovely bride of 44 years would prefer I pursue some form of treatment, she says it basically boils downs to my decision and she will support anything including active surveillance.

My next PSA and DRE is scheduled for April 2010 and based on those results I will reconsider my options.

I would like to hear from other WW'ers specifically on area of diet and supplements they feel has helped in keeping their PSA/cancer in check. [Some basics are here - Comprehensive Management Of Prostate Cancer By Charles E. Myers, M.D: a light-hearted commentary is here - Cure du Joure]

Thanks.

 

UPDATED

January 2010

 

 

Well, it's been three months since my diagnosis and I've settled into Active Surveillance quite nicely I think. A big help was finding the PRIAS site and plan to follow their protocols to determine when/if I should seek treatment.

At my first 3-month checkpoint, my PSA has dropped slightly (5.0 --> 4.2). The 6-month checkpoint calls for a DRE and PSA test but the next biopsy (using the PRIAS schedule) isn't until the 12th month. My urologist wants me to get a biopsy at the 6th month checkpoint but I plan to tell him if my DRE and PSA remain about the same I want to delay until the 12th month checkpoint. I like my urologist and hope he can allow me to control the treatment of MY disease otherwise we might come to a parting of the ways.

A pleasant surprise is how well my wife seems to accept my Active Surveillance. Initially she wanted me to "do something", but after she accompanied me on consults with surgeons, radiologists, and other urologists, and talking to other wives of PCa patients she seems to understand that we can take our time to make the right choices.

All that being said, I think if I had to seek treatment today I would seek Proton Therapy at Loma Linda, but hopefully that is a few years away.

Joe's e-mail address is: jholtslag@nc.rr.com