On
that day - 5th April 1996 my PSA was 14, with Gleason reading 2+2=4.
At that time I decided on watchful waiting, followed eventually by Surgery
During a routine yearly check in October 1996, my PSA was found to be 14. A biopsy
was done which revealed no cancer cells. In April 1997 PSA jumped to 17, another
biopsy again showed a Gleason of 2+2. My brother in law, a pathologist in London,
together with a board of his colleagues, recommended watchful waiting. A friend
suggested that I try alternative medicine. I jumped at the idea. Waiting for the
PSA results every 3 months was nerve wracking. The person I saw made sense and
I followed her therapy. Changing my eating habits, taking food supplements and
vitamins. I lost a lot of weight, gained energy and felt very good and proud of
myself. At last I was doing something for myself.
The
PSA dropped to 12 and stayed there till April 2000 when it jumped to 34. Would
have liked to have had brachytherapy, but the only specialist in Israel doing
this type of therapy would not touch me, even when I suggested that I undergo
hormone treatment or radiation to shrink the prostate. Left with little choice
as my health fund would cover me travelling overseas for treatment, on the 26th
February 2001 I under went radical surgery.
From
September 2000 until surgery I under went hormone treatment to shrink the prostate.
Being physically fit and mentally prepared, the operation and recuperation was
not a problem. I suffered no pain, was released early from the hospital, had "
fun " with the catheter. Within 3 weeks of its removal, I had full control of
my bladder.
My
libido has returned and the "Nerve Sparing" is showing signs of being
successful. My Urologist wants to wait before allowing me to take Viagra as he
prefers nature to take it's course. I am not so sure that I agree with him, but
the erections are getting stronger and I hope will last longer. I look back on
the last four years as a positive experience. I have learned to listen to my body
and understand it's needs and feel so much better for it. I am trying to establish
a support group in Haifa, Israel for PCa sufferers, but am not getting any support
from the doctors or urologists. I do have the support of the Israeli Cancer Association.
I would be pleased to be of any help to anyone who visits YANA. I have written
an article on my experience with the catheter which might be of help to anyone
facing the catheter saga.
Updated 11 October
2001: Current Age = 61. Current PSA = 0.2. Current Treatment = Vitamins. Initial
treatment = Radical Prostatectomy.
Seven months after RP; Physically fit, mentally coming to terms of living without
a prostate. This mental adjustment is not easy, mainly from the sexual aspect.
Nerve sparing was successful, but nerve bruising is taking a long time to come
right. Erections I have, but not always for a long enough time to complete intercourse.
Nothing worse than having an erection, both of us worked up, entering and me going
limp. Luckily we both have a sense of humour. Things are slowly getting better
and Myrna is attaining orgasm.
I
tried viagra, but felt that it was not what I wanted and still have 4 tablets
left. Any one reading this in Israel and wanting them, give me a ring 04 8252084.
Am
still battling to get a support group going here. The " macho Israeli male" doesn't
want any one to know that he has Prostate Cancer. I am now waiting for the results
of my second PSA after surgery.
22 October 2001: I have a rather disturbing two weeks since my recent update
and will be posting to the message board in the next few days. On the 3rd Oct.
I had a PSA check and the results showed a rise from 0.1 to 0.4. After RP there
shouldn't be any psa and definitely not an increase.
I
asked my uro to do another test. He said there was no need and refused to give
permission to the lab. I by passed him and had the ok given by our family doctor.
The second test showed a psa of 0.5. Another increase in two weeks.
On
top of this the hospital lost my personal medical history , which I gave to them
prior to surgery. Needless to say I was extremely angry with the hospital and
my uro for not relating to me as an intelligent human being who has a little knowledge
of PCa and who has a right to what is needed for my body..I went into my meeting
with the uro determined to be authoritative. I had posted my change in psa on
Don Cooley's list and had many replies
suggesting various procedures. I made the uro read these posts and watch with
satisfaction as his jaw dropped. Apparently in Israel 0.5 psa after RP is accepted,
but he understood from me that I do not accept any PSA over 0.1 and has scheduled
bone and CAT scans in the coming weeks. At least I have got through to him.
The
medical insurance fund that I belong to only gives me the choice of 4 uros and
I chose the best of the worst, not very reassuring, but at least he is open enough
to acknowledge that I do have a little knowledge and have world wide access to
PCa experts who have made a study of this dreadful disease.
As it is said, " there is always a brighter side to everything " and I try and
look for the half full glass instead of the half empty glass!
22 March 2002: My Current Age is 6; Current PSA 1.2; Current Treatment
- Starting Casodex on 22 March 2002. Initial treatment? Radical Prostatectomy.
Your
update ... Since my last posting my wife has left me, the PSA is doubling every
3 months and my life is in a general shambles. Am slowly getting used to living
by myself. An advantage is that there is not the tension that I had experienced
in the last few months. I put the sharp rise partly down to the tension I was
going through. I decided on Casodex 150mg as the least invasive protocol, with
the minumum side effects. In three months time I will get a PSA test.
17 June 2002: To-day I received my first psa since starting on the Casodex. Down
to 0.3. Hope the next test in September will be lower. Have now been separated
for 4 months and have got over the intial depression and have started rebuilding
my life
Addendum:
I feel that there is a neglected area in the newly diagnosed section on every
list that I have access to. Lots of scientific facts are thrown at the newbies,
very little emotional support or means of support are given. I have written the
article below. I would appreciate your comments.
Stress
and Tension of the Newly Diagnosed
Anybody
diagnosed with the most hideous disease a man can have will go into a state of
tension. Since tension has been named as a possible cause of cancer, the tension
that one experiences when diagnosed only aggravates matters. When newly diagnosed,
I found myself suffering from symptoms that I hadn't experienced before. My libido
was not what it had been prior to diagnosis and the need to urinate became more
frequent, especially at night.
I
delved into the mysteries of prostate cancer and read various books on the subject.
After a couple of months I realized that I had to push (the reaction to) the big
C to the back of my mind and start doing something for myself.
The
first thing I did was to change my eating habits. Not easy, as I am a chef and
was struggling to keep my small catering company afloat. As a chef, I was cooking
rich, unhealthy food at least 12 hours a day. In my search for ways to help myself
change, a friend suggested that I see a "healer" - which I did.
What
the healer said to me about eating habits made a lot of sense to me and I decided
to followed her regime. That meant cutting out all meats, diary products, most
fish, white flour products, candies, carbonated drinks, tea and coffee. Herbal
teas and green tea were OK. I started taking mega doses of supplements and vitamins.
The immediate result was that I focused my time and energy on maintaining her
program and, in so doing, I spent less time worrying about the unknown future.
I did not hurry myself to decide on medical treatment. My PSA was 17, but my Gleason
was 2+2 4. When, after three months of the new eating regime, my PSA dropped to
12, I decided to stick with the program. This is known as Watchful Waiting. By
that time, I had lost 20 kilos, my libido had returned with gusto and as my son
said, I had more energy than he had seen in me for the last twenty years.
What
I am trying to emphasize is the following:
1
There is no urgency in deciding the direction that you are going to take. Check
out all the options, speak to other survivors. Don't know any? Try the mentors
list. We are here to pass on our stories. Join a support group if there is one
in your area.
2.
Change your eating habits, unless you are a vegan. Consider that our environment
is highly polluted, food is often unhealthy, filled with hormones and preservatives.
The air we breathe in the cities is poisonous and most of the water supplies are
polluted or heavily laced with chemicals. Your body needs all the help it can
get. Remember, if you use low octane fuel in your high octane car, the performance
will be poor!
3.
Take supplements and vitamins. Check out what is needed and than make your choice.
Do not expect immediate results, it took you over 50 years to mess up your body.
Give it time to build up it's defenses.
4.
Exercise is essential for good health in the form of yoga, marathon running, etc.
etc. . Get off your butt and get your blood flowing. Take the dog for a walk each
day. Try walking to the corner store instead of taking the car. Take your wife
hiking over the weekends.
5.
Have your wife involved. Share your fears with her. She has fears as well. Keeping
unspoken thoughts and feelings bottled up leads to tension.
6.
Many men keep their cancer a secret from their families. To "protect" his family,
my cousin did not tell his adult kids that he had prostate cancer. To explain
his operation, he therefore had to fabricate some "cock and bull" story. He now
tells me how much stress this caused him and his wife. Your family are there to
give you support. Don't waste this wonderful weapon in your fight.
I remember that terrific feeling of success when I received my PSA of 12. I had
succeeded in doing something for myself ! I also remember that feeling of dismay
when 4 years later my PSA jumped to 34. I put the jump down to the tension I was
undergoing: I had closed the catering firm, was about to be dismissed from the
job I had in a restaurant and my marriage had gone through a thorny patch. There
are no rules to this prostate game. I underwent RP 8 months ago. The operation
was successful. Almost immediately I regained complete control of my bladder.
Nerve sparing seems to be successful.
On the downside, my latest psa shows a rise, now at 0.5, and I am arranging for
a bone and CT scan. However, there is always the upside. Last week we managed
to sell our apartment for the price we wanted and have found another one.
As
a survivor of 5 years plus, I look back and see the experience as one of the most
positive of my life. I have become a positive person. I have learned to make contact
with my body. I came out of the RP without much hassle. My relationship with my
wife is the best it has been in 36 years of marriage. The knowledge that I have
gained and the help and advice that I have received from many other survivors,
gives me the confidence to face what ever new hassles might be awaiting me.
All
newly diagnosed prostate cancer victims, who are reading this - remember there
are many more survivors than deaths and it is in your hands to carry on a full
and complete life. Get out there and make it happen for you. Lenny Hirsch.
Addendum: 4 May 2002
I
want to share with you all the great experience I had to-day.
You
all know how important it is for me in bringing prostate cancer awareness to this
country and the development of support groups. To-day the Israeli Cancer Association
held seminar on prostate cancer. The speakers were leaders in the field except
myself. There were 8 presenters and I was number 7.
All
the professors proceeding me spoke with great authority and used visual aids.
Their talks were very informative and technical. I was introduced as a volunteer
for the Cancer Association and a cancer victim.
In
my opening statement I said: "I am a warrior against prostate cancer for the past
6 years , not a victim."
From
that moment on I had the audience of 150 in the palm of my hand. I told my story
and had them laughing and crying with me. Those of you who know me well, know
what an emotional person I am and how easy tears come to my eyes. At times I was
choked with emotion and had to stop.
This
is the first time in my long battle that I have felt so emotional. Perhaps it
is because of all that I have been through, I do not know. At the end of my presentation
I was applauded back to my seat. Afterwards many came up to me and said that,
what they would take home, were my words.
I have since had a few phone calls from men wanting to join the support group
and from people wanting me to give talks on the human side of the battle against
this terrible disease.
Thank
you for allowing me to share my wonderful experience with you. How do I sign off?
To my kids- Daddy; To people who have known me from South Africa- Leonard; To
all of you whom I have met up with here in Israel and on the net- Lenny.
Update:
Wednesday, August 28, 2002
Lenny
Hirsch is now 62, he feels that the finest present he could get arrived just prior
to his birthday. The latest PSA test of 0.1 is down from a level of 0.3 His initial
treatment was RP and he is currently on Casodex 150mg & Proscar 5mg from which
he feels he is putting on weight.
The
support group that he started is growing and they are beginning to get through
to the medics that they ( the PCa Warriors ) are entitled to respect and that
their Quality of Life is more important than the statistics.
He
has re-established contact with a woman who he took out 41 years ago. He now feels
that this period of his life is one of the best he has ever experienced.
Update: April 16, 2003 Lenny is now with an undetectable PSA.
I was on high dosage Casodex, now intermittent. But after one year of being on
Casodex 150mg and with an undetectable PSA, I have stopped the Casodex, but will
carry on with Proscar.
Updated 4 March 2004: Lenny is now 64 and his PSA is now 0.90 ng/ml
Have
been intermittent since March 2003, taking only Proscar,Vit.E. Vit.C. Garlic.
PSA is moving up.January 2004 0.9. Next test is in May.
Updated 7 April 2005: Lenny is now 65 and his PSA is 1.30 ng/ml
Life
is pretty good for me. My psa is slowly rising, which can be expected after 2
years of not taking anything. At this stage I am not thinking of taking any action.
Have started taking Celebrex.
Am
kept very busy with my website in Hebrew ShalomProstate.co.il.
Am in the process of starting another support group in Nahariya. The one I started
3 years ago in Haifa is going from strength to strength. We now have nearly 100
members.
Updated June 2006:
Thank
you for the Gold Star. Never achieved it at school.
The
last year has been good to me. Have formed a beautiful relationship with a woman.
My five year battle to bring prostate cancer awareness to the general Israeli
public has finally succeeded. September 12 has been designated as the National
Prostate Cancer Awareness Day. My website
in Hebrew has had more than treble the amount of hits. I hope to start a new
support group in the Northern town of Nahariya.
Of
course there is always a down side, my rising PSA has finally reached 5.1. Quality
of life is of the utmost importance to me. For this reason I decided to follow
the protocol of Dr. Israel Barken of Santiago. Namely, 50mg of Casodex a day for
the first month together with Avodart. If the PSA starts dropping, slowly reduce
the amount of Casodex to once a week. My last meeting with Casodex was very successful.
I am hoping that this time round the results will be the same.
Updated August 2007:
Since
my last up date I took 50mg Casodex and Avodart. My PSA reached a nadir of 0.2
ng/ml. After a year I have stopped the Casodex as it was effecting my quality
of life. sore and sensitive breasts, weight gain and Erectile Dysfunction.
After
three months my PSA has reached 0.9 ng/ml. I am loath to take any action at this
stage for the following reason. Quality of life issues. I prefer to enjoy my QOL
rather than be a sexual and mental cripple. I have experienced ADT before.
In
the long run I will have to make the decision of when to start the hormone treatment.
In the mean time I live from day to day enjoying making the most of every minute.
To-morrow
will be as good as to-day.
Lenny's e-mail Address is: lenny.hrsch@gmail.com
He
runs a hot-line for the Israeli Cancer Association. Any one interested can be
contact him at 972544570595 or 97286570805.
Lenny
Hirsch lives in Israel. At the age of 56, Lenny was diagnosed with PCa. Here is
his story: