YANA - YOU ARE NOT ALONE NOW

PROSTATE CANCER SUPPORT SITE

BRONZE

Martin B. and B. live in Tennessee, USA. He was 49 when he was diagnosed in October 2005. His initial PSA was 2.1 ng/ml, his Gleason Score was 3+3=6 and he was staged T1c. His choice of treatment was Active Surveillance. Here is his story.

My father was diagnosed with advanced PCA and died 7 years later at the age of 69. I began at the time (1992) having an annual DRE and PSA. My PSA was regularly .7 until September 2005 when it was 2.1.

Given the history, my urologist recommended a biopsy, which showed less than 5% in 1/12 cores. Much research, consult with a radiation oncologist and we decided to give it some time. The urologist was OK with this.

Three month interval PSA testing for the next year and a half showed my PSA back to .7. A second biopsy at eighteen months showed no PCA but PIN.

Now I've stretched out the PSA to 6 months and it's .7 like clockwork. I'm now coming upon on 3 years since initial diagnosis, at age 52 and very glad that I did not cause drastic surgery. I really don't think about it too much, but I figure the day will come when I don't need to do anything.

I am very happy with my urologist, who has been very candid in saying that I am in relatively uncharted territory -- because of the age and the active surveillance.

Later:

PSA checked again -- almost three years from diagnosis - 0.60 ng/ml.

 

UPDATED

May 2009

 

 

Now three and one-half years after diagnosis, my latest PSA was -- once again -- 0.6 with active surveillance as my only treatment.

Can't quarrel with this.....

 

UPDATED

January 2010

 

 

Four years after diagnosis and still no treatment. PSA is still 0.6. Now on annual visits to urologist with quarterly PSA readings. Really glad I went with AS.

Martin's e-mail address is: mbailey@wmspc.com