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PROSTATE CANCER SUPPORT SITE

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Mike C. and Stephanie live in South Carolina, USA. He was 52 when he was diagnosed in April 2007. His initial PSA was 4.98 ng/ml, his Gleason Score was 6 and he was staged T1c. His choice of treatment was Brachytherapy. Here is his story.

I was diagnosed at 52 following a routine physical with my regular showed a PSA of 4.98. and confirmation of cancer following a biopsy. This was March 07. My Gleason score was 6, and stage T1C.

I decided to wait, and do some research before making a decision on treatment. For me, due to my age, I knew I was going to do something. I didn't want to be looking over my shoulder the rest of my life worrying about prostate cancer. I got my PSA re-checked in October, and it had gone up to 7.9. At that point I started getting pretty serious.

I pretty much ruled out the surgery early on due to the recovery time, and potential erectile complications. I started homing in on radiation options, and visited Emory in Atlanta, and Univ of Florida Proton Center in Jackson Florida. I liked what I read about proton therapy (less damaging to other organs, etc.), and was accepted into the program. The program director at UF, as all the doctors I met with were good at doing, reviewed my options with me, and told me I would be a good candidate for seed implantation as well.

I started looking more seriously at brachytherapy, and started liking what I was reading more and more, mainly due to studies that showed it was as effective as surgery in cure rates, and seemed to have less erectile complications. I found a Radiation Oncologist in Florida who I met with and liked - he had good success with seeds, and seemed to be using latest seed placement technology. I had brachytherapy in Feb of 08, with Iodine seeds.

Since the procedure, I have had the following PSA readings:

Sep 08 - 1.92;
Dec 08 - 1.89;
Mar 09 - 2.14;
Jul 09 -1.90

I have asked my Dr why it isn't lower, and he explained that Iodine radiation takes longer, and it could be up to 3 years before it goes down, but should get down to about zero eventually.

As far as side effects...I have had the usual, some incontinence and urgency for first few months, and it got better after about 8 months. Still have some bladder urgency and a little burning when I urinate. Bowel movements are also slightly different, but not bad. Meaning, before I had surgery, I was a once a day kind of guy. That has changed. I now have at least 2 BM's a day, which is not bad, just different.

About the sex thing, I do use Viagra now, and it works for me - have to be careful with dosage, but it definitely works. Also notice I still have some semen with orgasm almost 1 ½ yrs later, which is cool. The orgasm's are still intense and satisfying.

 

UPDATED

December 2009

 

 

I am updating my results since my last posting. It is Dec 12, 2009.

I am currently experiencing a PSA rise since my July 09 reading which was 1.9 and pretty consistent with other tests, since my initial treatment in Feb 2008. My September 09 reading increased to 2.6, and my November reading increased to 3.2

I did a lot of reading on this PSA 'bounce', and the stuff I read seems to suggest this happens about half the time. While I am optimistic this is a temporary bounce, it certainly does make you look over your shoulder.

I am graphing my PSA results and will retest in Feb 10 2010.

Mike's e-mail address is: croley2682@gmail.com