Paul
Johnson and Jeanette live in California, USA. He was 61 when he was diagnosed
in November 2005. His initial PSA was 8.8 ng/ml, his Gleason Score was 4+3=7 and
he was staged T1c. His choice of treatment was Open prostatectomy. Here is his
story.
July 1998 General Check-up no PSA test (54 years old)
September
18, 2001 General Check-up asked for test, PSA 3.7
September 9, 2005 general
physical orders tests PSA and testosterone. DRE normal.
September 15, 2005
Urologist said PSA 8.8, need to schedule biopsy
October 13, 2005 prostate
biopsy
October 28, 2005 date I was told the results of biopsy and my diagnosis:
Gleason 4+3=7, "Multiple cores on left with at least 75% involvement or 2.0 cm.,
perineurial involvement on left." On right side, single focus of PCa 3+3, 1 mm.
Prostate 15 gm. Stage T1c
November 14, 2005 met with initial urologist
whom my wife and I did not like for his manner; offered surgery or radiation needed
to do it soon
December 5, 2005 met with second urologist whom my wife liked
and I did not; same answer as first urologist
December 21, 2005 met with
third urologist we both liked, and stayed with; same options, but could wait a
few months if we really wanted to, can fit to our schedule
Open RPP February
15, 2006. ("Mini laparoscopy" open surgery with one 3" incision)
March
14, 2006 surgical pathology report. Gleason 4+3=7 reconfirmed . Negative lymph
nodes. Seminal vesicles and margins free of tumor. Stage T2cN0M0
March
21, 2006 Scan shows lymphocoele
(lymph fluid collecting in abdominal cavity near/above site of surgery)
March
23, 2006 insert drain
March 27, 2006 drain stops working
March
28, 2006 flush it out.
April 2, 2006 ER to be admitted for IV anti-biotic
treatment for suspected internal infection: tries to adjust my drain
April
4, 2006 new drain
April 17, 2006 laparoscopic drainage of pelvic lymphocoele.
(surgery)
September 15, 2006 PSA test. Result undetectable...
January
12, 2007 PSA test --- undetectable
May 24, 2007 PSA comes back at 0.2
July
16, 2007 double open hernia repair (related to previous two surgeries?)
October
2, 2007 PSA 0.5 (doubled in less than 6 months)
November 14, 2007 bone
scan neg
November 21, 2007 Testosterone, 447, PSA 0.5
November
27, 2007 CT scan neg
December 13, 2007 first Lupron injection (4+ month
dose).
Friday, February 15, 2008 PSA test PSA less than 0.1. OK to proceed
with SRT (salvage radiation therapy)
Tuesday, February 26 start of 34 fractions
of 68 Gray total radiation
March 28 PSA less than 0.1, testosterone less
than 20.
Friday, April 11, 2008 last day of SRT!
April 29th PSA
undetectable, testosterone less than 20
May 29, 2008: PSA 0.2 (OOPS!),
testosterone 504! DEXA
bone scan OK
Wednesday, June 4, 2008, got second Lupron 4-month injection.
September
17, 2008, PSA undetectable
October 21st. PSA undetectable.
November
20 2008, ending my almost year of Lupron. GOOD NEWS. Lupron has worn off because
testosterone back to average level and PSA is undetectable!
March 19th
2009 PSA test. PSA = 3.0
June 18, 2009 PSA test. PSA = 6.3
June
24th, 2009 CAT scan done neg
June
26th, 2009 bone scan neg
June 30th, 2009 write email to Urologist in which
I agree to Lupron treatment
July 1, 2009 receive email reply to come in
for injection.
July 7, 2009 Lupron 4 month injection
July 19th,
2009 first hot flashes noticed. Not very big but noticeable.
August 2009:
Hot flashes stronger than a year ago, joint aches especially shoulders returns
as it was initially with first year of Lupron in December 2008. Sleep disturbance
returns which may be related to hot flashes and/or to joint aches. Have been taking
ibuprofen at night which seems to help get to sleep/return to sleep.
August
17, 2009 email with Urologist from his perspective need no action other than every
4 months get new Lupron injection and every 4-6 months a PSA test. Concerned about
perfunctory answer.
Paul's e-mail address is: paulj@cruzio.com
