YANA - YOU ARE NOT ALONE NOW

PROSTATE CANCER SUPPORT SITE

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Phred and Mell X live in Florida USA He was 59 when he was diagnosed in May 2007. His initial PSA was 115 ng/ml; his Gleason Score was 7 and it seems likely that he was staged T2b. He is undecided as to what treatment to have. Here is his story:


Big baby, scared of any/all medical procedures.

From 2000 to 2005 PSA varied from 45 ng/ml to 65 ng/ml but no biopsy due to irrational fear of pain. 2007 PSA jumped to 115 ng/ml and pressure from family/friends plus Valium forced biopsy, which was positive. Otherwise virtually asymptomatic.

Gleason score 7 ... haven't been informed of any stage number.

Subsequent full body bone scan and pelvic CT scan essentially negative, showing no bone involvement but possible metastasis to the outside wall of the prostate. Both the Urologist and Oncologist were impressed and I don't think they believed the results.

Initially scheduled for 43 external radiation treatments but the Oncologist discovered what appeared to be part of my small intestine stretching farther down in between the bladder and rectum than normal. She was worried about radiating the area and switched the treatment plan to seed implant followed by 25 less intense external radiation treatments.

I have been on hormone therapy since 6/07 with three injections of Lupron and the only side affect is hot flashes.

Scheduled for some sort of CT/bone scan on 8/16/07 but don't think I can tolerate it. Folks say I have to lay on the table, completely motionless, for one hour. Can't remember the actual name of the scan but they tell me it does a full body CT scan, a pelvic bone scan and diagnostic screening. Can't find anything of this sort of test on the internet.

One hour lying motionless? Anyone ever heard of such a test?

UPDATED

September 2007

 

 

Just got the results of a P.E.T. scan and it's negative for metastasis.

After much deliberation, including re-reading all of the comments on this forum, decided to go with seed implant followed by five weeks of external radiation as my treatment plan.

Will update as move events unfold.

 

UPDATED

October 2007

 

 

Seed implant yesterday (Wednesday, October 17) ... implanted 79 seeds (40 is normal/average), recovered without difficulty.

Had Catheter removed today (Thursday, October 18) ... painful but brief. Now urinating normally on my own.

Last hormone therapy (monthly Lupron shots) treatment next week. Break time ... nothing more until commencement of five weeks of external radiation in mid December.

Fingers still crossed.

 

UPDATED

January 2008

 

 

Just completed five weeks of external radiation treatment (23 sessions). Began feeling fatigued after three weeks and it got so bad I took the last two weeks off work to deal with it. I drive part time and felt it was unsafe to continue. Believe that the sleepiness was in part due to the radiation as well as not sleeping well at night due to urinary frequency/urgency.

I just called in and requested an extra week off, well, cause I deserve it ... also want more time for the urinary symptoms (pain/burning) to lessen.

Those urinary symptoms have lingered on unabated for over three months now and it's getting old. Doc said the pain/burning should start subsiding quickly now that the radiation sessions are over but the urinary frequency/urgency could continue for several more months ... we'll see.

Now it's wait patiently for six weeks then have a PSA test ... not sure I wanna wait that long.

 

UPDATED

July 2008

 

 

Just got the blood test results (decided to wait six months after radiation to get it done) ... PSA is 3.0 ... very good news.

Still trying to wean myself off Flomax, but can't yet. I believe Flomax is causing sinus headaches now. Still having some urinary discomfort, slight pain, moderate burning just before urinating but feel that improvement is at least 50-75% since finishing radiation in January 2008.

Can't uncross the fingers yet, but mood is good.

 

UPDATED

October 2009

 

 

Not much to add ... guess I'm procrastinating.

Had a repeat PSA done in July 2009 and came back at 4.2. Concern but no panic, yet. Will get PSA's every six months from now on.

Finally off Flomax and doing fine without it.

Phred's e-mail address is: simm4248@bellsouth.net