YANA - YOU ARE NOT ALONE NOW

PROSTATE CANCER SUPPORT SITE

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Richard F and Deb live in California, USA. He was 56 when he was diagnosed on May 6, 2010. His initial PSA was 2.58 ng/ml, his Gleason Score was 6 and he was staged T1c. He is undecided as to his choice of treatment. Here is his story.

I wanna first thank whoever put this site together. For it has been a PC Data warehouse sort of speak for me, and I am truly grateful for these real-time stories.

On March 11,2010 after a DRE (Digital Rectal Examination), there was some firmness in the left lobe of my prostate. Doc recommended I see a Urologist.

So I did. PSA was also conducted. It came back a 2.58. That was on March 19th. My PSA's have been running 2.x for the last 7 years with normal DRE's. I have been very good about my prostate exams and test getting it done annually.

On April 19th '10 I found a good urologist who confirmed after another DRE exam that there was a little firmness in left lobe and he recommended a biopsy.

Biopsy was conducted of 12 cores. Diagnosis came back on May 6th with a stage T1c prostate cancer, Gleason score 3+3=6. They found a adenocarcinoma 0.5mm in 1 of 7 cores in left lobe.

As usual, the doctor said you have choices, but he recommended surgery (his area of specialization was the Da Vinci Laparoscopic) because I was relatively still young. But as many of you have done, I have decided to do some research.

Its now June 6, 2010 and still researching the various treatment options. So far I have investigated Brachytherapy, Da Vinci Lap, and HIFU (High Intensity Focused Ultrasound). HIFU so far to me sounds the most promising. Of course its not FDA approved and not allowed in the USA. I have contacted Maple HIFU in Canada. Cost US$15,000 includes hospital stay and post-op treatment. (The latter data to be confirmed)

A Dr. Uchida in Japan also does HIFU. Cost: US$14,000 and that 'does' include, all aspects of hospital stay and any post-op advise if needed.

Where am I at on this day? Still undecided and continue to do research. The UCSF Med Center in San Francisco, California has a trial based active surveillance. Don't wanna do that. Might as well go ahead and deal with it right now while I am in great shape, and in relatively good health. Have also been going to PC support groups to get feedback from others who have experienced this already.

My next research task is to read all about PBT (Proton Beam Therapy). Once my decision is made, I will update you guys. And thanks again for this website.

P.S. Is there a list of out-of-pocket cost for all treatment options on this website? If so, where can I find it? [No there isn't. There are simply too many variances, depending to some extent on bargaining ability, not to mention insurance coverage to try to assemple anything sensible] Thanks again guys! Stay strong, stay positive.

Later: I went to my first PC Support Group last night at Alpha Bates Hospital in Oakland, Calif. There were only a few men present but listening to these guys and their experience with PC, their treatment modality and their response to it - as well as the information that they shared was very very helpful. With the information that I received from these gentlemen helps to bring me closer to my decision as to what treatment action to take.

I will keep the YANA community updated on my journey.

Later: Just a quick, short update. I will be meeting with a oncologist and a Urologist at UCSF medical center in San Francisco Thursday, June 17th.

The purpose of this visit is to one; go over my treatment options, and two; to get a second opinion. Will keep you updated.

Rich F.
San Fran. California.

 

UPDATED

October 2010

 

 

The latest and greatest update is some rather GREAT news as far as I am concerned.

I sent my biopsy slides to UCSF Medical Center in San Francisco (Univ. of California, San Francisco Urology Prostate Clinic) for a second opinion. [This is always recommended - see Expert Pathologists.] UCSF, has and is one of the vanguard Prostate Clinics in the country in terms of R&D prostate cancer research. And it is of their opinion that what I have is not prostate cancer per se - but a 'Atypia' with a some malignant cells on a couple of the glands! That was marvelous news!!! And I thank God for it every day - appreciating life - friends and family more and more.

My Doc (Urologist who does Lpr, Lpr-robotic and Open-retro) stated that at this time, the pathologist have conclude that its a 'Atypia' (there was a lot more 'technical-medical' jargon on their diagnosis but not able to quote it all here) and that it does not warrant any radical or aggressive treatment at this time. However; since I have a large prostate, he placed me on a dutasteride and a finasteride to get the size down; placed me on 'Active Surveillance' and wants to see me back in 5 months for another biopsy.

What is reeeeeally important for all the other guys to know is to "know" what your prostate volume is. I can not stress that enough. It is such a major factor in terms of what type of treatment - especially radiation treatment - that one decides on and could end up impacting surgical and or radiological treatment (in terms of length of time of treatment, etc). Many of the guys in my prostate cancer support group did not know what their prostate volume was - which was very interesting.

With regards to my PSA, its holding steady at 2.5, 2.7. The last one done was in August. However, my doc does not want me to do any more until I close to my biopsy.

Be well, be happy! :-) .

Richard's e-mail address is: sigitolo@gmail.com