YANA - YOU ARE NOT ALONE NOW

PROSTATE CANCER SUPPORT SITE

BRONZE

Richard Hintermeyer and Pam live in Costa Mesa, California, USA. He was 59 when he was diagnosed in February, 2007. His initial PSA was 21.0 ng/ml, his Gleason Score was 4+5=9 and, clinically, he would have been staged T1c . His pathological staging was pT4pN1MX. His choice of treatment was Surgery, Chemo, Radiation then Hormone. Here is his story, told by Pam.

His PSA in November 2003 was 6.9 (was unknown to us that his PSA had jumped up as we were not advised by the heart doctor treating him at the time) So then we proceed forward with 3 years of his life with the unknown knowledge that cancer was growing inside.

Started to have some urinary problems in 2006 so had PSA tested in Oct 2006.
Came back at 21.0 Urologist thought it was Enlarge Prostate so tried treating him for two and a half months. Then finally had a Ultrasound performed and determined he had problem. So ordered Biopsy.

Feb 1st- Biopsy showed positive and advised local prostate cancer possibly Stage T2 or T3 Gleason score 4+5=9 All MRI, CT Bone scan tests show nothing definitive that it has spread to bones or elsewhere.

Spent one month researching, visiting hospitals, doctors, specialist more tests and finally decided.

So elected to have Robotic Radical Prostatectomy- done on April 4, 2007 and have everything removed if needed (which we were already prepared for this) Surgeon proceeded forward and removed Prostate, Lymph nodes, Seminal Vesicles and all nerve bundles and he felt he did his best possible to clear/clean out all visible signs of cancer.

Surgery went great. No complications or problems. Recovery was amazing. We both were glad to have the visible signs of cancer cut out. But what is left behind is to be seen.

Final Pathology from surgery results:
Stage IV Cancer pT4 pN1 MX.
Lymph node involvement in both left & right.
Carcinoma present in both right and left lobes and 80% of the gland.
Perineural invasion present and cancer extends into extra-prostatitic soft tissue to bladder neck.

So now move on to the next leg of our Fight against this cancer. Immediately went on Hormone therapy. Lupron & Casodex Lupron shot monthly, Casodex daily. Monitored monthly with Blood counts/PSA counts.

Went through Chemo- 5 sessions- 3hour drip every 3 weeks. Got through that OK considering it was Chemo.

Next went through Pelvic Radiation treatments. 38 sessions 5 days a week. Just finished this.

So now again we wait. He continues to get Hormone shots monthly with/labs and his PSA has consistently been undetectable. YEAH! ! ! !

So far we have been told he will possibly be on hormone treatment for quite some time years and years with Intermittent breaks in between yearly treatments. I am assuming so that he does not go into a hormone refractive state. So at this point all we do is watch and wait. I guess it could be a lot worse.

 

UPDATED

May 2009

 

 

Currently my husband, Rif was just taken off hormone treatment which was daily Casodex and monthly Lupron shots. He will be going in for his two year review and have all scans done within the next 30 days to see how he is doing. His PSA has continued to be undetectable since surgery and all his treatments.

So we are at a review phase in his life and he seems to be dooing well all things considering..

Pam's e-mail address is: pam@occomponents.com