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PROSTATE CANCER SUPPORT SITE

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Richie Rich and Money live in Texas USA. He was 51 when he was diagnosed on October 31 2006. His initial PSA was 36.6 ng/ml, his Gleason Score was 7 and he was staged T1c. His choice of treatment was ProstRcision® (Brachytherapy and External Beam Radiation). Here is his story:

Upon doing my annual Physical I was told that due to being over 50 that I should have my first PSA test with a DRE and a Colonoscopy. I agreed to these tests and never gave it a thought because I felt great and very healthly. He said the DRE was great and that my prostate was small and smooth and probably nothing to worry about. I got a call back in a few days from my primary Physican and he told me that we needed to talk about my PSA test.

He informed me that it was a 36.6 and I asked what that meant. He said it was not a good reading and that he had made me an appointment with a specialist called a Urologist. Then I began the long process of gathering information. What was a prostate? Where was it? Did I need it? Could I live without it? I went to see this specialist and he performed another DRE with another PSA. That DRE again was great with nothing found but the PSA was still over 30.

A biopsy was recommended to rule out CANCER but he thought that maybe it was just an infection. The 12 needle biopsy came back positive in 6 of the core samples with a Gleason rating of a 7. You could have knocked me down with a feather when I heard this news. Shock, denial, anger all hit me within days. I thought that I wanted this CUT OUT yesterday. My Urologist sent me in for a CAT Scan and a Bone Scan to see if it had spread any where else in my body. Thankfully I finally got some good news as both of these tests came back negative.

Then I began to gather even more information. What were the treatments offered to get rid of the PC? I went in for a follow up visit with my urologist and we talked for well over an hour about possible treatment options. He told me that he was a Surgeon and that was what he knew so of course that surgery is what he would recommend. He would do the RP nerve sparing surgery and that I would have a 50/50 chance of getting all of the Cancer and being cured. I did not like those odds so I told him that I would get back to him. He agreed and suggested that I get a 2nd opinion or a 3rd. He even recommended a Radiation Oncologist that he knew of. He also mentioned that I might be one of the RARE cases that a dual radiation procedure might be the best chioce.

This kicked off even more research from me using the internet. I evaluated Cryo, Ultra Sound, Surgery, Brachy, External Beam and all combination of these. I contacted many Cancer treatment centers and sent them my records for evaluation. Finally I began a dialog with Dr. Critz at RCOG (Radiotherapy Center of Georgia) and after reading all of their information and an evaluation by them I made my final decision to go to them for a CURE. They use a two part Radiation approach called ProstRcision to cure Cancer and they have a higher cure rate than Johns Hopkins. They also have a lower side effect rate than just about any procedure used today. I thought the Highest cure rate and the lowest side effects - NOW that is what I want. I have already had the 87 I-125 Seeds implanted in February 2007 and now I am back having the External Radiation performed to complete the procedure. I have a total of 35 treatments before I am cured. the first three were EBRT and now the remaining 32 will be IMRT. So far I have had ZERO side effects and I feel great.

 

UPDATED

August 2007

 

 

Well I finished my treatments in April of 2007 and I have been back home since then. I am feeling great and doing just fine. All of my bodily functions are working just as good as before surgery and I am very happy about that. My first PSA post treatment went from a 36.6 ng/ml down to a 28.2 ng/ml and my second test 3 months later went down to a 20.8 ng/ml. You need to have patience when you get treated by Radiation as it can take from 2-5 years to get down to 0.2 ng/ml or below.

I believe that I am well on my way to being cured and the PSA numbers are reflecting this.

 

UPDATED

October 2007

 

 

I had my latest PSA test done on September 15th and the results were just great. I dropped from a 20.8 ng/ml to a 5.9 ng/ml. It has now been nine months since I had my first treatment and it looks like I am well on my way to being cured.

I still do not have any side effects other than I do take one Flomax pill each night to keep the stream strong. Other than that I do not suffer from impotence, incontinence, tiredness or any other bad thing that I have read about with the other procedures.

It looks like I made the right choice for me.

 

UPDATED

December 2007

 

 

I just got my 1 year PSA test and my PSA has dropped from the last reading of 5.9 to 3.5. The treatment I received appears to be working just fine. I still feel good and I still do not have any adverse side effects. I would highly recommend that other men at least check out RCOG and the ProstRcision procedure.

 

UPDATED

May 2008

 

 

I just got my latest PSA test done and I have dropped again. At 18 months I am now at 1.6ng/ml down from the previous reading of 3.5. The initial treatment that I had seems to be working just great and I am on track for a complete cure.

 

UPDATED

March 2009

 

 

Well I should have updated my story sooner but like everyone else I stay quite busy.

My 18 month PSA was down to .094 and that is the first time that it has ever been below a 1.0 that I am aware of. I was very excited and feeling very confident that I was on my way to being cured. My Urologist confided that he never thought that we would see my number this low. All of his trainng and experience told him that I would never make it no matter what treatment choice I made. Now he is starting to believe!

At 24 months out or 2 years since my initial seed implant my PSA is now 0.68. What a great way to start January 2009. My doctor and me can't wait to see what my next PSA test will show in 6 months.

Looks like I beat the odds and that I picked the right place to get treated. Thanks to RCOG in Decatur, GA.

 

UPDATED

June 2009

 

 

Well I just had my 30 month PSA test and I am now at 0.13ng/ml.

I have waited for 2.5 years to get below a 0.2ng/ml reading as that seems to be the Magic number to be considered cured. Now all I have to do is stay there for the rest of my life and I feel confident that I will.

I am very thankful to RCOG in Decatur, GA for their treatment and cure from prostate cancer.

 

UPDATED

January 2010

 

 

Well here I am at 36 months out from my treatment. I started out with a 36.6 PSA which scared the heck out of me. My latest test just came back in and I am now at a 0.08 PSA. I still do not have any side effects other than almost no ejaculate which is to be expected.

Other than that I am healthy, happy and joyful. I am looking forward to this New Year and I am very thankful to RCOG and the Good Lord above for giving me more time to enjoy life.

My best wishes to all!!!

Richie's e-mail address is: rdodson507@sbcglobal.net