YANA - YOU ARE NOT ALONE NOW

PROSTATE CANCER SUPPORT SITE

BRONZE

Tom Ryan and Pat live in Massachusetts, USA. He was 60 when he was diagnosed on September 10, 2008. His initial PSA was 7.6 ng/ml, his Gleason Score was 6 and he was staged T1c. His choice of treatment was ADT (Androgen Deprivation Therapy)/IMRT (Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy) . Here is his story.

DRE negative but slight urinary issues led me to request a PSA test. Result was 7.6, so on to biopsy. Gleason 3+3 with 8 of 12 cores positive in both lobes. A few cores as high as 50% involved. Sent immediately for CAT scan and nuclear bone scan---both negative. Urologist recommended surgery.

Second opinion at Dana Farber. Due to high tumor volume, my treatment team (even the surgeon) felt I would be best served with radiation therapy. Gleason score upgraded to 3+4. Result of endo-rectal coil MRI show cancer contained within the prostate capsule (hopefully)

Studies at Dana Farber show better results with neo-adjuvant ADT used with IMRT. Started Casodex ten days ago and a three month injection of Lupron this week, radiation to start in Feb. 2009. More to follow.

 

UPDATED

January 2009

 

 

I just had coil fiducials implanted prior to my planning session for my IMRT.

I wanted to let you know, I had previously had a very painful experience with biopsy. This time my Onco. prescribed Ativan before the procedure---what a difference! Almost no discomfort at all.

I highly recommend you ask your doctor for some meds before biopsy and/or fiducial implant. There is no need to go through these procedures with pain.

Scheduled for planning session January 26....radiation to start February 2. I've been on Casodex and Lupron for over a month now and the side effects have been very, very minimal.

 

UPDATED

April 2009

 

 

April 2, 2009. Today completed 42 IMRT radiation treatments at Brigham and Women's in Boston. My last PSA done about a month ago was 0.20, have to love that hormone therapy.

No bowel side effects from treatment, probably because my treatment team inserted fiducial markers to focus on during radiation. However urinary side effects were something else, going every hour on the hour, Flomax has not proved particularly effective in easing my symptoms.

I've had minimal side effects from the hormone therapy. I'm feeling some fatigue but not sure if that's the hormones or simply interrupted sleep, due to urinary issues.

I am to continue on ADT for two more months, due to see my medical oncologist in July for blood work and exam. So far so good.

Tom's e-mail address is: tomasoruadhain@aol.com