YANA - YOU ARE NOT ALONE NOW

PROSTATE CANCER SUPPORT SITE

SILVER

T Wa00 lives in Bayern, Munich, Germany. He was 58 when he was diagnosed in November 2004. His initial PSA was 10.40 ng/ml, his initial Gleason Score was 6 (3+3) and he was staged as T1b N0 G2 M0. His choice fo treatment was Brachytherapy. Here is his story:

In 1998 I was still living in the UK, my local GP carried out a DRE (Digital Rectal Examination) and expressed some concern at the size of the prostate. I had not experienced any problems with emptying my bladder and rarely got up overnight and did not have any other indications of a problem.

I was sent to the consultant who took my first PSA test back in November 1998 (4.10 ng/ml) and then proposed a biopsy. The biopsy showed no signs and I went on watchful waiting with a 6 monthly PSA check. Over the next 4 years it fluctuated around 4.4o ng/ml to 5.8o ng/ml - sometimes down; sometimes up. I had one further biopsy that indicated some precursor cells but no cancerous cells were found.

In May 2003 it had risen to 6.70 ng/ml, but my local GP said I should not panic until it went in to double figures! So I relaxed and moved to Germany in August 2004.

In September 2003, I had experienced a mild heart attack and subsequently in December 2003 had undergone a mini CAB (keyhole surgery in the breast area to bypass a blocked artery) and two angioplasty operations to clear two arteries.
As a routine follow up I visited a heart doctor in Munich to check that everything was OK, and being German they ran every test under the sun. She was very happy with the heart results, but was very unhappy with my PSA (7.20 ng/ml) and sent me to a local Urologist.

I was shocked when he carried out a DRE and said he was 99% sure I had a cancer in the left lobe and needed a biopsy to check on both lobes. The biopsy indicated up to 12 small tumours around 1 cm in size (T1b N0 G2 M02, Gleason 6 (3a+3b))

I subsequently had X-rays, MRI and CT scans which indicated that the cancer was contained inside the prostate.

We talked about the methods and basically pushed for either surgery or brachytherapy (ultasound and other techniques were not an option), but said it had to be my decision and gave me a list of surgeons to talk with and discuss. However, based on which choice he was quite explicit as to who should carry out the operations!!

I was not comfortable with surgery again as it had taken 6 months for my body to recover from the heart operations, but I tried to be as unbiased as possible. Eventually I decided on the Brachytherapy as the initial problems seemed to be less.

January and February 2005, were then taken up with visits to the Surgeon, pre-planning and check up with my heart doctor, anesthetist and radiologist to ensure that I was capable of the operation, that I understood all the potential problems and had signed all the papers required in Germany to enable the operation to go ahead. Plus I was given a piece of paper for customs to say I was not a potential radio active risk when travelling abroad by plane.

I decided on an in-patient treatment and went in on the 5th March 2005. The operation took place on March 6th and was remarkably painless apart from problems inserting a tube into my left arm. They inserted 43 seeds using the radioactive Iodine seeds on strands.

The first 6 weeks have been very good and had managed to get back to my normal running routine.

However, this week I hit a road block, and have experienced immense tiredness and feelings of sickness - not sure what is causing this problem

I am on Omnic (tamsulosin - flomax)for increasing the urine flow by reducing an inflamation and Proscar(finasteride)which reduces the prostate size. I am told I will be on them for at least 6 months, probably 12 months.

I also continue my heart tablets (an ACE and an anti chloresterol drug).

 

UPDATED

August 2006

 

I guess that in general I still find the whole thing, a case of 2 steps forward, and everytime it looks good 1 or 2 steps backward!

I think in general since April 2005 I have had a very easy time, with initial burning effects when passing water, and a slow stream. I would go 2 or 3 times a night. Also sex was OK although about the 6 month period I did take Viagra occasionally.

At 9 months, life was very positive, no urgency, steady streams when passing water during the day, and probably 0 or 1 calls in the night, when it would be more difficult. No sexual problems.

Now, since the 13 months point I have experienced some problems. I use Viagra more (although I think it’s more a mental problem, especially at night!), I have had a 3 month period when I had a real burning issue when passing water (it has just disappeared as suddenly as it started), and I am getting up 1 to 3 times during the night when it takes a while to empty the bladder. So something is happening down below, but what is hard to define.

During this time my PSA has stayed at about 2.5 which is kind of tricky, I keep waiting for it to drop (or worse go back up). Overall, I believe that apart from this PSA factor, I have had a very easy time with problems that are pretty mild.

UPDATED

September 2006

 

In my last update, I mentioned the problems in passing water and the burning sensations that had also started again – well dramatically they have now disappeared and I am back to normal. With Brachytherapy you truly take each day at a time – problems suddenly appear and can disappear just as fast.

 

UPDATED

November 2007

 

I am now nearly into my 3rd year since the operation and in general my health has been good, with currently no problems. I still take Viagra, although when surprised by my wife we manage to accomplish the task in hand usually quite well!

My PSA since the last test is at the lowest it has been for some time, so the next one will be really interesting, the PSA figures are as follows-

09/12/2004 10.4

05/03/2005 Operation

17/03/2005 14.6

26/04/2007 1.76

16/06/2005 0.832

22/09/2005 2.19

18/01/2006 2.44

24/04/2006 2.54

24/07/2006 2.68

02/11/2006 3.22

06/02/2007 2.15

25/06/2007 2.43

15/10/2007 2.06

So you could say this has been a long “bounce” – although further checks (scans etc) show no incidence of the cancer. So as I have said before I take each day as it comes and wait to see what the future holds!

 

UPDATED

September 2008

 

Since my operation in March 2005 my PSA has between Jan 2006 and June 2007 oscillated between 2.43 and 3.22 (high in 11/2006) which caused some concern. Since October 2007 it has progressively dropped and is now down to .588.

I guess it illustrates some of the extremes of a "bounce". During this period I had some extensive scans which showed no problems.

At the moment I am back to where I started with all facilties and no problems that I am aware of - life is pretty good and medically I appear to be better than I was 10 years ago - although older and with that the problems that age brings - I do not recover as quickly as I once could!

Regards Tony

 

UPDATED

January 2010

 

 

As of January 1, 2010 have no issues with PCa treatment, medical health is good and no problems either with ED or ability to urinate.

I guess in summary that I am as healthy as I can be at my age, with 9km runs 3 times a week, as well as regular walks with my labrador dog which also keeps me pretty fit.

Tony's e-mail address is: awhalley@waitrose.com