THERE WAS NO RESPONSE TO AN UPDATE REMINDER IN 2018 SO THERE IS NO UPDATE.

I was a 67 year old retiree who was in good health and, was diagnosis in April of 2016 with prostate cancer with a PSA of 20. I had changed primary care providers and my new primary care provider would not take me unless I had a full work up and physical. Lucky for me at 67 she checked me for PSA, first time ever. June 2016 had a biopsy performed, with a Gleason score of 7a in 12 of 16 samples PSA now 25. Aug of 2016 PSA reached 40. Scheduled surgery Dec. 22 at John Hopkins with Dr. Mohamad Allf, M.D. (Professor of Urology, Oncology, and Bimedical Engineering, Vice Chairman Depart of Urology, Director of Adult Urology, Director Minimally Invasive and Robotic Surgery). This was the earliest date I could get with Dr. Allf, who at first refused to take me because I was a high risk case. Dec. 2017 now a PSA of 55.

Dec. 14 entered a New Clinical Trial thru John Hopkins with a nuclear isotope 18F-DCFPyl used in a PET/CT scan which can pinpoint the cancer outside of the prostate. Cutting edge stuff here and hard to get into the trial. Can only be done 1 week before surgery. Fortunately, my surgeon was able to get me into the trial, he said he had connections LOL. This guided Dr. Allf on Dec. 22, 2016 when Robotic Prostatectomy Surgery was performed. Surgery took 3-4 hrs longer than excepted, with 23 lymph nodes and some nerves being removed that were suspected of having cancer from the clinical trial. In a lot of pain, cramping, gas, after surgery for 3-4 weeks, with side effects of erectile dysfunction, and incontinent. March 2017 first follow up showed a PSA of 0.1, undetectable "Yahoo".

Dr. Allf wanted to start radiation treatment as soon as I could get my incontinent under control but, no more than within 3-6 months. Set 2nd follow up appointment for June to reevaluate things at that time. June 2017 follow up showed a PSA of 0.4 an increase in 3 months of 0.3, now PSA detectable and cancer is back. Cancer too small to detect under the trial now. Incontinence still not under control, diapers changed 5-6 times a day (still better than the 8-10 I was having). Set 3rd. appointment for Aug. for retest of PSA and go from there. In meantime, looking for a Radiation Therapy Center to at least get set up for the possibility of treatment to begin in Sept. of 2017 for 6-8 weeks of treatment.

I'm now 68 years old and, am considering Watchful Waiting as opposed to more treatment. Would this be advisable? Just getting tired of this battle...

Gibby's e-mail address is: prostate.2017 AT gmail.com (replace "AT" with "@")

NOTE: Gibby has not updated his story for more than 15 months, so you may not receive any response from him.