THERE WAS NO RESPONSE TO AN UPDATE REMINDER IN 2013 SO THERE IS NO UPDATE.

I had my wife take me to the hospital after trying to self-treat myself for what I thought was gas. In fact, my bladder was distended due to my prostate blocking my urethra. I was catheterized and more than three liters of urine poured from me. I was diagnosed with complete kidney failure with a creatine level of 35. I was also diagnosed with metastatic bone disease.

I was sent to intensive care and four days later, had TURP surgery. My kidney function returned to normal.

I take anti-androgen medication daily, and have resumed normal life activities, including consulting work, business and pleasure trips, weightlifting and power walking, etc.

While in the ICU prior to surgery, the calendar on the wall had all of the date pages removed. It simply read, "Today is." This is how I live my life, one day at a time. I laugh more and fret less. Oh, and I now see my doctors on a regular basis!

My last PSA in March 2004 was undetectable.

After nearly three years on a daily regimen of 100mg of Casodex, my PSA began to rise -- first to 2.4 ng/ml and then to 4.2 ng/ml. It then declined to 3.5 ng/ml, but my oncologist decided the Casodex had begun working with the cancer cells instead of combating them. I was switched to Ketaconazole (400mg twice daily and hydrocortisone at 10mg twice daily). I continue to take a Lupron injection.

In March 2006, I moved to North Carolina. My new oncologist at the University of North Carolina Cancer Center has maintained my regimen of Ketaconazole, Hydrocort, and Lupron. My current regimen is 200mg of Ketaconazole three times daily, 20mg Hydrocort in the morning and 10mg in the evening, and Lupron every three months. My PSA reading in May 2006 was 1.4 ng/ml.

I continue to be physically active, pain-free, and without restrictions. My bone Density study in November 2005 showed "the bones of a nineteen-year-old," but at some later point, I may need Zometa to ensure bone strength.

Whenever I get the chance, I encourage men to know their PSA and have their prostate examined, take any necessary actoin, and plan and live a robust life involving family, friends, and work.

My life has remained the same since my last update in 2006.

My PSA has fluctuated between 0.9 and 2.4 over the last six months. My weight rose from 222lbs to 251 pounds by last January, despite my being physically active and altering my eating habits. My doctor reduced my hydrocortisone from 30mg per day to 10mg daily and my weight has reduced to 225 pounds.

I am physically active (weight training and aerobics) at a local fitness center near our new home in North Carolina, and gardening and landscaping are constant activities. I am pain-free and unrestricted in my activities and diet. I have traveled by car recently to Atlanta, DC, and Maryland, and by air to Pittsburgh. Upcoming trips include Maryland, Arkansas, and Denver.

My wife and I are enjoying our new home and making new friends. Last month we held our annual "camp" for our grandchildren, where six of them stay with us while their parents go back home. Two of them stayed an additional nine days, and another has returned for ten days to spend time with me and get a break from his younger siblings. In all, we are adhering to our medical regimens and enjoying life in as many ways as possible.

Since my last update my PSA continued to trend upward every three months from 2.4 to 5.2 to 11.2. Then in one month it rose to 38.5 and I opted to begin chemotherapy even though I was still asymptomatic for new cancer spread.

From January 15 to November 4 2008 I received infusions of Docetaxel every three weeks. After the first infusion I also began a clinical trial with CNTO328 - a drug to capture interleukin 6 protein. I completed 15 treatments of Docetaxel and fourteen of CNTO328.

During chemo I maintained most of my normal activities except attending the fitness center and situations with large numbers of people. This was due to the neutropenia caused by the Docetaxel. I took doses of Prednisone - 25mg twice daily - and also took Dexamethasone and Zotran accompanying each treatment to mitigate the side effects of the chemo.

I have experienced hair loss, neuropathy in my fingers and toes, weight gain, and tearing, but the chemo has not interfered with the performance of my normal activities and my energy level has remained good.

Now that the chemo is over, I will remain on Lupron and Zometa and my PSA will be monitored as before.

[Robert's PSA is 3.1 ng/ml at the time of writing]

Current therapy is: 200 mg Ketaconzole three times daily and 20mg and 10 mg hydrocortisone daily, Lupron injection quarterly, Zometa infusion quarterly.

In November 2009 my PSA was down from 73.2 to 3.2 Today (February 18) I tested as 0.9 PSA. I will continue the ketoconazole/hydrocortisone regimen for now.

My latest PSA, on March 10, 2011, has risen to 16.1. Three months prior to that is was 7.2 and three months before that it was 2.1. This means that the daily regimen of ketaconozale/hydrocortisone and quarterly injection of Lupron is no longer sufficient to keep my PSA in check.

We are exploring alternatives, including a possible clinical trial. I will inform you once a decision has been made.

On the other hand nothing else has changed. I remain active and pain free and have a great energy level. Last December marked my eighth year after diagnosis and initiation of treatment. I have gained ten unwanted pounds over the past year. I continue to exercise doing both strength training and aerobics. I will make some dietary changes - types of food and portion size - to assist in removing some of the excessive weight. I currently weigh 244 pounds and am 5' 9" tall. My weight goal is 190 pounds.

In February 2011 my PSA was trending upward. Reached 32. We decided to participate in a clinical trial with Zytiga, so ketaconozal/hydrocortisone was suspended to prepare for screening. Trial was canceled in April due to early FDA approval, so I was able to begin using the drug as soon as I could get it. Began taking 1000 mg once daily along with prednisone 5mg twice daily in mid-May. PSA had climbed to 81during my drug hiatus. Six weeks after initiating Zytiga, PSA had dropped to 10.1. It subsequently fell to 4.1, 1.2, and by mid-March, registered 1.1. My energy level remains excellent. I am physically active and exercise regularly in my home gym. At this point my biggest challenge is weight control. I have been able to reduce my weight from a high of 255 pounds to 226 over the past two years. My goal is 190 pounds.

I am collaborating with a group of oncologists at the University of North Carolina Cancer Hospital to develop a research project to design personalized physical activity/fitness prescriptions for each prostate cancer patient.

From November 2009 to January 2012, I served as President of the Patient and Family Advisory Board at the NC Cancer Hospital, partnering with health care staff to improve cancer care. This new Board now has members partnering with 20 hospital committees, rounding with patients, and participating.

I believe that remaining as active as is reasonable helps my treatment process and overall state of mind.

Robert's e-mail address is: roberth794 AT aol.com (replace "AT" with "@")

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