Now on Active Surveillance

[JimVanHorn]

I have had 72 radiations, Eligard for 6 and 1/2 years, and now I am "cancer free". I am on active surveillance and PSA is 0.00. I would like to join the active surveillance community. Jim Van Horn

[Fox2018]

Hello Jim!

[Fox2018]

What does "Eligard for 6 1/2 years" mean?

[JimVanHorn in reply to Fox2018]

Eligard is the generic for a drug called Lupron. It stops your body from making androgens like testosterone. Androgens must be present for prostate cells to subdivide (make into 2 cells). Each prostate cell has a spot called the androgen receptor (AR). When androgens are near the AR the cell begins to cell divide ( both healthy and cancerous cells). So with luck you can use Lupron (Eligard) and your cancer cells can not multiply. When a cell multiplies it gives off proteins picked up by the PSA test. So if your PSA is 0.00 that means no prostate cells are multiplying. It is normal to have a PSA less than 1.5, and some us have a normal higher PSA. If it doubles in three months call your doctor.

[Longterm101 in reply to JimVanHorn]

Jim stay healthy

Who was your RO?

[JimVanHorn]

I would not recommend my RO because he was dishonest with me and it was 2007. At this time I do not have prostate cancer, my oncologist called me on Christmas Eve with the good news. I have not had Eligard for 9 months and my PSA is still 0.006. I wish you well in your decisions.

[marykg46]

I Jim. Maybe there are more like you out there but I've never actually heard of someone with pc becoming cancer free. Whatever you've done has worked. Must be like a weight is lifted having that diagnosis.

[JimVanHorn in reply to marykg46]

I had given up about 3 years ago, but just kept doing what was suggested and going to a gay church. (I am gay) One of the people at church died of prostate cancer last year and that was depressing. My last therapy shot was in April of 2018 and my PSA stayed down to 0.005 in September 2918, but I was rejoicing on Christmas Eve when the doctor called me said I have no signs of cancer in my body! I am still on active surveillance and see the doctor every 6 months. We need to work on my Vit D levels which are extremely low an my testosterone is 11 (normal is 360). I also have heart disease, diabetes, and kidney disease, but even those diseases are getting better. I am taking two anti-coagulants for my heart, so my diet is: no sugars, low carbs, 3 ounces of chicken or fish, no Vit K (blood thinner), no potassium or phosphates (kidney), and 1/2 gallon of water daily. So I am urinary incontinent. I use a CPAP machine and am on 17 medications including 230 units of insulin daily. I am 73 years old and moving into a high rise rest home in July that has medical facilities. I am very happy and wish everyone wellness and just remember to just keep truckin'.

[Olivia007 in reply to marykg46]

I too have never heard of Mets to bone being cured? Our dr. told us this prostrate cancer will never be cured because my dad has it to his bones so I’m just trying to see what we’re not doing right and how can we get cured?

[aceace12]

welcome

[JimVanHorn]

Well it is hard to get rid of metastatic cancer in the bones. This may help. Of the billions of cells in the prostate some cells may break off and go into the blood stream. They may be cancerous and then they have affinity for hip bones and spine. They also go into the lymph nodes. In the bone they attach to a bone, sit there a while, sink into the bone leaving a scar (like an acne scar on the face only much smaller), and as long as there are no androgens in the blood stream they can not multiply. They are stuck there like in a little coffin! Radiation helps kill them off. Cancer cells weaken the bone over time and osteoporosis drugs are used to strengthen the bone. I was given 3 shots of Xgeva every 6 months for 18 months. White blood cells (T cells) may attack cancer cells, but since the cancer cells are from your own body they do not see the cancer cell as the enemy. I was on Eligard for 6 1/2 years and hopefully the cells in my bones have died off, I will see the Oncologist June 21 for a check up.