Today is a great day! Many of my friends know that I was diagnosed with Stage 4 Metastatic Prostate Cancer twelve years ago. I immediately entered a six month chemo trial with a man who has spent a career researching Prostate and Kidney Cancer. I just got back from seeing him. My PSA continues to be undetectable at <0.1 and Testosterone at 551.
I am thankful for the Power of my Creator, the support of my family and friends, the skill and knowledge of Dr. Robert Amato and staff, and the many thousands of well-wishers who offered healing prayers around the World.
Please share with us the name of the particular chemo drug which was so successful in your case.
I'm so happy for you. Too many of us have lost the battle, and too many of us are fighting this, the worst disease that can inflict a male.
But we need to remember that what was so successful in your case won't be as successful for everyone; prostate cancer is not a "one size fits all" type of disease, which is why it is so difficult to treat.
Wow, that is such an inspiration to me. I have been recently diagnosed with metastatic PCa and hearing stories like yours, gives me great hope for the future. Like Cericwin, I would love to hear the specifics of your treatment. Keep up the fight!
I saw Dr Amato 5 years ago and he had a very agressive plan (taxotere in combination with Lupron and other drugs) to treat my cancer which at the time was only showing itself with a rapidly rising PSA. I talked to two other oncologist who didn't agree with Dr Amato's treatment plan and said It was unproven and too agressive for my stage of the disease. I struggled with what to do, but decided not to do the treatment. Now I have CRPC with bone metastasis and in hindsight wish I had made a different decision. He is a very impressive doctor.
Kinda, curious. Did the other two oncologists specialize in Prostate Cancer? I ask, because when I had my knee replacement six years ago, A hospital medical oncologist dropped by because my white blood cells were abnormal. I told him that this is to be expected with anyone who has had chemo and he replied yes. We entered into a conversation about my chemo trial and he wanted to see the treatment plan. My wife brought it the next day. His remark was, "This will never work." He was referring to the Doxy. Goes to show how some are set into their paradigms.
In fairness to the medical profession there are differing opinions as to when to start chemo; early or late. Me, I wanted to be very aggressive while my body was strong and not weaken by disease. I wish you the best and keep kicking the bastard.
Yes, both the oncologist that I see specialize in prostate cancer. One went on to head the prostate cancer center at the Cleveland Clinic. Both doctors said their was no evidence that Dr Amato's approach would cure the desease or extend life. Not sure they were correct, but I went with their advise. I hope your cancer remains in remission.
Here is the treatment plan that I underwent:
Each course of chemotherapy lasts for 8 weeks. Patients were treated in weeks 1, 3, and 5 with doxorubicin 20 mg/m2 as a 24-hour intravenous infusion on the first day of every week in combination with ketoconazole 400 mg orally 3 times a day daily for 7 days. In weeks 2, 4, and 6, treatment consisted of paclitaxel 100 mg/m2 intravenously on the first day of every week in combination with estramustine 280 mg orally 3 times a day for 7 days. After completion of 3 courses of chemotherapy, hormone management [medical castration plus casodex (at the completion of chemotherapy)] is initiated at the start of chemotherapy and for a total of 24 months.
Note, I came off of Casodex nine months after completion of chemo. I continued Lupron for a little over five years and then stopped that as well.
Gourd Dancer, WOW! That is awesome! Some of the really good Pca oncologist knew that then, I remember Dr Strum telling me in a patient to patient post that he thought I should initiate chemo early and combine it with ketoconazole for synergy. No one else thought so, but taking early chemo now in patients diagnosed with advanced disease is standard of care. I think I remember that trial w Dr Amoto too, as a guy from one of the groups was doing it, I think his name was fastford. I too wish I had done it with my stage 4 back in June of 06. But I have done well and my next treatment will be to initiate chemo.
Hey There, My father was recently diagnosed with Gleason 9 PC. Your story gives me hope. I researched Dr Amato -- I'm wondering if you have any tips for how to get in and see hi?
Just need to check with his office. Info published. He is fighting his own health issue right now and hadn't been taking Clinic, just teaching and research. They will know when he starts up again as if it fluid. Comdrdata may know more. He is on this group. My next appointment is July
First of all, I love your name here. That led me to want to learn more about you. And I love this post.
I was diagnosed with stage 3b prostate cancer in 2015 at age 54. I had that bad boy removed robotically. I had a biochemical recurrence, and eventually received radiation treatment in 2017. So far so good as PSA has been undetectable. But that's not what led me to HealthUnlocked. What led me here was now my 98-year old dad is stage-4 prostate cancer. At his age, it's just been hormone therapy and radiation. He starts on hospice care tomorrow. He's said he's lived a good long life, so at this point, I just want to be able to manage his pain and let him live as high quality life as possible from here on out.
Anyway, enough about me/my family. I really like your post, and appreciation for the Power of the Creator. Amen to that, brother. Keep on truckin', and kicking the Bastard, as you say.
p.s. I wonder how you came up with Gourd Dancer...it's a great name.
Green Guy. Thank you so much. I’ll say a Prayer for your Dad. I received Prayers from people of many different religions, Christian, Jewish, Islam, Buddhist, Shinto, Native American Church, etc. I believe in the Power of Prayer.
I belong to Kiowa Tia-piah. The principal dance is the Kiowa Gourd Dance. It’s a man’s dance; a warrior dance of old in that it’s words translate to “ready to go, ready to die” or simply “unafraid of death”. BTW, I saw in a earlier post by you ..... anyway my daughter-in-law is Japanese.
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It was a great Day
FYI: from the VA research information on Veterans 
WE NEED A NON-PROFIT ADVOCACY GROUP WITH TEETH!
