Gathering info

[rguerrero997]

New to this reality

[bhammel]

Lot of info out there for good reason. I had surgery for colorectal cancer in 2002 and have no rectum and wear a pouch. In 2007, UCSF tried HDR brachetherapy ( with 18 steel rods through crotch by guesswork, not seeds) and that did not work. Everyone has a different start point.

[Hidden in reply to bhammel]

I feel for you bro. I hope your somewhat comfortable.

[bhammel in reply to Hidden]

This old soldier still kicking. Urosepsis attack caused by dirty hands inserting a foley almost cooled me (3 days in coma in ICU) 2 yrs ago but worst to me is lingering vertigo which ended my single digit golf career. Moving up to Zytiga since Lupron failing to check PSA rise. Am starting my 2 mile walks again and more time with 5 and 6 yr old grandkids is a joy. Coming up on 79 yrs and expect many more. Kick cancer's ass!

[Hidden]

Welcome to the club. Here we have others who have been, and are in your shoes. Share what you feel's important to you. It's a scary time for you right now. Relax, breathe deep, and don't let IT get the best of you. Now, bhammel had an obviously terrible case, but have no fear, there are more of us here.

Joe

[rguerrero997 in reply to Hidden]

Hey Joe, if i am diagnosed with advanced PCa, whats the basic process i will get put through?

[Hidden in reply to rguerrero997]

Hi rguerrero997,

Of course since we all are a bit different, we all experience a different path. But, we all start at the same point of being Dx'd. I think most men are Dx'd at an older age than, say myself, and many others who get it younger.

If you haven't had it, a biopsy will be done. I suggest you ask to be put under for this procedure, as it was agony for me. This will grade the extent of the disease. You will also have imaging done, to determine if there is any metastatic disease. This is PCa which has moved to other parts of body, likely bone, but sometimes soft tissue. These will also determine your path of treatment.

At this point, whose to say what will happen? You, and you alone. In my own experience, seven years ago, I was not a candidate for surgery, because I had lymph node involvement. Today, they'll remove it without question. In my case, the end result was still the same, can't get it up.

From here, I have nothing more to say, it's not for me to say. You know about the fork in the road, well for us it's more like a tree. Up front it looks like a straight forward issue, but there are way too many variables involved.

In the end, I went along with what two doc's suggested, and regret it today. A lot of guys and ladies will read this post, and they will have some input. We have a few guys who are just about the wizards of the disease, and you'll find out about the others who are not. I'm in neither group.

Peace, Joe

P.S.- If you go the radiation and ADT (androgen deprivation therapy) route, I know plenty. I learned everything else from this great group here. Thank you all.

[rguerrero997 in reply to Hidden]

I appreciate you taking the time to respond. Well,when I read the symptoms for PCa online, I seem to have most of the advanced symptoms. I'll need you guys for support moving ahead.

[Hidden in reply to rguerrero997]

When I found out it was quite a shock. I didn't have any symptoms that I can recall. Yes, I was 50, but I never had a check up for anything to do with the prostate. It was found during a Colonoscopy.

One thing(s) I would like you to do...Keep a good attitude, an open mind, and if you go on ADT, watch your weight.

You'll find that a lot of guys here are a generation older, but you wouldn't know it unless they told you. I laugh at my original prognosis, because now I know what to do to prevent it from happening. I am going to be one of those next generation men, who will be here to support others in the future. I hope.

Joe

[rguerrero997 in reply to Hidden]

I believe you will. Thanks Joe

[cfrees1]

I think many of us were diagnosed asymptomatic. If I read your posts correctly, you haven't even been to the doctor yet. So that's your first step. If you have symptoms, you may very well simply have BPH or prostatitis. So don't panic yet. Get a PSA test and a digital exam. If there is anything suspicious, then time for a biopsy. If I were you, I wouldn't jump immediately to advance PC as a self-diagnosis. Remember that most men get diagnosed, find out that the cancer is contained in their prostate capsule, get treatment and are cured. That is the most common path by far.