Hello from Calgary: A fellow PC friend... - Advanced Prostate...

Advanced Prostate Cancer

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Hello from Calgary

westjl2 profile image
7 Replies

A fellow PC friend of mine sent me the link to this site. I was diagnosed a year ago with stage 4 PC. With each visit to the doctor I got progressively worse news. The most devastating was when my wife and I sat in front of the oncologist and he said that it had advanced to the bone. Since that time I have received six rounds of docetaxle, am on ADT and getting Zometa shots every 3 months. I also qualified for the Titan clinical trial and haven't been on that program since December. While I do not know if I am getting a placebo or the real drug, the big advantage is that I get checked on a very regular basis with blood work and both CT and bone scans. One year later my biggest complaint is the severe joint pain I have it in my fingers. It takes a while in the morning for my fingers to loosen up but it really is restrictive. Today my PSA is down to 1.3 and the tumours in the lymph nodes have shrunk down. The bone lesions have also shown signs of healing. But I am under no illusions that this is going to last forever. But I enjoyed every day to the fullest.

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westjl2
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westjl2 profile image
westjl2

I should have said that I have been on the clinical trial since December.

Scruffybut1 profile image
Scruffybut1 in reply to westjl2

May I ask your age?

westjl2 profile image
westjl2 in reply to Scruffybut1

59. Had PSA tests in 2007 , 2009, 2011..all were under 3...but then in 2014 my Dr gave me the speel about PSA tests leading to unnecessary biopsies etc etc...so stopped ordering them. By my calculation if he had ordered one then my PSA would have probably been 15 or 20. Because when I went to a new dr. in 2016 my PSA was 76! I was like too many guys out there who felt that even if I developed PC it would be treatable because "all men get it sooner or later". Deadly mistake!

ctarleton profile image
ctarleton

Howdy westjl2,

Yep. It's a big shock to get that initial diagnosis of advanced metastatic prostate cancer that's spread to bones and lymph nodes. Glad to hear your PSA has responded well during this first year. (I was similarly diagnosed in Nov 2013 with a PSA of 5,006. Initial treatment took my PSA down to 1.0, resistance took it back up to 95, and subsequent treatment(s) have taken it back down again to 1.9, so far.)

Do you go to a local Prostate Cancer Support Group for advanced patients?

Here's one in Calgary you may very well already know about, or attend:

Warriors Meeting

Always the second Tuesday of every month!

What: For those men and their families dealing with advanced prostate cancer. The Warriors are a caring and compassionate group, well organized and full of information. Frank Altin, facilitator.

When: Tuesday, July 11 at 6:30PM - 7:30PM

Where: Boardroom (Room 318), Kerby Centre, 1133 - 7th Ave. SW, T2P 1B2.

Why: To discuss new topics pertaining to the advanced stages of prostate cancer along with fellow survivors in the advanced stages of the disease and treatments.

Keep on Living Well in the Present Moment,

Charles

westjl2 profile image
westjl2 in reply to ctarleton

Thanks! I will check it out. But really I am so busy enjoying my early retirement that I don't have time to do everything I want to do as it is! :)... I am under the care of the Prostate Clinic at Rocky View...Dr. Donnelly. They have been great. I will never again complain about Canadian Healthcare! I was fast tracked through to initial treatment last year and now being on the Titan clinical trial I continue to get Platinum treatment!

j-o-h-n profile image
j-o-h-n

to westjl2

Good tude to have...

Good Luck and Good Health!

j-o-h-n Tuesday 07/04/2017 1:45 PM EST

Sisira profile image
Sisira

westjl2, despite your stage 4 PCa, the decease is well under your control and you seem to handle it with confidence. I think the advice given by Charles should help you a great deal.

My best wishes!

Sisira

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