Hi, New to this and optimistic, I think

[Johnkelsey]

Hi i’m recently dignosed with advanced prostate cancer that has spread to at least one lymph node. I’m taking Casodex and will have a radiation planning meeting tomorrow at fox chase in Philadelphia. Research so far suggests improving my diet and exercise routines will help a lot. Lots of good info on this forum and associated links.

[Johnkelsey]

Meant to add that I’ll turn 72 on Saturday

[whatsinaname in reply to Johnkelsey]

What "improvements" in diet ?? Thanks.

[Shooter1]

Sounds like you are in good hands and radiation may do the trick. Best of luck and know we are pulling for you.

Doug - AZ

[Tall_Allen]

I hope you are seeing Eric Horwitz at Fox Chase. I know they offer a kind of radiation treatment there called high dose rate brachytherapy (HDR-BT). When they treat the whole pelvic area with external beam radiation and boost the dose to the prostate itself with HDR-BT and add hormone therapy, they can get very high cure rates.

[Johnkelsey in reply to Tall_Allen]

Yes i’m seeing Eric Horwitz, and urologist Marc Smaldone, thanks for the vote of confidence.

[bhr17]

Sorry to meet you here as I am also new here and to APC I don’t have the experience to give anyone with treatments but as a person married to a once gymnastics trainer I can say with experience that attitude is everything so stay positive, work hard to better your general physical health and take this PC head on, and the rest of your time live life as full as you can regardless of your new DX

Good luck and happy trails brother

[Johnkelsey in reply to bhr17]

Thank you, I agree completely about attitude, it’s how I got to be a cheery old geezer.

[leo2634]

Welcome to the Brotherhood cheery old geezer attitude is everything never give up never surrender. I have been treated with Zytiga,Prednisone,and ELIGARD hormone therapy as a first line of defense. I have been on it since Feb. Along with Xgeva for bone mets. I feel better than I have in years hopefully it will stay that way for along time. When I started therapy my PSA was 14.7 and after just one month it dropped to 0.1 almost undetectable levels. Leo

[Nicnatno]

Hello John, I also met with an Onc at Temple Fox Chase as well as Penn, Jefferson and MD Anderson. All had the same treatment plan. I chose M.D. Anderson because I fell in love with the nurses at the infusion room. They gave me warmth and felt the love immediately. My Onc put me on ADT and I did 6 rounds of chemo. I tolerated chemo well. The main side effect was fatigue but I overcame it with exercising. There will be some bumps ahead but get yourself educated with PCa, listen to these doctors in our area, stick to your treatment plan and read whats on this forum from the great brothers we have here, you'll feel better about this chronic desease. Keep us posted.

Nick

[elainea53 in reply to Nicnatno]

Are you seeing dr sabudhi at mda. We are thinking of changing to him. We live in Atlanta and have been to Houston to see dr s once.

[Nicnatno in reply to elainea53]

I see Christian Squillante M.D. at Camden, NJ. He specializes in PCa and is excellent. My PSA is currently 0.1. I am 15 months out since diagnosis and I feel great.

Nick

[Litlerny]

John,

It sounds like you are in very good hands! Best wishes to you on successful treatment and a very long and happy life.

[Hidden]

I am pleased to hear Fox Chase is starting you out with Casodex. I think it is an under utilized drug.

[whatsinaname in reply to Hidden]

I was started out with Casodex as well. But, only for 14 days as a precursor to Eligard.

Also, had 38 sessions of external beam radiation. Since its been just 35 days since radiation got over, my next PSA test is due on 12th August, 3 months after radiation finished.

[charlesmeyers1964]

ive dealt with this disease for the past 10 years. i've been on so many drugs,not casodex but many others. they started me on a new program called provenge look it up. there are more meds for me to try just taking my time. the smartest thing is check out your med your taking and what else is out there to take. don't give up one as he gets older dies not from prostrate but othere things due to ones age.