Just signed up, saw that this might be a good place to hang out. I'm like many on here I suppose, Gleason 9 with nerve bundles both involved, bladder neck and lymph nodes also.
Should mention dxd in may 2016 with Davinci surgery July.
My PSA was only 2.2. so please note that not all PCa comes with a high PSA.
Anyways, looking forward to listening to others stories and questions they may ask.
I guess “welcome aboard” my friend although this is not a trip any of us chose to go on. Lots of good info and kind people here. A couple of crazies too but I think even they mean well.
Schwah.
I'm one of the crazies.... but I do mean well... (harmless too).
youtube.com/watch?v=k85mRPq...
Good Luck and Good Health.
j-o-h-n Wednesday 09/12/2018 4:40 PM EDT
Welcome. What kind of therapy are you currently pursuing?
I had my surgery in 2016. I am currently still on Lupron. I am guessing chemo will start in November. I got my first rib metastasis and am expecting more at scans first week of November. My PCA is the Ductal version so spread will be quick once it starts. MO and I discussed this last month. Normal second line of drugs won't work so he has a chemo drug in mind that shows promise against Ductal pca.
And hi!, used to talk with you on another forum.
Welcome to the forum. My PSA has never been higher than 4.5, but DX in 2012 (Stage IV) and now metastatic PCa. Just finished chemotherapy. Recommend aggressive treatment for aggressive MPCa!
What drug (s) were used in your chemo?
I had six rounds of Taxotere (once every 3 weeks). Administered through a vein in the hand so little impact to my swimming regime. A steroid in tablet form is taken 2x/day the day before and the day after. The day of chemo they provide anti-nausea and the steroid in the cocktail. Also on the day of treatment I had the Neulasta on-body injector placed on my stomach (you can also have this placed on your arm). This builds up white blood cell counts to help fight infection. To fight bone pain from Neulasta for five days afterwards I took Claritin and Alleve. It worked.
I never had to take the anti-nausea meds they prescribed for me to keep at home. Only real side effect from the Taxotere was fatigue and some hair loss. I kept swimming laps right through the chemo.
Thank you for letting me know, that is a lot to know/keep track of. Just wondering, how does claritin help?Do you have someone who goes with you to appointments? An advocate?
Apparently it was discovered a couple of years ago, by accident I'm told, that the combination of Claritin and Alleve helps prevent any bone pain associated with how Neulasta works. My wife accompanies me to all my MO visits. She helps me keep track of my appointments, too.
As far as any meds are concerned, not to worry, your MO will assist you and provide all the information you need.
Best wishes!
If your PSA was only 2.2 how did you know you had prostate cancer? DRE?
In January 2016 urination was becoming painful, and gradually more frequently. At worst point every hour day and night, unbelievable pain. Multiple doctor appointments and tests brought us to plans for a TURP. As a hunch urologist decided to do a biopsy before TURP just to be safe. 13 cores all Gleason 9, all cores 50 to 90% involvement.
My low PSA was the reason process was so slow.
Dre showed nothing really special.
What was your clinical staging after surgery?
I have actually forgotten, I'll look it up tonight.
You might want to search “ductal” as there are others here with ductal pCa. I am thinking of Nalakrats who took some time off posting here but promised to return. He has had many interesting posts and detailed information re. treatments he was using.
Thank you I will do that.
Interesting that you mentioned that your PSA was at 2.2 when you were diagnosed. My older brother and I had an argument last year regarding his PSA also being 2.2 when he was diagnosed with PCa 18 years ago. He didn't tell me this when he had an RP shortly after Dx. He said that a life insurance company examiner wanted him to go to a urologist for confirmation that he didn't have PCa because of our significant family history. I didn't believe him and he insinuated that I was stupid for waiting until my PSA reached a little over 4 before I finally became suspicious and had a biopsy. His PSA today is undetectable.
I was curious because I had A Ductal Adenocarcinoma - Gleason 8 as well as a Acinar Adenocarcinoma- Gleason 3+4. My pathology was pT2 with a < 2mm focal posterior margin on prostate (posterior fat negative for cancer). So far PSA <0.02 at 12 weeks. PSA at biopsy 5.2.
What is your treatment plan?
Good news from my side as well !!
Well what hell
PSA and Testosterone
Low PSA levels are associated with greater prostate cancer-specific mortality among men with a Gleason score of 8 to 10
