I am 47, I have advanced prostate cancer. I just got my results for my lymph node biopsy which came back with cancer. So, I’m stage 4. I am super freaked out and I can’t believe this has happened so fast. I found out 4 weeks ago. I took one shot of Lupron and my doctor is starting me on Zitiga next week. My oncologist says if the treatment works I could maybe live 5 years. If I didn’t do any treatment, I wouldn’t last a year.
I don’t know what to do. I don’t no the right things to do. Should I still have the surgery to remove the Prostate? ???????
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Doug47
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There are so may different treatment options out there: hormone treatments, Chemotherapy, immunotherapy... I personally think that, unless the prostate cancer is localized and only to find in the prostate, I wouldn't go with the operation. I would sit down with the oncologist and discuss all your options. Zytiga is good, but maybe he feels that early Chemo would be better? What does he say about the operation? It's important to discuss all those options prior to making a decision. I understand that it is a very scary time. Please keep us posted.
I can well understand it is scary for you. Had I been diagnosed with stage 4 at your age, I would have been super freaked out. Take heart, however. There are a lot of treatment options that are available now that weren't available even a few years ago. That's the good news. The bad news is that makes the choice of treatment regimen much more complicated. Sit down with your oncologist and discuss what is available and get his/her recommendations. Ask a lot of questions - why are you recommending this and not that? What if we do this and that together? Then get a second opinion and go through the same drill. Educate yourself- there's a lot a hard-won knowledge in this group and you can be directed to some great information. Even with the most aggressive you have the time to research and make the best choice for you.
Get your family involved! Us guys always want to tough it out alone, but you need a support group and wife and children are the best.
Above all, attitude!, attitude! ATTITUDE! Nil desperando is your watchword. There are a lot of guys who have been fighting this for a long time - assume you'll be one of them And remember all your brothers here are with you 100%.
Lots of debate on removing prostate when the “horses are out of the barn”. It is called debulking. Look it up. I was diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer in May 2013 with a PSA of close to 1700 and extensive bone mets. That was over five years ago and thanks to Zoladex and Xtandi it is currently undetectable. Attitude is everything. Get yourself educated about this disease.
Doug47, I hope my history with this desease helps but if i had a choice i would have the prostate out because i know a man that did & he is cancer free.
I am now near 70 & had radiation 2012 to keep the prostate & it worked for 3 years but came back & now to lymph nodes & neck, Hoping LU-177 will work now for me as i cant handle the side effects of chemo or ADT.
Keep fighting.
Fear , anxiety, desperation , when you hear stage#4 , and drs saying 5 yrs. That’s BS. Don’t buy into it.. you’re not a stat. You can do better than told. I was 53 now 57. My original expiration date was six months ago. Normally Pc hits later thus called the old man disease. Why me at 53 , and you at 47. ?? Me ,because I ignored my oun symptoms and didn’t go to the doctor until it was almost too late . if I could get pulled back from that precipice then so can you. I do believe that your dr is correct when he says doing nothing will be fatal. Mine told me the same. Said it would be a painful Ending like a woman in childbirth all in the pelvis .. Currently there is no known cure for stage#4 . Fight to stay around for awhile and you could see some great changes. You need to put this down now so that you’ll be here to see upcoming cures. Nothing easy about pc and treatments. Many have survived for decades.. but none without some suffering. Life now will become more precious to you. There is a saying “ You don’t start living until faced with dieing. Dont let stats , gloom and doom or fear of what “ could “ happen detour you from healing yourself. Sorry that you’re here young man. You are not alone.. we’ve all been there ,head spinning like I got hit by a 2x4.. Time to cut out any bad foods or habits. Please keep us informed. There are No stupid questions or subjects too intimate to discuss here. Take excellent care of yourself from this point forward. Once the initial shock subsides then get busy saving yourself. You’ve got alot of good ahead of you in life... This is a test that you must take and pass.. with effort , some luck and help from above you’ll live along time.. Finding solace and acceptance , gratitude for the good in your life are important factors in living along side of APC. We can laugh and cry at the irony of what once made us strong and virile will now kill us. Testosterone our old friend now must be eliminated if we’re to survive. Keep active as possible. Don’t lay down and roll over. You’ll find your path thru this maze... a year from now you’ll know more about APC than you ever wanted to know. Good luck...
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