Five Year Survivor - WooHoo!! - Advanced Prostate...

Advanced Prostate Cancer

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Five Year Survivor - WooHoo!!

ctarleton profile image
34 Replies

This month I am a 5 year survivor at age 70 after my initial very metastatic diagnosis at age 65 with a PSA of 5,006.

WooHoo!!

And many thanks to all those in local and on-line Prostate Cancer Support Groups who have helped me so much along the way.

Charles

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ctarleton profile image
ctarleton
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34 Replies
YostConner profile image
YostConner

Let’s keep those years coming!

Dan59 profile image
Dan59

Congratulations Charles, I wish you many more years.

tango65 profile image
tango65

Congratulations!!! Are you still on Xtandi?

ctarleton profile image
ctarleton in reply totango65

Yes, still on Xtandi, after 24 months of it.

tango65 profile image
tango65 in reply toctarleton

Great!! I hope you could stay in Xtandi for many more.!!

MontyB profile image
MontyB

Fantastic Charles!! Happy for you.

ewhite999 profile image
ewhite999

Congratulations! Anything unique about your treatment or diet you can share or was it the standard chemo, provenge, Lupron, Xgeva and Zytiga approach.

ctarleton profile image
ctarleton in reply toewhite999

I think a lot of it has had to do with just some lucky biology and responses. Initial ADT took the PSA down from 5,006 to 1.0. The Provenge around year 2.5 as my PSA was climbing again may have some effect, but who knows? The added Xtandi 24 months ago brought PSA back down from 95.0 to 1.2 again, and it around 2.2 now. I'm on no "special" diets.

JamesAtlanta profile image
JamesAtlanta

Congratulations! A wonderful achievement! Wishing you many, many more happy years to come!

James

whatsinaname profile image
whatsinaname

Congratulations, ctarleton !!!

What is the one thing that has helped you over the last 5 years ?

Is it a) prayer b) diet c) exercise d) cancer drugs e) excellent MO f) luck g) any other ??

I ask because I have been told (just a couple of days back) that I have perhaps two years to live and I am very lucky maybe, just maybe five. That too, after taking ALL possible treatments currently available.

Would love to hear from you, if you so choose. Thank you.

ctarleton profile image
ctarleton in reply towhatsinaname

I'd say the thing that has helped me most over the last 5 years has been the emotional/social support from my loving spouse/caregiver and some local support groups that I/we attend. Yes, I've had some luck with treatments/responses, and the benefit of some learned second opinions, but, regardless of how many treatments I may or may not have gone through in this period of time, ... the Healing non-medical stuff seems most important to me.

whatsinaname profile image
whatsinaname in reply toctarleton

Thank you, ctarleton, much obliged. Your answer provoked a lot of thought in me and I actually agree with you that the "healing non-medical stuff" is really really important, perhaps, arguably, the most important thing. Thanks very much, ctarleton, much obliged.

I am a new comer helping my best friend with his new diagnosis. Thank you for your reply to my post . Congratulations to your 5th year. There will be many wonderful and healthy years for you. Enjoy.

joancarles profile image
joancarles

Although we are all different and give different answers. It's the news that helps us continue. Congratulations and I look forward to your celebration of 10 years. Ill stand here

HOPEFULSPOUSE profile image
HOPEFULSPOUSE

Big congrats! Wishing you many more!

dockam profile image
dockam

So wonderful to hear great news here, congrats Brother

Wishing you many more Charles. Thanks for the support and for being such a good friend.

ctarleton profile image
ctarleton in reply to

Right back at Ya, Gregg. Big Lupron Hugs!

in reply toctarleton

Lupron hugs are the best!

in reply toctarleton

I hug better, but then the pot belly gets in the way.

Lagovista2018 profile image
Lagovista2018

Congratulations. That is a wonderful achievement :)

paulofaus profile image
paulofaus

Congratulations Charles. I am 2.5 years in and I hope to be around at the 5 year mark.

Nicnatno profile image
Nicnatno

Hey Charles, here's to another 20.

Nick

Please keep us updated and good luck!!!

Congratulations! Which therapy? How are you doing?

ctarleton profile image
ctarleton in reply to

Lupron "forever", Zometa for bones, did Provenge a few years ago, have been on added Xtandi for two years now. Less energy over time. Background fatigue. Lately, some transient episodes of irregular heart beats & associated medications for that have been worrisome. I also just had a pretty large Mohs surgery for a recently diagnosed melanoma on my forehead. "They got it all." So now I'm back to dealing with only one deadly cancer again. Ha. Ha. I'm doing OK, all things considered. There are still things to laugh about and hugs to share.

snoraste profile image
snoraste

Looking forward to reading your 10yr post!

Fitzbruce1 profile image
Fitzbruce1

Congratulations! It is very inspiring n gives some of us newbies a great deal of hope!

ConcernedCaliMom profile image
ConcernedCaliMom

WOW!!!! This is so inspiring!!! Way to beat this BEAST!!!

tallguy2 profile image
tallguy2

Congrats, and Happy Thanksgiving!

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

Chuck the 5 year traditional anniversary gift is "wood". So I wish you lots of wood to knock on. Good Going.

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Monday 11/19/2018 10:49 PM EST

GrizzlyMama profile image
GrizzlyMama

Congratulations! Very encouraging! Thank you for sharing your good news!

AlanMeyer profile image
AlanMeyer

And besides keeping going, you've made a real contribution to men in this and other support groups.

Well done Charles!

ellie2211 profile image
ellie2211

Congratulations! very inspiring

erjlg3 profile image
erjlg3

I'm so late Charles but I'm so happy for the 5 year mark! WooHoo!!!! .....that is simply WONDERFUL after such a high psa! You've given back soooo much too! YOU GOT THIS! Keep celebrating life :)

Most sincere,

🌼Jackie

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