How fast is fast

[duckman52]

Gleason 9 had radical prostatechtomy found in local lymph nodes, surgeon made comment he could see cancer cells flowing into blood stream. Iwant to know how fast it may spread to other areas, 1 year, 2 years, 6 months? frankly ever since symptoms started 10 months ago the cancer has been a challenge. My pecker is sad, I cant hold water, zytiga and Lupron are taking away all my testosterone, get hot flashes and emotional whirl wind and I don't have testicals any more. If I knew Iwould live another 10 years with out doing anything I would considerate. Paul

[RalphieJr64]

Welcome to the little dick club. All kidding aside you would have never lived another ten years without doing anything regarding your aggressive cancer. You definitely have a different life now like the rest of us. This is great community to talk to. We're all in the same boat more or less. Keep up the good fight brother. I'll be watching out for you.

Ralph

[duckman52 in reply to RalphieJr64]

Thanks man, I really appreciate that.

[redbank in reply to RalphieJr64]

hey Ralphie I think we need a better name for this club lol " little dick club " just ain't cutting it lol!!!

[Hidden in reply to redbank]

How about "eunuchs-R-us"?

[redbank in reply to Hidden]

good one keep em coming and we can vote on it !!!!!!

[ITCandy in reply to redbank]

How about "The Chode Scholars"

urbandictionary.com/define....

[redbank in reply to ITCandy]

we may already have a winner lol !!!!

[Boywonder56 in reply to Hidden]

We willy winkies

[duckman52 in reply to Boywonder56]

how about this, you can suck my willy, no one ever gave me an answer , how fast.

[Don_1213]

Your surgeon was an idiot phrasing it that way. He should have told you that there is a possibility of metastasis and that you need to do XYandZ to head that off. Right now he's scared the crap out of you - and that's not healthy.

Find a good medical oncologist and talk to them. Don't let the surgeon do the medical oncology - I wouldn't trust someone like that.

[Hidden in reply to Don_1213]

Yeah my urologist wants to play oncologist. Said so when I asked him if I needed to see an oncologist. So, living in Phoenix, would I be better off going to Mayo or to Cancer Treatment Centers of America?

[Don_1213 in reply to Hidden]

Dunno - have no experience with either - but I'm sure people here do. I went to Columbia University Medical Center in NYC for my medical oncologist. That's the only one I felt was worth the hassle of the trip into NYC.

[Cactus-Jack in reply to Hidden]

I see Drs. Gburek and Woodruff at Arizona Urology Specialists here in Pheoenix and am very satisfied with the course of treatments. DaVinci 6yrs ago followed by Lupron until met showed up in rib this year. Radiated the rib for the pain and now on Xtandi and having last Provenge infusion next week. Woodruff the urology oncology guy.

[Fairwind]

Don's advise is good...It's impossible to see cancer cells "flowing into the blood stream" even with the daVinci robot..If there ARE any cancer cells circulating in your blood, they were there before the surgeon went in...Get connected with a good MO and ask about early chemo which can eliminate any circulating cancer cells..

[Tall_Allen]

Unless your surgeon is Superman, he can't see cancer cells flowing into your bloodstream. How long ago was surgery and what is your PSA now? Have you had any scans? Have you talked to a radiation oncologist?

[Hidden in reply to Tall_Allen]

I thought that the Circulating Tumor Cell (CTC) test counted cancer cells floating in the blood stream. I had the test in 2011 at M D Anderson. This was after my second recurrence. I was told that the CTC goal was <4 per 7.5ml and mine was 2 per 7.5m. I continued ADT until 2016. Had Provenge in 2014. Currently on low dose antiandrogen only. PSA < 0.006.

[Tall_Allen in reply to Hidden]

Yes, it's true that anything less than 5 is prognostic for longer survival. And your antiandrogen therapy is obviously keeping it suppressed. You are right that you are beyond curative radiation now. With a CTC of 2 per 7.5 ml, and you have about 5 liters of blood, so that's 1,333 cancer cells in circulation. Also, keep in mind that most circulating cancer cells are cleared away everyday, and that total does not include micrometastases in the lymph, bone and organs that are too small to detect. Maybe the Provenge took some of them away.

[Shooter1]

Fast can be hyperfast. Had all clear scans (ct and bone) in May. Said they could get it all. Prostate out in June, plus two lymph nodes. In next 6 weeks PSA went up 10 pts to 64. Pathology showed no clear margins, all veinous and neural bundles out of prostate area were Gleason 9/10. First of Aug. med. oncl. called for new scans. Both ct and bone scans show lesions, in pelvis, sacrum and lymph nodes. ADT dropped PSA to 6.5 in a month. Chemo dropped PSA for 4 cycles when it started back up. Added Xtandi and after 9 cycles, side effect forced us to stop. Excess toxicity forced reduction in dose. First to 120 mg then 100 now at 90 mg and recovering. Got PSA down to 0.118 so far. New prognosis way different than first one. I'm past my expiration date and looking forward to living with the new normal for years to come. No treatment and I would be gone by now. Hit it hard and fast...

[HopingForTheBest1 in reply to Shooter1]

Good to hear about your positive news. Since your scans were clear prior to surgery, we're you not diagnosed as stage 4 metastatic at that point? Also, what had been your biopsy results?

[Shooter1 in reply to HopingForTheBest1]

Biopsy showed pCA in prostate tissue, both sides, mostly 3 with 4 and 5 present. Veins and nerves were all 9/10 with pathology report after surgery. Tissue sample from unrelated area on posterior of colon was clear except fore nerves and veins, also Gleason 9/10. Two lymph nodes removed with prostate were essentially replace with Gleason 9/10 cancer. Stage 4 acct spread. New scans 2 1/2 mo. after clear scans confirmed mets in bones and soft tissue. Left me with spider web of pCA throughout abdomen. Hit it hard and drove it down..not a fun fight.

[Hidden in reply to Shooter1]

Hey Shooter1 , that was some bad sh##! I’m glad your3 retir3d and better.. peace.

[Break60]

I’m gl9 as well. PCa spread to my pelvic lymph nodes about two years after RP and 15 mos. after SRT. Fifteen mos. after RT to nodes, I had one bone met. Then eighteen mos. after RT to that met I had two new bone mets. My bone mets were found earlier than “ normal “ because I had the new ct pet scan tracers.

Each time I had RT I also had ADT3.

My side effects of ADT were the usual but offset with exercise and estradiol patches.

If I hadn’t had all these tx , I wouldn’t be writing this post.

That’s my history which may or may not be indicative of what your’s could be . I consider myself fortunate.

[JimVanHorn]

All oncologist and radiologists are totally honest. A radiologist showed me a drawing of a human skeleton with all the bones on the left side of the body blackened out including the floating rib. He actually told me that the rib is evidence that unless I have radiation the cancer would spread throughout my body. Well I wanted the radiation, but I knew that was a scam, because I am a pharmacist. I stayed with that group because I had no medical insurance. The hospital wanted $130,000 for 42 radiations and they charged me what medicare paid them, $30,000. I had 30 more radiations 4 years later and medicare charged me $48. I stayed with the 72 radiations and Lupron (Eligard - generic) for 6 1/2 years and now I am caner free on active surveillance.

My oncologist explained to me that single cells leave the prostate all the time. The prostate has billions of cells. The PCa cells have affinity for bones and lymph glands. When they attach to bones they sink into the bone and leave a pock mark (like acne). If there is no testosterone they are stuck there until they die. The bone can weaken over time and I had 3 shots of Xgeva (an osteoporosis drug) every 6 months. I also take calcium and Vit D3.

The lymph nodes have helper cells that can kill off prostate cells, because they are not supposed to be there in the lymph. So staying healthy helps the system work better. So all I can say is, just keep truckin'.

[rocket09]

Don't buy into what your surgeon said . It could affect your outcome. What a piece of shit thing to say to a patient. Don't believe it for a second. Good Journey and good out comes for you!

[j-o-h-n]

When you see that ahole who said "he could see cancer cells flowing into blood stream." ask him "upstream or downstream?"

My contribution: "Peckerless PeeCocks"

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Monday 12/10/2018 11:42 PM EST

[Hidden]

Hey guy! You’re singing to the boys choir here. No promises or guarantees for us dudes now. I have no balls hot flashes whirlwind emotions. Thought I was the only one. Truth be told we go thru the same stuff. It’s possible to get ten years. Suffering goes with our new turf. Things have gotten a little better for me after gaining some acceptance of my lot. This has taken over 3yrs . Hope things improve for you soon. Don’t listen to that drs stupid negativity . That was a terrible thing to say .

[duckman52]

wow you guys are okay , ill stand tall and keep the diapers on, and I SHALL FEAR NO ONE FOR I HAVE THE LITTLEST PECKER IN THE FOREST.

[Hidden in reply to duckman52]

I used to think I was the king of forest, now a sheep What pecker? What choice do we have duckman52..?? You’re fighting for your life.. It ‘s a brutal battle of self.. We must have a good reason and hopefully many reasons to go thru treatments and somehow survive while smiling. You cant ever give up on yourself .. Youre going to live . Make sure whatever happens that you find some joy in daily life. Or what’s the point..? Ask questions , you’ll get answers here, and that will help you .. good luck on this new path.. it’s bumpy but you can do it.... keep self-arming with knowledge but don’t drive yourself crazy with pc thinking 24/7 . Take time off this stuff each day.. it’s natural to feel bewildered and overwhelmed by the science.I’m four years in and still realing with the twist of Life while living with APC...Scott