Well, I was a Weapons System Officer in USAF, F101, CF-101 & F-4 jet fighters). Retired after 21 yrs. Taught high school kids for 17 yrs. Had PSA checked reg until it went over 4.0 in 1997. Retired from teaching in '98. Have been on Lupron over 2 yrs; finished zytiga & xtandi. Am seriously thinking of declining chemo. Also had radiation to prostate bed, 3 vertebra. Have lived with the monster for 22 years and reached 81 yesterday. Best regards and long life to all forum members.
Remember Jim Volvano's advice in one of his last speeches before cancer took his life. He kept saying NEVER GIVE UP. So emotional.
Clint Eastwood told an interviewer how he copes with old age. He said "I don't let the old man in".
Bless you all.
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jviar
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Thank you for your service....God bless you....I have only been fighting a few months and you for years...you are a warrior on many levels....I would not advise you since your knowledge of this far outstrips my own... Whatever decision you decide upon, may it go well for you....
Thank you so much for your service. It means the world to many of us. I’m curious as to why you’d decline chemo if your MO thinks it could benefit you. Many here have done it including me. Not that bad. Promise. Just take some of the great advise from our group on how to minimize. The side affects. Two flu like days for most of us with each treatment and not do bad on the rest. If you have something to live for and people you love in your life, I’d use it to buy more time.
Good Luck!, whatever you decide. There may still be several treatment options that specialists might offer, above and beyond what a local oncologist might offer. Getting a second opinion from a "top doc" might be worthwhile. It's always a trade-off between potential benefits vs. quality of life & potential side effects.
(Were you still flying missions in Southeast Asia during the early 1970s? I was a "Nav" on about 100 air-to-air refueling missions during 3 deployments to Thailand in KC-135s.)
I was in Nam in 1963. Went back in 1966-67 as a nav in AC-47 Spooky gunships. Too young to comprehend the danger of flying low level at night in ancient airplanes spitting 6000 rounds per minute. Had 3 gatling type mini guns and about 55k of 7.62mm ammo plus flares. My crew was shot down the day after I left. They were lost over Laos. More than 30 yrs later they found teeth of a pilot and a dog tag of another. It has been over 50 years...but I sometimes think I smell hydraulic fluid.
Bless all of you battling on! Remember-never give up.
I had initially declined chemo, but changed my mind after doing some research and getting opinions from those who had already done it. It's not that bad, well worth it if it works. If you want to try it, you only have to commit to one cycle. After the first week you are pretty much back to normal. You can quit if you don't think it's worth it or do another in 3 weeks. Hoping the best for you.
I can understand why people don't want to do it. I was the same way at first. Most of us know someone or have heard stories about people going through really bad experiences. Some chemos are really tough, but the chemotherapy Taxotere is on the easier end of the chemo spectrum. My quality of life was very good during chemo. I traveled, went camping and did quite a bit of activites around the house. Many people on this forum have also tolerated it well. After completing 6 cycles, I would do it a second time if it will benefit me.
One of the things I liked about doing chemotherapy is that it gave me a focus and the goal of getting through each cycle. I was actively fighting, doing something against the cancer that I could feel. Yes, I suffered a little, but I figured the cancer was suffering more. It helped psychologically and I did miss that aspect when it was over. It's certainly not a picnic and I was glad to be done after 6 cycles.
It's like anything else: If it works and the quality of life is decent, it's worth it. If not, you can stop whenever you want.
Ty everyone for the stories I'm on chemo now .during chemo I took my family from mass to Daytona Florida my daughter had a gymnastics meet ...that was after 3rd infusion just finished 4th it's not bad ..really only small amounts of side effects like taste.. sometimes I even went to to gym the day after good luck
don't worry...you will not die from PCA. You have been avoiding me for 2 years but your time is up...take all the MCP washed down with Gator Blood you want...pray every morning to your GOD...nothing will work...I am going to rip you to shreds
I absolutely love your attitude! May you control the beast and live many productive years. I know you will never, ever give up. You will be brought out finally feet first-but with your boots on! Bless you & all our friends valiantly fighting this beast!
What a great story. 22 years! I'm 1 years in and just learning about the fight. Like you, Vietnam (260 combat missions) and reckon I can do battle as well as most. I think I'll make you my hero. If you are going to use docetaxel then keep your finger and toe nails cold during the infusion - otherwise you might lose them like I did. Side effects not too bad - slightly fuzzy brain, a bit of constipation and energy a bit down - otherwise OK. It helped drive my PSA from 68 to 0.002. I wish you the very best from the antipodes. Harry.
I dont know abot you but Xtandi pretty much immobilized me. Havent heard that much so about chemo. Im sure thats my next weapon. Way down the road,of course!
Nice to hear from a phellow Phantom phlyer. I had 2200 hours as an F-4 frontseater. 356 combat missions, Ubon '67-'68, Phu Cat '71, Takhli '72. 24 years old and piloting the hottest machinery on the planet - how did I get that lucky. I guess my prostate cancer is the payback.
Anyway, business: I also had concerns about chemo (docetaxel), but figured if it was too bad I could always quit after the first infusion. Give it a go and see how it effects you. My biggest problem was the fatigue. My tastebuds came and went, but I never lost my appetite. So try it, it is certainly worth the effort and, as I say, if it gets too bad you don't have to continue.
You sound just like my RN daughter, who along with you and other great responders on this forum have about convinced me to give chem a go. Thanks Stegosaurus37 for your advice and service in the war. I was 25 when I first went to Nam. Gung-ho for war. Now in my old age I feel we should have all gone to Canada. 59K gone. No or few rich guys went over.
glad you see things differently now. 59,000 of our bravest and most honorable, mostly young men lost, manipulated and poisoned by lying sacks of crap millionaire businessmen in our govt.
may that same bravery sustain you through your next battles with PCa, amigo.
Try it. If you don't like it, you don't have to buy it. Thank you so much for Jim Volvano speech reference. I don't know how to copy links. Would appreciate it if someone did. The quality is poor but you will get over that soon. Speech given about 2 months before he passed at age 47. Didn't notice he was actually being helped onto the stage, but really noticed him being helped off the stage. My tears for the day, and a lump in the throat thrown in. Good luck jviar.
At 81, if you are lucky you can watch the SAM or evade. It’s your call. My opinion, if your body is strong, evade. Good luck.
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New Here not New to Prostate Cancer
Need some advice on what tools are still in the toolbox 
Still above room temperature.
When do I go from here?
PSA still undetectable
