Bit Of An Intro

[Hakka]

Hi everyone! Just joined this morning and was encouraged to share a bit of an introduction. My wife and I are living and working in Taiwan, been here for more than thirty years. I'm 61 years old and have been on this cancer journey for almost 12 years now.

For my 50th birthday (in 2007) someone paid for me to get a complete medical exam. What an amazing gift that turned out to be, because that's when they discovered I had advanced prostate cancer. (T3bN1M0, PSA 66, Gleason 8)

My initial treatment was 80 gys of radiation, and ADT for a year. In 2014, as my PSA was rising, I took a bone scan and my skull lit up like a Christmas tree. MRIs showed a lesion, but the doctors weren't sure if it was the prostate cancer. Fast forward to 2017, when doctors discovered recurrence in the prostate itself and distant mets in several lymph nodes. Went through cryotherapy for the prostate stuff, and radiation for the lymph nodes. Later that year, bad headaches sent me to the emergency room where they found the skull lesion had grown. They had to crack me open to get a biopsy, which showed it was, indeed, prostate cancer. Radiation and another year of hormone therapy (my third so far) followed, along with chemo during the first part of 2018.

And that's pretty much where I am right now. Just finished the year of ADT in December and the doctor gave me a vacation. Other than the worst response to ADT I've experienced so far (knocked my legs right out from under me), I'm doing great. Can't wait for my testosterone to come flooding back into me.

Well, that's about it. I look forward to reading your stories, getting to know you a bit, and getting your input on some things as the journey continues. Bless you guys!

[George71]

Hi Hakka,

It appears your radiation in 2007 lasted til 2014? Was it just to the prostate? Have you looked into getting gene tested to see if immuno therapy may work?

[Hakka in reply to George71]

Hi George71,

My PSA did start to rise in 2010, but I went to a special prayer ministry that year and my numbers began to fall again and stay pretty stable. My initial radiation covered my hip area as well since the tumor had spread outside the prostate a bit - seminal vesicles and lymph nodes. And I haven't yet looked into immunotherapy. Can you tell me why you think this might be a good direction for me to go? (I know very little about it.) Note: I did forget to mention that I had chemo (combined with the hormone therapy) at the beginning of 2018.

Bless you, George71! And thanks for the welcome!

[noirhole]

Welcome to the group. Lots of good information and som humor.

[Hakka in reply to noirhole]

Thanks for the welcome, noirhole!

[NPfisherman]

Welcome to the forum that everyone wishes they had never had to join...Lots of good information, knowledgeable posters...You have been at it over 10 years...you are a warrior...keep fighting and good luck...

Fish

[Hakka in reply to NPfisherman]

Thanks for your encouragement, Fish!

[Tall_Allen]

What about second-line hormonal therapies (Zytiga or Xtandi), Xofigo, chemotherapy and Provenge?

[Hakka in reply to Tall_Allen]

Well, I'm still very sensitive to ADT (for over 11 years and counting) so figured most of the other stuff would come when that fails. I did do chemo along with my last hormonal therapy at the beginning of 2018.

Thanks so much for the input, Tall Allen! If you see me missing something, please let me know. I've been out of the info loop for a while.

[j-o-h-n]

Greeting Hakka, You have been through a lot. You've come to the right place for information and camaraderie. Do you visit the U.S.? Where are you being treated? If you think I'm inquisitive? You're right. Hopefully you'll post here often and teach us a few things as well as learn some. My hobby is humor so I wish you many laughs with your wife. They say "you want a good life, marry a happy wife". So keep her happy.

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Thursday 02/28/2019 7:40 PM EST

[Hakka in reply to j-o-h-n]

Thanks for the warm welcome, John! And for your wishing me many laughs with my wife. Love it!

We try and get back to the U.S. once a year for a week or two ... planning for a Thanksgiving gig this year. (Though we'll also be headed to Denmark in a couple of months. My wife is Danish.) I'm being treated at the largest teaching hospital in Taiwan right now. Found a fantastic doctor who specializes in advanced prostate cancer. (He used to do research at M.D. Anderson in his earlier days.) I've had three other doctors through the years, one of them an American who lives in Singapore. My present doctor is by far the best of the lot.

Thanks again for the welcome. Look forward to hearing more from you, John!

[j-o-h-n in reply to Hakka]

I'm glad that your'e in good hands..... I don't mean your doctor, I mean your wife.🈶🈶🈶🈶🈶🈶🈶🈶🈶🈶🈶🈶🈶🈶🈶🈶🈶🈶🈶🈶🈶🈶🈶🈶🈶🈶🈶🈶🈶🈶🈶

in Chinese this means:

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Friday 03/01/2019 5:44 PM EST

[Hidden in reply to j-o-h-n]

“ A good wife makes a happy marriage . A bad one makes you a philosopher “ Socrates

[j-o-h-n in reply to Hidden]

'' A good wife makes a happy marriage. A bad one makes you a king" King Henry VIII

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Friday 03/01/2019 6:45 PM EST

[Hidden in reply to j-o-h-n]

“Off with their heads” ... K H 111

[Hidden]

Hakka , greetings in Taiwan , sounds fascinating. That “Christmas tree” story is horrifying. I’ve been on that adt train of castration almost four years now. I’m not the worst case of adt sufferage ..but it’s helped knock down APC and leveled my life at the same time. I hope that you get to enjoy “ T”again . That would be a miracle after the hell that you’ve been thru . Thanks for your story .. Peace from Arizona🌵

[Hakka in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for the encouragement, Lulu700!

[Hidden in reply to Hakka]

You have allies here .Thank you

[MJCA]

I am sorry you have to join this group. You HAVE been through a lot. This is a good Forum. You are not alone. Stay positive!!

[Hakka in reply to MJCA]

Thanks, MJCA! So appreciate the encouragement!