Update

[Apollo123]

Hi All, I haven’t posted for a while but I thought I would let you all know how I’m doing and to give a little hope to all newly diagnosed. I was diagnosed at 47 with advanced Prostate cancer. I have been on Zytiga, Zoladex and steroid since then and I’m now 50. My PSA remains at zero and I recently changed my steroid from pred as this can help prolong the effects of Zytiga. I pushed for radiotherapy to the prostate as it’s already in my lymphatic system but I thought I’d hit the mother load. My advice is to read and prompt your oncologist constantly. I have never accepted the one size fits all and have gone off piste with many of my choices. If you have a good knowledge of all your options and treatments it’s less scary. I have a good quality of life and refuse to become maudlin, positivity is hard some days but it helps to stay as active and busy as possible. I felt the day of my diagnosis was the worst day of my life but at the same time the start of my life. I recognise how precious it is and now I feel truly alive. New treatments are being developed and I hope in years to come it will be a chronic condition you can live with. There are men on here who have battled for many years and have inspired me. A man I met on my day of diagnosis recently passed away but survived for 17 years with advanced Gleason 10 cancer. Hope is a wonderful thing and I’ve seen many men defy all odds. Thank you to all the warriors on here who helped my on my darkest day and I hope this post helps some newly diagnosed patients through their toughest times. Keep fighting 👍💪

[Fdccs]

Thanks Apollo. You were one of the first posts I read when my husband was diagnosed last year.

Keep enjoying life

[larry_dammit]

Well said. As my doctor said when I was diagnosed, no one wants cancer but there has never been a better time to have the monster, new drugs and treatments coming everyday. Fight this monster. 3 years and counting 😀😀🙏🙏🙏🙏

[blueCello]

Dear Apollo,

How fabulous to read about your journey. I totally agree; knowledge is power. Best of luck managing this vicious illness.

[DSEE]

Well said-

I was DX 2015 stage 4 Mets to spine ribs pelvis-

Then March Mets to liver -

Doing well during second round of chemo-

Side effects minimal.

Actually feeling pretty good!

[AlanMeyer]

An excellent update report. Thanks.

I think your point about having to study your condition and "prompt" your doctors is right on target. In line with that, I think it's important to get the best doctor you can get. I don't mind a doctor who tells me I'm wrong. I have no medical education and I am often wrong. I need a doctor who can and will say so. However I want the doctor to listen carefully to what I say and to explain and justify his own opinion when he thinks I'm wrong - not just take the attitude that "I'm the doctor and what I say is always right."

Best of luck

Alan

[Filotimo62]

Thanks for that inspiring post. My partner is starting chemo in a few weeks after radio, surgery and ADT (Gleeson 8) but first we are going on a driving holiday along the Great Ocean Rd - one of the best drives in Australia. For fun, food and hiking. Need to start Chemo in a positive frame of mind. Planning another holiday when he finishes chemo - he plans to go white water kayaking in New Zealand - something he has done for years!!! Keep living

[j-o-h-n in reply to Filotimo62]

Bravo patrioti,

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Friday 08/30/2019 5:51 PM DST - Pinnes

[j-o-h-n]

Apollo is the god who affords help and wards off evil.

And you're doing it......

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Friday 08/30/2019 6:00 PM DST - Pinnes

[Apollo123 in reply to j-o-h-n]

Thanks John. 👍