Going on meds, reading about side effects, and making decisions can all weigh on us....Even having the wrong kind of support close by ( to much worry , or being ignored) can be hard on someone...first guys we have the ball and no one can carry it...4th and 10 and we get the handoff..do we get a first down...or visibility is 0 and shooting an ILS approach into a mountain airstrip with ceiling at a minimum....you have to do it....So when I first went on Lupron I read reviews that were very negative and bothered me. I never considered not starting but unsettling none the less. Just before my first injection I finally read a positive post by a dude that stayed active, lifting, running , and just staying positive and he did well....That was my goal..then when it came time to add Xtandi I just kept pushing and I am in better shape then most of my peers. Sure I get a hot flash, but I really wake up feeling great...Libido? I had great libido at 64 but oh well that's just not here....for now...67 on the 11th.....I would like everyone who reads these post to chime in if you feel good. I am on my tractor today in Georgia heat, stay hydrated, and will go all day...Sure you have to push but anything or anyone worth beating you have to push....Guys we just cannot expect the meds to work alone....if we improve our fitness and laugh ( We Have J-O-H-N) we can have quality and a ton of fun....So Gracie and Sky King would like everyone who feels good to chime in so maybe the new guys are not scared shitless from all of the not so good stories. If you want to know what my routine is most days just message me....Blue Skies and God Bless Sky King and Gracie.......Chime in if you feel great!!!!
Taking a poll for the new guys... - Advanced Prostate...
Taking a poll for the new guys...
I'll chime in, as I'm also feeling great. My treatment details are in my profile. Suffice to say I'm about five months after my last chemo infusion, and I'm training for a half marathon in October to celebrate the first anniversary of my diagnosis. It's not a question of whether I'll finish the half marathon, it's whether I'll beat my time from a decade ago at the same race when I was a relatively new and inexperienced runner.
Most days I don't even need to push myself. When I think of my dire initial diagnosis, how well I'm doing now, and that tomorrow is far from guaranteed, it makes me very enthusiastic to go out and make the most of my day. Yesterday that was walking through the woods with a chainsaw cutting a new trail on our property. Today it's getting a root canal. I'm not terribly enthusiastic about the root canal, but on the other hand, it's one of those things "normal" people do when they expect to live indefinitely.
Yes, I do get sweats and poor appetite and fatigue and joint pain, but enthusiasm makes it very easy to push all that aside, and being active improves appetite, helps with fatigue, and reduces aches and pains. My wife frequently has more back pain than I do, so I joke with her that she should get her prostate checked 
Thank you ,,,,I think it is so important to see this to calm their fears...!!!Blue Skies
Thanks Tom. I’m super excited to see your positive attitude today.. Keep me informed. I’m restarting my ADT LUPRON inject next Tuesday. 2nd time around. 1st time was 2008-2012. Appreciate any encouraging healthy living advice I can get.
I love exercising twice daily. Doing that for last 4 years. I’ll update you guys next week.
Love your “Can Do” attitude!
Doug
Hmm... I started ADT 9/01/18. HDR Brachy was April 26th (IMRT, 25 days June 1st). I've been on ADT continuously (Casodex and Lupron until March 1st, then Zytiga and Lupron since).
Absolutely no side effects (except for libido loss,etc). My overall blood work is better than it was 6 years ago. Especially my liver enzymes. They were elevated when I started Zytiga and dropped fast (all within the normal range) within 2 months and I drink more than I should daily. However, I do eat a sensible diet and have actually lost 6 pounds in the past year (only due to diet modification, no desserts).
My MSK MO ordered a bi-weekly CMP (close to perfect) and monthly PSA (steady @ 0.014).
I am active. I walk a lot and do daily push ups.
Bottom line: I feel great! Last month I mentioned to my wife,"If I didn't know that I have cancer, I wouldn't know that I did". The only reminder is that I will be on ADT for the next 22 months! In December, I'll try to forget that its my 71st birthday.
Also, original dx was G9, stage 3 and high PSA was 28. No mets (Go Yanks!).
Great Stuff, I think if we calm the nerves of one guy the post was worth it...Blue Skies
Hmm... hey pilot, just guessing, prop or B 52? I think that we are both on the same page regarding the newbies. Here is my 1st (and only post).
healthunlocked.com/advanced...
"We were drifting with the tail-wind
When the runway came in sight
The clouds came up to gather us
And the cockpit turned to white" Al Stewart
Best, AJ
What an attitude and positive excellent way of thinking and living. I’m starting my 2nd Lupron Depot injection cycle Sept 10th. Side effects side effects know them well . 1st time on ADT was 2008-2012. Yeh it squashed cancer but made me so lethargic and lazy and dididnt care attitude a whole lot of my days. Did Lupron work? Yeah.
Next Tuesday started again. It’s been 7.5 years Since stopped my 1st ADT fun.
Did I mention I had a Sudden Cardiac Arrest smack dab in the middle of my ADT May 2011. Was it related??? Maybe maybe not. Hoods news great news! I’m in the best shape I’ve been it since SCA 8.5 years ago. Exercising twice daily and Loving it. Want to keep it going especially after Tuesday’s Lupron inject. My goal is a 5K run jog . And more running. More running. I’ve got the best Cardio heart health ever since exercising twice daily the last 3+ years. Trying to stay POSITIVE.
Doug
Thank you for the good cheer!
Yes I agree, I get up most mornings when it’s still dark and quiet. Love the quiet. Sit and drink my coffee with my sleeping puppy, then will go visit my 87 year old dad who has stage 4 and dimensia. We will hang out for a couple of hours till pill and nap time for him. Head home and collect my thoughts as to what to do for the day. Usually we ( me and the pup ) will go to the farm and run machinery till 4. Now I just bought a 57 Ford pickup so if it’s rainy we stay home and work on it. Bottom line is we don’t stop, there’s always something to do. Yes it hurts sometimes when I lift more than I’m supposed to but I’m not going to sit around and wait for the monster to get me , 3 years and counting
Way to go move move move Larry
Damn it larry,
God will Bless you for being a loving and caring son... Bless your father too.
Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.
j-o-h-n Thursday 09/05/2019 8:13 PM DST
Im with you lupron 3yrs....i work my butt off evry day doing construction...only 8 hrs instead of 12.. fatigue wins....i put it in this order ...attitude...then fitness...i didnt do weight training, before pc....as lifting lumber etc...always seemed enough...but knowing now cant stress enough to get off your ass and excercise....otherwise the luprichans will wear you down....but overall attitude and contunuing life as best you can as you did before minus the sex( i know theres other ways but our egos are attached somewhat to the dangling participle) ...live ...laugh ,love....hug your grand kids often if so lucky....but dont give in to the morbid thoughts this disease can bring about....peace and long lives to all b.w.
P.s. this group is also a must someone will always ground you and ruin your pity party.....
I play golf with a radiologist and he is 13 years older than myself..When I was 58 I had no idea what laid ahead.....but he said something that was really funny...he existed 50 years in a marriage that she spent money, and ran the show...golf was his outlet...he once told me "David the day I lost my libido I felt set free" Blue Skies
Thanks again pilot52 for this post. I have some additional thoughts for those recently diagnosed:
You will get a ton of advice not only from the forum here, but also your friends, your family, and people you hardly even know. The advice will range from getting second opinions to seeking out a doctor in NY who cured a patient with pig enzymes (actual advice I've been given!). Your cancer journey is yours alone, and you get to call the shots. You must learn to say "no" to much of the helpful advice you'll be given, or you'll go crazy trying to follow it all.
I chose a local urologist using Google. My MO was a referral from that urologist and works out of small suburban hospital. He is NOT a prostate cancer specialist. I have been exceptionally lucky. My urologist is very proactive, and my MO is very aggressive with treatment. I'm responding well to Abiraterone with limited side effects. I've thought about going into Boston to find a prostate cancer specialist at Dana Farber, then realized I hate cities, and the associated stress would be bad for my health.
I do try to eat healthier, but in the past week I've had pizza, ice cream, and still put sugar and half and half in every cup of coffee. I recently started pouring olive oil on my bagel instead of using butter or cream cheese. I stopped eating the sausage, egg, and cheese biscuits they serve in the company cafeteria for breakfast. I want to eat more nuts and fruits but those are sometimes hard to chew while my tooth is sore from what seems to be a never-ending root canal. I'm also having issues with poor digestion and weight loss. So, my attempts to eat healthy have been somewhat thwarted by needing to eat enough easily chewed and easily digested calories to feed my exercise habit. It's a conscious decision to let some "unhealthy" foods into my diet so I can keep running.
To sum up, I am doing very well and enjoying life, but I don't have the "best" MO, or the "best" diet, and my exercise is far too focused on running and not enough on strength and flexibility (a common theme with runners). My advice (which you can take or leave as you choose) is to find a good enough medical team, eat healthy 80% of the time, stay as active as your body will allow, and (the hardest part) don't stress that none of it is perfect.
I am relatively new here. Diagnosed with APC in Nov 2018. Was having Zytiga, Lucrin and Zometa....and PSA dropped to 0.232. Just started 2nd Docetaxel infusion. First infusion was tough especially week 1. And physical activities truly help. Try to walk about 10K steps every days as well as 45 mins at the gym doing rowing,cycling and some weight bearing exercises. Always feel good after the workout. Occasionally walking along the beach and nature reserve and soaking the sun too. Life is awesome when you GOD is walking with you thru the journey. God bless
I agree! We choose how to feel.
One thing I did, do, is look at the side effects and choose the ones I want. Ha e to choose at least four. Does work when I put my mind to it.
FYI to all reading this forum: I have written a book on my experience with Cancers, most recent is Prostate Cancer.
Will be on Amazon and Booklocker within the next week. Then ebook after that. My thoughts & fears plus the good and could be better on docs and ttreatments.
Oops......title of the book is: Pink isn't the only Cancer.
Great post, I am one of the newbies, dx 3/2019, and one of the reasons I stay with this site and read it everyday is to read things like you just posted.
We all know that we are dealing with potential killer but there are many ways to fight and win. I remember my flying days and sometimes there was a thunderstorm between me and my destination but I didn't stop I just found a different route. Never give up!🤠🍸🍸
great....nice to meet a fellow aviator....Blue Skies a Grounded Sky King
Good for you...you will have to send J-O-H-N a complementary copy...he squeaks when he walks........Everyone get off your ass and move!! Blue Skies
I guess J-O-H-N can read. He can't spell.🤠🍸🍸
Blame it on spell chekc...
Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.
j-o-h-n Thursday 09/05/2019 8:37 PM DST
Where you been, have not heard from you in a while. All is well I hope.🤠🍸🍸
All is well thank you... except for,
I was in the joint.... they got me for texting...... without a phone.....
And how are you doing?
Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.
j-o-h-n Thursday 09/05/2019 9:40 PM DST
All is well here, get a complete workup first week of Nov., all the scans, bloodwork, etc. Next time they get you for texting without a phone, let me know. I have a lawyer who is very good at handling insanity cases. He has always taken good care of me.🤪🍸🍸
November? Got my fingers crossed for you (hard to type that way). Thanks for the offer but I have three prestigious attorneys who represent me. Larry, Curly and Moe.
Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.
j-o-h-n Friday 09/06/2019 12:11 PM DST
They are very qualified 🤠👍👍
And so are their junior attorneys, Harpo, Chico and Groucho....
Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.
j-o-h-n Friday 09/06/2019 6:34 PM DST
That's really dating both of us. You cited them and I know who they are. The Marx boys, wow i had forgotten all about them. They were funny. Humor of yesterday but they would still be funny today. Love it.🤠🍸🍸
Bingo.... you bet your life, that you said the secret word(s)....
Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.
j-o-h-n Friday 09/06/2019 10:07 PM DST
Very, very good. Texting without a phone. And saying secret words aloud to yourself. Are you seeing a duck, by any chance?
I am almost 67. Started Lupron+Zytiga 2 months after my RP. Been on them for 5 months. Only side effect is a hot flash every now and then that lasts about 15 sec. I play on a softball team and a bowling league. Do my gym routine 3 days a week with weights and aerobics and swim a mile 2 other days. Usually go for a 6-8 mile hike on the weekends. I have lost a little strength. Before ADT I could do 45 pushups. Now I squeeze out 38. 
Starting SRT in a couple of weeks. I plan on keeping the same routine (hopefully)!
I changed my diet about 6 mos before my dx just because I felt like I was eating to much fried food and sweets. I was never overweight (good genes) but I lost about 10 lbs. Starting to look skinny. Since my surgery, I improved my diet even more. Lots more fruit and veggies although I still eat bread and a little pasta with something sweet in the evening. I have lost another 5-7 lbs. Now downright skinny. I keep thinking I would start gaining weight on ADT, but not so far, and I am trying! I don't know if it is the prednisone or what??
People think I have cancer because I am so skinny! Feel great with lots of energy! Everyone is different!
Great job....Today I complete the last gym day for the week...I count weekends as bonus days...if I do stuff fine if not no guilt....usually paddle board because I live on a lake...tonight ??? Sit on the deck...shake a cold Martini and listen to Yanni....in the morning the Beach Boys and Buffet start early....always jog because Gracie comes with a leash in her mouth....Trying to stay in shape just in case I have to take J-O-H-N his Ice Cream!!! Blue Skies everyone....
Sounds pretty nice living on a lake! Especially sitting on the dock with a martini!😀
Thanks for the kind thought of me and the ice cream... But you don't have to bring it to me just email or text it......Thanks again and for you -
youtube.com/watch?v=sGZDwxn...
Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.
j-o-h-n Friday 09/06/2019 12:297 PM DST
Sounds like you are doing great, keep it up and live long.
I'm doing lousy... Damn spoon is getting so heavy when I'm eating my chocolate chip ice cream (usually 2 scoops may have to cut it down to 1 because of the spoon).
Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.
j-o-h-n Thursday 09/05/2019 8:28 PM DST
Great picture, but if it was me.... I'll let the dog paddle, they're known for that...
And you forgot to wear your inflatable flotation device which is located under your seat.
Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.
j-o-h-n Thursday 09/05/2019 8:35 PM DST
Remember she is a retriever so if I fall in she comes and gets me...actually she really does.....I have to push her away to get back on...notice her vest??? Blue Skies she also wears a parachute in the plane ..not my idea...she flew with me once as a puppy and ever since just shows up with one on.....Blue Skies
Lol, I’ll chime in. I’m 55 and take all the drugs to keep my “unpleasantness” at bay. But I love life, fish with my kids, and rode out a hurricane just today. It’s true, we drew a short straw, but we can all call ourselves survivors! We all faced (are facing) major issues, but somehow we manage to trivialize those personal issues to live life. Do I wish I wasn’t in this situation...yes...but I’m grateful for the life I have, and I’m going to live it to the fullest.
Colon cancer, Melanoma, and Renal Cancer and Pca ..... Hmmmmm YOU DA MAN BOSS!!!
ME------- 🤜🤛-------You
Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.
j-o-h-n Friday 09/06/2019 12:20 PM DST
😊 I’ve been cut up so much, I look like I’ve been in a knife fight.
You da man too 😉
My husband who was dx with metastatic apc 3.5 years ago, now spends 2 days a week on the golf course with his golf gang, lifts weights 2x a week, walks 3 miles every day, and is enjoying life. After radiation and chemo completed, Provenge in May 2019, Lupron every 3 months for past 36 mos and counting, Zometa for past 10 mos and counting, and Xtandi for past 11 months and counting, adding to that a daily dose of CBD oil, he is living life to the fullest and relishing his time with me, kids and grandkids. Family, friends and the power of the present time.....that's all that matters in life.
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