Officially Undetectable : Well, almost... - Advanced Prostate...

Advanced Prostate Cancer

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Officially Undetectable

Oct18 profile image
121 Replies

Well, almost 1 year since diagnosis, originally 43 PSA, all 12 biopsies positive, Gleason 8-9 mostly 9, mets to pelvis, 2 ribs and spine, my PSA is undetectable, less than .01. I am being treated at Duke, (after not having much faith and given little hope from my local urologist). My treatment has been lupron shots, first a 1 month shot, then 4 month and 2 6 month ones. The first one month was actually called something else, I got two shots in the stomach at first but I forget the name, since then it’s been lupron. I took zytiga for about 4 months but my liver enzymes kept elevating, so after taking several 4 week breaks and starting back on lower doses, my Dr switched me to Xtanti about 3 months ago. I had 5 1/2 weeks of radiation to my prostate and spot on my pelvis, followed by 3 times to my ribs and 5 times to my spine(neck). Through it all I have felt pretty good, I have exercised 3 to 5 times a week, including running and resistance bands and some weight lifting, and for what it’s worth last November I did change my diet to a whole foods plant-based diet after reading about other cancer survivors choosing to do so. I’m 47 and from the beginning I prayed to be led on the right path, to see the right doctors to be given the right medicine, to have the right diet so that I can beat this or at least be here for a long time for my kids. I do feel God is doing that. Try to live every day as stress-free as possible take it one day at a time.

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Oct18 profile image
Oct18
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121 Replies
LearnAll profile image
LearnAll

Congratulations.. Glad you are in the undetectable country club. My PSA has come down to 1.5 last week (from 830 ) in 4 months. I am hoping to get in undetectable club sometime in a month or two.

Undetectable PSA to me means that cancer is on the ground and you are sitting on top of it. .and he is unable to move and cause harm to you. You got him under control.

There is enough research which indicates that plant based diet and daily exercise /walk not only reduces fatigue from treatment but also prolongs life in prostate cancer patients.

I don't forget to eat my broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, tomatoes, turmeric, ginger , garlic etc. They all have positive role to play in delaying cancer progression. .this is what I believe.

Again, best of luck and good wishes to you and your family.

Oct18 profile image
Oct18 in reply to LearnAll

Thank you! And best wishes to you too!

jfoesq profile image
jfoesq in reply to LearnAll

I am just curious what studies you have seen that prove or indicate that a diet like the you describe helps fight off PC. I was dx 7 yrs ago with metPC and while I have improved my diet overall, I am not nearly as strict as you and others appear to be. I believe there are studies indicating people with a "healthy" diet are less likely to "develop" PC (and other cancers along with heart disease....) but I was wondering if there are any establishing a benefit for those already diagnosed and under treatment. I am not arguing agst a "healthy" diet, I just want to know of studies exist establishing that one helps patients already being treated live longer.

Best to you and all others.

LearnAll profile image
LearnAll in reply to jfoesq

There are studies which clearly indicate that meat especially red meat causes or contributes to all type of cancers and colon cancer in particular.

I read a lot but do not keep account of studies I have read..I just get broad idea and conclusions.

Junk diet also affects your lipid profile , causes weight gain and put you at risk of heart attacks, strokes, diabetes and arthritis. These are well established facts.

Being on ADT we already have higher risk of heart problems. You can go to sites like pubmed and look for specific studies if you are interested. I am convinced that plant based diet is best for patients with prostate cancer.

jfoesq profile image
jfoesq in reply to LearnAll

Of course, red meat, deli meats, potato chips, French fries and many other foods are bad for our health. But, I believe a recent study showed that a plant based diet lead to increased stroke. My mother always said , about life in general, “everything in moderation”. The longer I live the more I like that statement and seem to subscribe to it.

Oct18 profile image
Oct18 in reply to jfoesq

I think the only thing studies have shown is that a heart healthy diet is good, and Exercising as you can will help you feel better and can help fight the cancer. Even if it’s just mentally making me think and feel better I’ll do it.

Sillymary73 profile image
Sillymary73 in reply to jfoesq

Watch The Game changers!

Oct18 profile image
Oct18 in reply to Sillymary73

I did, very good documentary

Sillymary73 profile image
Sillymary73 in reply to Oct18

Both?

Oct18 profile image
Oct18 in reply to Sillymary73

I saw game changers, is there more than one?

Sillymary73 profile image
Sillymary73 in reply to Oct18

Yes, We watch them on Netflix hour 45-year-old son told us about one and that was about the plant-based bodybuilders but the first one was about the way the animals are treated what the animal product does inside our body and how the heart Association and the diabetes Association are also am affiliated with the meat industry very very interesting I thought

Oct18 profile image
Oct18 in reply to Sillymary73

yes, it was very interesting and encouraging since I've changed my diet to plant based. I know it doesn't cure cancer, but it helps to be as healthy as I can while fighting it.

in reply to Oct18

Every dr I’ve talked to said plant based will let you fight it better which is all the drugs do.

tom67inMA profile image
tom67inMA

That's awesome news! Let me pass on the advice I was given after having a good response to treatment: "Keep doing what you're doing!"

Oct18 profile image
Oct18 in reply to tom67inMA

Thank you! That is my plan

Magnus1964 profile image
Magnus1964

Congratulations on an undetectable PSA. Sounds like you're on track. Have faith, I was 47 at diagnosis, now 73. I turned vegetarian days after diagnosis. Keep up your vitamin D3 level.

Oct18 profile image
Oct18 in reply to Magnus1964

Thank you! I am.

Oct18 profile image
Oct18 in reply to Magnus1964

And wow! 47 at diagnosis and now 73, definitely love to hear those stories for inspiration.

jfoesq profile image
jfoesq in reply to Magnus1964

WOW!!! 26 yrs with met/PC. That's amazing. Kudos to you.

Keep it going.

tango65 profile image
tango65

Congratulations!! Best of luck.!!

AlanMeyer profile image
AlanMeyer

I have read a number of interesting things that apply to your case. First, your PSA response to treatment is the best predictor of how long you will live with the disease. Second, good diet has a measurable effect on longevity. Third, exercise makes a big difference in longevity. Of course those last two, diet and exercise, also help to prevent heart disease and other cancers.

It looks like you're a winner on all counts. In addition, you have chosen an advanced center for the treatment of cancer and they appear to be giving you aggressive treatment.

I predict that you are going to be with us for a long, long time.

Enjoy life!

Alan

easeytiger profile image
easeytiger in reply to AlanMeyer

Could you give more details of your first point about PSA? Having heard many things about PSA and asked lots of oncologists, the ones I've spoken to don't put nearly as much faith in this test/measure as guys on this forum.

AlanMeyer profile image
AlanMeyer in reply to easeytiger

I don't remember where I saw the claim that better PSA responses lead to longer remission. Doing a little searching now on ADT and PSA I see:

ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/JC...

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi...

The second one above includes summaries of many studies.

As always in this kind of work, the studies typically look at different things, use different outcome measures, run for different amounts of time, have different numbers of patients with different characteristics, and so on, so it's hard to get clear and certain conclusions about whatever particular treatment and PSA you're looking for. However I think that most of the studies do show an inverse statistical correlation between PSA after treatment and length of remission. The lower the PSA achieved, the longer the remission that follows.

Also as always, your mileage may vary. Some men with low PSA have terrible cancers that don't produce much PSA. Some men with higher PSA may have very long doubling times. Some men are doing badly but try a new therapy (chemo, radionuclide, Xtandi, etc.) that suppresses what was looking like a deadly cancer. So there are exceptions. But PSA is produced by active prostate cells (i.e., cells that are not dormant but are metabolizing, growing and dividing), and the more PSA there is, in general, the more active prostate cells there are. If the prostate is gone due to surgery or damaged by radiation, the PSA is coming from prostate tumor cells. Sometimes those cells produce more PSA than at other times. However, I think that if the PSA goes from 10 to 20, it usually means that there are double the number of active tumor cells at 20 than there were at 10 - not a good thing. And conversely, if the PSA goes from 10 to 5, that's good. And if it then goes from 5 to 2, from 2 to 1, from 1 to .5, and so on down to undetectable, that's better and better.

Alan

Oct18 profile image
Oct18 in reply to easeytiger

psa oct 2018 was 43

Oct18 profile image
Oct18 in reply to AlanMeyer

Thank you! I hope your right:)

j-o-h-n profile image
j-o-h-n

"Try to live every day as stress-free as possible take it one day at a time."

That's the spirit.....

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Sunday 09/22/2019 5:05 PM DST

Drphil1938 profile image
Drphil1938 in reply to j-o-h-n

You give good advice, keep up the good humor,too. 🤠🍸🍸

j-o-h-n profile image
j-o-h-n in reply to Drphil1938

Thanks. but my advice was to follow his advice...

My friend Phillip got his lip removed yesterday..

we now call him Phil...

Sorry but I couldn't help it....It was a slip of the lip....

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Sunday 09/29/2019 5:44 PM DST

Drphil1938 profile image
Drphil1938 in reply to j-o-h-n

😂😂👍

Drphil1938 profile image
Drphil1938 in reply to j-o-h-n

That is like the cat I had, his name was Snoball. I had him neutered so I changed his name. I moved the s to the back of his name. 🍸🍸

j-o-h-n profile image
j-o-h-n in reply to Drphil1938

Funny,,,,,,,,,Thanks (what's a W when you really don't need one?)... BTW did it ever occur to you that there are 6 vowels? A E I O U and double U.....

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Monday 09/30/2019 2:37 PM DST

Drphil1938 profile image
Drphil1938 in reply to j-o-h-n

Sad part is I now almost qualify for the same name.🤠🍸🍸

j-o-h-n profile image
j-o-h-n in reply to Drphil1938

google.com/search?q=no+ball...

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Monday 09/30/2019 5:14 PM DST

DarkEnergy profile image
DarkEnergy

Your first ADT was probably Eligard (Leuprolide), as it's administered in the stomach. I'm almost in for a year too, diagnosed - GS 8, PSA 1000+, tumor extending the gland, violating the bladder wall with extensive pelvic, vertebral and lymph nodes metastasis.

Like you, I jettison the Urologist after the administration of 6 months Eligard (init with Casodex, 1 month), I'm around the Boston area fortunately, so now with Dana-Farber. Eventually, Lupron and Zytiga/Prednisone became the treatment track for about 9 months. Currently *added* Taxotere (Docetaxel) infusions, side effects are minimal, I'm an active person, keeping the brain busy and muscles moving - got me out of darkness and with the amazing support of my brothers here!

So, I'm very interested with your treatment track, impressed with the radiation you got. I'm currently, undecrable (PSA <0.02), but our strategy is chemo, then after the last infusion, Dana-Farber will run scans, and determine a radiation strategy.

Wonder why Duke did not apply chemo in your case, of course, we are all unique in our case, inquiring minds feed...

lynnedrum profile image
lynnedrum in reply to DarkEnergy

Great news DarkEnergy. Can you give me an idea of how many metastasis you had at diagnosis. Was it more than 4? Also, were you given chemo at the same time as Zytiga or did you stop Zytiga and then begin docetaxel? Thanks

DarkEnergy profile image
DarkEnergy in reply to lynnedrum

Hi lynnedrum,

I've read your posts, understand your interest...

Multiplanar CT images of: Chest, Abdomen, Pelvis (September/11/2018) no joke:

"Sclerotic lesions are visualized in the T11, at T10

T8, T6 and T5 vertebral bodies (largest lesions in T8 and T11). Subcentimeter

nonspecific sclerotic foci are noted in both iliac bones (7:64 and 58). Mild

superior endplate depression of the right lateral aspect of L2."

Other scan impression:

Enlarged retroperitoneal and iliac lymph nodes.

Latest NM Bone Scan (July/18/2019):

"1. Focal tracer uptake corresponding to the sclerotic lesions in the posterior

right fourth rib and left sixth rib most likely represent osseous metastases.

2. Additional focal tracer avid sclerotic lesions in the left supraorbital

region and T7 vertebral body may represent osseous metastases."

But had a biopsy of the largest lesion T8 (October/31/2018):

"NO EVIDENCE OF CARCINOMA SEEN..."

Whew!

Obviously, circulating tumor cells (CTC) are in the bloodstream. With current "< PSA 0.02", ADT2 smacked them down. But what about cells that are not so hormone sensitive?

My current treatment: Lupron+Zytiga+Taxotere, to be clear, all at the same time.

Nice read:

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

Oct18 profile image
Oct18 in reply to DarkEnergy

Glad to hear you are doing good also. I asked my Dr. at Duke why no chemo for me, not that I wanted it and he said the Zytiga (now Xtanti) provides the benefits of chemo without the toxins. It has been mentioned as an option down the road but the first line of defense was lupron, radiation to visible spots and prostate, with again, Zytiga, now Xtanti due to elevated liver enzymes from Zytiga. And yes, Eligard sounds right for the first shots to my stomach.

DarkEnergy profile image
DarkEnergy in reply to Oct18

My response above to lynnedrum, had you in mind too. I simply believe in combinational therapies, ADT only, just deals with mHSPC...

Awesome news! A true survivor....also, my ADT shots to the stomach was Firmagon.

JamesAtlanta profile image
JamesAtlanta

Congratulations! 🎈🎊🎉🍾

Great news! Definitely time to celebrate! Thanks for sharing! You are an inspiration to all of us!

Best,

James

dougnola profile image
dougnola

Congratulations, Oct18! I’ve been doing a similar nutrition/herb/exercise regime on top of my western med friends, Zytiga, prednisone, and Lupron and my side effects have been minimized all things considered. Keep it up!! :)

soffers profile image
soffers

This is such great news and uplifting. So happy you are doing so well with prayers, a good oncologist, exercise and diet. So pleased for you.

Haniff profile image
Haniff

Well done Oct18,

Keep up the good fight. My very best to you!

Haniff

Travelinman profile image
Travelinman

Congratulations! This is truly exciting and inspiring news -- not just for you, but for all of us.

Filotimo62 profile image
Filotimo62

Congratulations - gives people hope. Keep doing what you are doing and you will die of old age in 50+ yrs time :)

j-o-h-n profile image
j-o-h-n in reply to Filotimo62

Yiasou Levende....

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor,

j-o-h-n Monday 09/23/2019 4:47 PM DST

Tippler profile image
Tippler

You said: "I do feel God is doing that." I say: Hallelujah! Keep the faith!

BGoertzen profile image
BGoertzen

thank you for sharing this part of your life with us. i am inspired to eat better and try and exercise, but struggling with severe fatigue and some transitory pain

Oct18 profile image
Oct18 in reply to BGoertzen

Just do what you can. You can fight through the fatigue, as long as the pain isn't making anything worse.

Bebby1 profile image
Bebby1

I’ll join you in prayer

Keep living

Patrick-Turner profile image
Patrick-Turner

Hi Oct 18.

At end 2009, age 62, extremely fit, I had Psa 6.0, but Gleason9, 9 positive biopsy samples. No mets were found with full body scans. RP was attempted, but much Pca was outside capsule so doc abandoned attempt at open RP, removed seminal vesicles, removed 2 lower lymph nodes, collected samples elsewhere and all were inspected with microscope and all were negative.

Plan A was for robotic RP, plan B was open RP, plan C was to hand me over to radiation doc, with ADT for 2 years, so I began ADT, had 70 Grey 6 months into ADT, then quit all treatments, and Psa zoomed to 8.8 in 6 months after hitting a low of 0.08. So I went back onto ADT, that kept Psa < 1.0 for a few years.

I never ever experienced a Psa less than 0.01.

Well, Cosadex and extra IMRT to PG was done in 2016, then came added Zytiga, then chemo and all failed soon, with chemo not working at all so between last Nov and May I had 4 shots Lu177 and Psa reduced from 25 before to 0.4 now, while also on Xtandi.

Now its wait and see, but I expect Psa to rise again soon, and just what might be used is not known.

I have a friend of 80 who had RP at 66, and no other treatment, and Psa went to 0.01, and stayed there for a couple of years. But then it increased and soon was 0.4, so he had all the EBRT I had over 5 weeks.

Psa went low again, but last I heard it has increased to 0.02 over 12 months.

But that's a lot of good luck. He has not been forced to have ADT, so his balls work still. But he has total ED, and no wife or GF.

I have heard of other cases where after initial treatment Psa is <0.01, but then it increases a year after or more, so it seems to me its impossible to say a man has a cure or permanent remission until all treatment has been for about 5 years and the Psa is still impossible to measure. Remission also means there is no mutated Pca found which may not generate Psa.

Correct me if I am wrong, but you are now on Xtandi and it can work to hold down Psa very well, but its a hormone manipulating drug that like Zytiga works for awhile to put Pca cells asleep but not kill them, and they slowly begin to grow. ADT + Zytiga did this in my case, it kept Psa low, but the PsMa scans I had a year apart showed more mets and bigger mets. Under our Medicare laws in Australia, our docs can't switch a patient over from Zytiga to Xtandi, or use both together, which research has shows is a disaster of side effects.

So once one of these 2 drugs stops working while on ADT, next step is Chemo. Mine failed after 4 shots, so I booked the Lu177, which gave a wanted result of lowering Psa, killing most Pca cells, and not just fiddling around with Pca with hormone altering drugs.

I had countless small mets which could not be seen in 2009, but were first seen in 2016, using PsMa Ga68 scan, when the mets went over about 2mm largest size with rising Psa at 5.6.

At the moment, you are walking on Lucky Street, but for how long this goes on is anyone's guess.

I'm now walking the same street, and I ain't going to quit Xtandi unless a doctor insists that I do. Now the ADT Lucrin has turned off my balls for so many years that its probably not having any effect because balls have innards that have been permanently altered that with without ADT, its likely they'll ever switch back on to make Testosterone which a few lurking Pca cells might thrive on, then kill me.

Total cost of ADT to Medicare has been about usd $24,000 since 2010, plus specialist visits to have it prescribed.

It would have been much better to have balls surgically removed. Just a few easy snips, and you are neutered like an ex-tomcat, but if ever a man finds he does get remission, he can take testosterone pills to re-gain the benefits of having it.

But most likely, getting T back will not make Rodger function like he did as 62, able to conduct overnight temporary pussy destruction of half a female netball team if needed. With long term ADT, Rodger is deformed with fibroids in sponge tissue that cannot expand, the head and shaft skin becomes weak and tears easily, and all sexual functions and pleasure feelings are gone, and exterminated.

So a man dreams of a partner also ruined by doctors but I've found women are far more affected by loss of sexuality than men.

Being as young as you are, you will have youth on your side and tolerate future treatments better than a man of say 77. Adopting the eating and exercise habits of the fervent athlete IS GOOD, and between now and 97, you should keep that going. Despite a few problems I have, I am doing just that, but at 72, I doubt I'll get to 98 like my mum. But dad and a sister went down to cancers at 60, melanoma, Ovarian. My other older sister is OK now some 8 years after double mastectomy, so she looks like she'll stay on Lucky Street a long time.

Being 47 also means anything can happen with Pca. I was warned that I had "aggressive young man's Pca cell types". Oh dear.

I've always thought I'd die in a year's time since 2009. Docs had little hope I'd survive this long. But here I am, still able to cycle 50km, a little slower at 72 than at 62, let alone at 42, when I road raced on bicycles. I could cycle 300km in a day.

But what I am doing is keeping BMI < 25, waist < 95cm, and resting HR < 50, and I am not taking the average number of 12 medications for men my age.

I know that the older I get, the better I woz. I can't live forever. So make the best your time. Its better to have just enough dough to get by, and love those you're with.

I find it difficult to accept that God could determine our life span because I humbly think that all beliefs in God or Gods is a communally agreed upon belief generated by most ppl around us. Our species has huge capabilities to imagine, then believe what we imagine is real, which to me just is not. So we made God, the daddy in the sky, and with human emotions and personality, and I doubt he made us, other than creating evolution over billions of years. Is not the wonder of Nature evidence enough of creation by something great, and from what I have experienced, this great thing is total mystery, and prayer cannot work to get a cure any more than prayer will get you a winning lottery ticket. So the socially accepted idea of God is quite strange to me.

But Jesus existed. He was bit of a genius, and told us a better way, but those who wrote of his life many years after he lived added piles or fake stuff to manipulate ppl to join the faith. Theology is just BS to me. What is wrong with just being good like we suspect Jesus was? why not forget about God the Father, and Holy Ghost, Virgin Mary, and miracles. This is all BS over which theologians argue still, obscuring any possible knowing of ultimate truth. Look inside yourself for your healing power, ask it to work, forget about God, and just get on with being Good, as I suspect Jesus was, just a simple carpenter, but with a good idea or three.

I spent many years being a carpenter to earn a humble living.

I've met ppl who swear they feel the presence of the Lord, and one beautiful 40yo lady recently gave me healing prayers for a right hip soreness that she said would be healed, but it hasn't, and the problem is that the right hip area has had about 44Grey of total EBRT and IMRT in 3 lots, and muscle and tendons may be sore for rest of my life. Immediate soreness from inflammation caused by bone mets in pelvis and femur near right hip joint has gone, because Pca was disabled by Lu177 plus the added EBRT. Hip works, and I still cycle along, use the left leg a bit harder, soreness remains, but there is SFA any doctor can do.

If God gave me a cancer fix, do you not think that I could check his work to see if it was true?

My future Psa results and PsMa scans will tell the story.

Can I doubt God? What happens if I do? will he send me to Hell, and be the ultimate sadist?

I don't get all that.

Patrick Turner.

Northcaptain profile image
Northcaptain in reply to Patrick-Turner

In Zen it is said that there is about 1/10th of an inch between heaven and hell. (what does that means and led to ?)

Thanks for your long story it help beginners like me.

Patrick-Turner profile image
Patrick-Turner in reply to Northcaptain

I don't understand Zen. And it seems Heaven and Hell are imagined places, and imagined by ppl who like to manipulate other ppl to gain power over ppl with ideas like "be good, so you'll go to Heaven, and if you are bad you'll go to Hell." The idea there is 1/10 of an inch between the two is totally absurd.

So, be good and don't be bad, without expecting Heaven later. Get on with it NOW, just do it. Practice the seven virtues and avoid the 7 vices, and take note of 10 commandments. No need to consider any supernatural entities are involved in a reward / punishment scheme.

Many ppl will just fail all this no matter what is believed in or not believed.

I don't believe I have a soul. What the heck is that? My working life filled most of my hours awake and alive, and I made other ppl happy with my work. I got paid a bit. I never got to marry Miss World. Good, I heard she cost such a lot to maintain...….

A soul is a complete figment of imagination, not real. Some humans don't like existing without existence fully explained including the nature of anything far greater than themselves, so all past humans have evolved beliefs conceived in the womb of Ignorance. I have evolved past that, and have no need for the daddy in the sky. I seem to be my own daddy OK.

Responsibility for being a moderately good human rests with me. I feel I have done little I need to be forgiven for, and I sure don't need to confess my sins each week to a priest, gain forgiveness, then sin again all the following week. This is all bullshit, just don't sin, right.

Some just cannot help being bad, so we lock 'em up in jails. We don't send them to be barbecued in Hell for Eternity.

I am grateful to be living at a better time in history than most ever have, not in poverty, not dead by 30, and with death delayed by doctors who know something useful, and not witchdoctors.

It is unfortunate that the poor in this world don't have access to much of the life lengthening treatments I can get. As time goes by, I expect more remedies will come for life lengthening, so death can be put off for a long time, and what will ppl do with that extra time? If we all lived forever, but retired from work at 65, then how would a society cope with millions of ppl hundreds of years old, but not working? How do we feed them? Eternal life presents serious problems.

There are serious problems emerging in countries where the young must carry the increasing burden of the aged. For example, Japan, Italy, and despite China abolishing the one child per family rule in 2016, their birthrate has further declined. I have to be very careful if I say more lest it be misinterpreted and I find myself lynched by an angry irrational mob.

All of human progress has some strange consequences we don't expect to happen. I just don't have the answers that are wanted by ppl considering reasons for existence. I just know we are here, and not forever. I don't need Eternal life Heaven. I sure don't need a big mausoleum of black granite be erected to make ppl remember me. I see the Pyramids in Egypt to be the greatest waste of human effort ever seen on stonework. Why not just houses for the poor? canals to bring water, sewers to get rid of waste, courts to bring law, research hospitals for the sick?

We mostly have got away from the bad habit of pyramid building, but now where?

I won't be here to find out, and I don't need to know the meaning of everything, such as Eternity, Infinity, et all. Others can spend all day and night searching for meaning of such things, but I'll just take a ride on a bicycle, while I still can, and just see what is.

Patrick Turner.

Northcaptain profile image
Northcaptain in reply to Patrick-Turner

Praying that one day the experience of reality will touch you ... or better the end of the experience... in fact i wish this to everyone.

jfoesq profile image
jfoesq in reply to Patrick-Turner

I try and avoid discussing religion and politics on this site- but- now that the subject has come up and been responded to- I have a gfew questions: if God can heal us, then why did he let us get this illness in the first place; why does he "save" some and not others- the same question goes for those who survive plane crashes while the others on the plane die. Why does God permit so much suffering in the world (i.e. the Holocaust, ISIS, the millions killed in Cambodia, …….)The answer that some give is, we can't understand God's reasons or actions. Well- if I can't understand, then I can't accept.

Having said that, regardless of your religious beliefs, I wish all my brother on this site the best.

Oct18 profile image
Oct18 in reply to jfoesq

I completely understand your questions. All legitimate questions. I know we are not supposed to lean on our own understanding. One day this will make sense. And believing as a Christian, why do we hold on to life on earth so much if heaven is so much better. Why do people say thank God I’m alive if the alternative is a much much better place. I know it’s because maybe for some there’s a little doubt. For me, I don’t want my kids to have to lose their father until they are grown and able to take care of themselves which won’t be for a long time. That is why I fight .

jfoesq profile image
jfoesq in reply to Oct18

Keep fighting and keep on trucking.

All the best

Patrick-Turner profile image
Patrick-Turner in reply to Oct18

I don't have the reasons to live more time to be there for kids or grand kids and if did have a lot of relatives l did help create, they'd mostly ignore me, because young folks cannot be persuaded not to make the mistakes I am glad I never would have. And I used to think that if I worked to make dough I was being useful, therefore happy. Mostly I was happy. But when knees gave trouble I gave up building work to take up new trade of electronics repair and crafting, and then everyone thought I was worth paying 1/10 of what they paid for building work. But this work was interesting although made no more than the dole, about usd $180 per week, and that went on for 18 years when I got old enough to quit work at 65 and get old age pension, about usd $295 per week. Suddenly It was like a huge relief, and I felt ecstatically happy and I declared myself utterly useless to all and that I would never work for anyone for the socially unjust prices they paid which was much less than they were paid by their employer. Uselessness brought happiness.

I've had a far better relationship with my bicycle than with many ppl I knew before I retired, and one day I'll marry the bike, and if anyone asks why, its because "I can go for a Phahkhan Ryde any old time I phahkhan lyke, " which appeals to me more than say finding a wife for "companionship". One lady of 45 famously said to me when I said lets just be friends to see where that leads... "Well ya can't pharque companionship," she exclaimed, but then she was just into sex and consumption and consumerism and I can't let myself be a slave to any shiela. Besides, when I knocked her back week before on the second date, she said she'd bonked someone else in previous week. That's long ago, when I was fully functioned, before the stint on low wages with bad knees, and wondering a little more about God and all I can say its best I don't express my doubts about God because all it does is make some here feel real bad.

I am, therefore I iz, iddell do, until I ain't. I quite like life and spent an hour mowing the grass of my yard to make it look nice, and I struggled more in shed to understand some LC behavior of an input antenna to an AM radio, and is that insane, uncaring? Probably. One day the world gets all my dough and stuff, a real boon to everyone. The Treasurer never takes into account how us oldies often give society an amount at the end to cover the costs of all medical treatment and a whole lot more that Govt says it spends on us. Is that uncaring? Maybe not, could even resemble something that Jesus would approve if he was here now.

I have zero problem with Jesus, who we don't know much about because of fake info added to stories written about him, but us humans are very heavily into fake news and fake info, and we have been doing it ever since our brains evolved to allow the function of language by making noises by mouth to talk to other ppl. Then writing followed, and it seemed to me it all might have been work by a well meaning but unrecognised schizophrenic who just didn't get reality.

Fact is that there are so many ppl who have far worse lives than I have had so far. I must clip hedges next week, another challenge.

Stay as well as you can,

Patrick Turner.

Patrick-Turner profile image
Patrick-Turner in reply to jfoesq

Well I'm a bit of a rebel. There's nothing better than discussing sex, politics, religion, money and science at dinner parties. How we do that while making ppl laugh around the table is the point. Most ppl can't do this and dinner parties are no longer weekly things we had in 1975. Now ppl growl at each other about all these things on Facebook and Twitter and if dinner parties were held, strong chairs are needed, because everyone would need to be dressed in heavy suits of armour to avoid a vegans plunging a carving knife into a meat eater. And its no use looking at the girl across the table with a twinkle in your eye that means only one thing, she'll call the Me Too police to be take me to be whipped by an all female whipping crew.

But God should be discussed, and perhaps asked to be a little fairer with how he uses his power as you say. But there is an infinite amount of life improvement that everyone wants. So even if God had infinite power to hand out the goodies to all, it still might be 100 years before he turns up to do your order. I decided years ago to not place any orders for stuff from God. If he turns up at my place I'll take him up the road to have lunch, give the Big Dude a feed, and if he says his son Jesus is coming here again, then I'll suggest he stay at my place, rent free, and I'll wise him up about the immigration authorities who are not impressed by illegal immigrants with brown skins from middle east saying they wanna come here, and that they are Jesus Christ, and with no passport. I'd have to hide Jesus to protect him from a world which would very badly treat him, just like 2,000 years ago. But between coping lessons for modern living, he could do some useful carpentry work I'd like done, and he'd have a very nice life while slowly gaining a few followers online, after I explain what a lap top is, and how to type. He'd never have to do a water into wine miracle, the wine at the shop is plentiful and cheap.

Jesus and I would get on just fine.

I've got a spare bicycle, and give him some lycra gear, and we could go for some bike rides. He might not like the traffic much, and he might be perplexed about the way the number of ppl on Earth has increased exponentially. ( apologies for ending the post on a big long word )

Patrick Turner.

jfoesq profile image
jfoesq in reply to Patrick-Turner

Patrick- I would love to attend one of your dinner parties or have you as a guest at mine

Patrick-Turner profile image
Patrick-Turner in reply to jfoesq

Dinner parties seemed to cease in about 1980 for most ppl I knew. Ppl paired off, and survival with kids was their thing. I didn't pair off, and shared house with a succession of ppl until 2014, but no dinner parties for last 30 years. My parents generation were always spending time in other ppl's houses with good old rip roaring discussions of all things, and that all had kids, and at my parents house in 1950s to 1970s, there were countless gatherings. My parents generation was brought up without TV, which destroyed dinner time for many. After dad died in 1973, my mum recovered but kept her friendships going, and she was always having ppl around for dinner. There was never a silent moment, the wine flowed, and ppl had a lot to laugh about.

Now I see ppl sitting in restaurants with a mobile phone on the table, not much going on.

I spent a huge amount of time single, without a woman who might usually generate social warmth in a house.

I did find the way to a woman was to ask her to visit, cook a dinner, serve it with nice warm fire going, candles on the table, pour her a wine, have fine music, and sometimes we didn't finish the strawberry desert because we'd tear each other's clothes off and go at it for 2 hours, then sleep like logs. Them were the nights. As long as nobody gets angry, anything can be discussed.

I must away now to fetch a feed for myself with Ray Deo, who sits beside my kitchen table.

Patrick Turner.

j-o-h-n profile image
j-o-h-n in reply to Patrick-Turner

A great entertainer who died too early:

youtube.com/watch?v=bjFRLOk...

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Monday 09/23/2019 4:51 PM DST

Kaliber profile image
Kaliber in reply to j-o-h-n

Oh, the shark, babe has such teeth dear

And he shows them pearly white ...

Just a jackknife has old Macheath ( Divinchy ) babe

And he keeps it, ah, out of sight.

j-o-h-n profile image
j-o-h-n in reply to Kaliber

He was da man and you're still da man...👀

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Thursday 09/26/2019 12:17 AM DST

Kaliber profile image
Kaliber in reply to j-o-h-n

The fact I know those lyrics means I’m da OLD man yayahahahaya. Yikes.

No matter what , you’ll ( deservingly) always be the main man for all the good work you do here for others.

And dats a fact Jack ......

Peace brother

j-o-h-n profile image
j-o-h-n in reply to Kaliber

Jack? Nickname for John.... This song was meant for me:

youtube.com/watch?v=0rEsVp5...

Good Work?👀 Funny work I hope....

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Thursday 09/26/2019 5:22 PM DST

Kaliber profile image
Kaliber in reply to j-o-h-n

Ray had more talent and natural gifts in his little finger than most people ever do ...

Me for sure ... even being blind. He was soooooo kewl.

I’ve hit the road and needed a Jack a few times yayahahahaya.

👍 brother ...

j-o-h-n profile image
j-o-h-n in reply to Kaliber

I agree, so many natural gifts especially as a race car driver....👀👀👀

Keep smiling....

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Thursday 09/26/2019 10:46 PM DST

Kaliber profile image
Kaliber in reply to j-o-h-n

Yayahahahaya... yikes ...

Boywonder56 profile image
Boywonder56 in reply to Patrick-Turner

I like you was am still but barely a working wood dog....i agree with all you say....golden rule is the way to happiness...simple as that....thats why going to grateful dead shows is a gas....

Patrick-Turner profile image
Patrick-Turner in reply to Boywonder56

"If I was a carpenter and you were a lady"...…. etc.

The ladies ignored me. They pharked me for awhile, then could not resist leaving because the big world called them, and off they went, to find nothing. I kept carpentering and paying the off the house loan.

I was happy most of the time, always thought the right lady for me wood come along, but nah, never happened, so will just hold one hand with my other when I go, if I ain't drugged out to stop the pain.

I only like classical music now because it does not bring back the pain of being young and without love.

Patrick Turner.

Kaliber profile image
Kaliber in reply to Patrick-Turner

I hear you brother ... and I totally get what you are saying- feeling.

I’m pretty sure that most all of us here know.

I definitely worry if someone will be there to hold me and kiss me goodbye when its time to go ... and hopefully grieve for me at least a little when I’m gone. Seems like a simple thing ...but ..... an important thing. None of us are taking anything else with us.

All us stage 4 m1 guys are good as gone .... hoping to drag it out as long as possible .... all of us ... walking talking potash fertilizer. It’s da $shits isn’t it !

( cue scene two , change to brighter lighting, spring sunlight in window .. birds chirping in background. )

Meanwhile moving past all my adt hormone induced blubbering, anxiety, self pity and the works ... there are actually possibilities out there that could be considered.

For one ....

when near the end ... there is “ the cocktail “ available ... usually used within a week or two or less of lights out. It’s a pharmacy compounded blend of cocaine hydrochloride and ( usually ) , pharmacy grade euphoria inducing opiates like heroin. I’ve seen it prescribed - used numerous times and its surprisingly beneficial... probably way more than you’d think or expect. Make sure to see that it’s on your hospice medication list.

Secondly .... and I hope this doesn’t sound too self serving ( hey !!! We’re “ special “ ... we’re allowed to be a little self serving .... right ? ) Most of us are old ... new ( like we were young ) relationships would be very unlikely in the best of circumstances and with terminal disease lurking even more complicated.

Still , if I were you, I wouldn’t write anything totally off just yet.

Turns out that there are zillions ( biggest population group ) of older widows , divorcée’s and active senior single gals out there that are reduced to living with their children ... living in a back bedroom etc. ... all mostly relegated to the back burner and as lonely as anyone can be. They want and need love too. None of them want to check out alone as well and most of them have few - limited financial resources to boot. What are they left with ... a small pension ( if that ) depending on the crumbs from the family ... and basically a remaining life of second tier loneliness .

Think about it .... think how symbiotic ... how mutually beneficial a relationship with one of the gals would be. Both of you are looking for love ,,, you’ll easily support her now , and probably leave behind enough resources to keep her safe and nicely housed and independent until her end and she’ll hold you , kiss you, and grieve for you too. Hey ..... ladies are smart and they are always trying to feed that need for love ...just like us old farts. A relationship might not last all that long ( maybe even a few years before the end ) ... but think of all the good things that would come out of it ... for everyone involved.

get out there and mix , go to, some of the local or regional seniors mixers .. put yourself out there and broadcast . Attend in a nice car and dress like you have some financial resources as well. ( no cancer bum attire allowed ). You might have to shave and trim your nose hairs, throw on a little cologne... but it’s worth it . Let your story get around ( a wheelchair might be a plus ) ... there are tons of senior mixer - dating websites as well . You have special attributes to offer that many men cannot match ... I don’t really want to say it out loud..but think about it . Lots of senior ladies would find you irresistible. Plus there’s that built in compassionate mothering instinct that most ladies have.

Just say’in .... just being practical.... even a 3/10 relationship, instead of an imaginary 10/10 relationship would be just fine, considering. Way better than the alternative.

Realistically..

You are probably WAY more attractive / desirable to age appropriate ladies now than you ever were in the old days ... just due to circumstances alone ... never mind the other tid bits. No sense wasting your opportunities is there ?

Remember to not to succumb to “ foolish old man “ syndrome...

unless you are a croaking billionaire, probably the sudden appearance of an interested 50 year old swim suit model lady isn’t a good thing. Like everywhere else , lots of sharks and unscrupulous people abound out there.

Peace brother

j-o-h-n profile image
j-o-h-n in reply to Kaliber

Wowie.... I'm saving your post... Might have to use it for others... You're not old you're a blessing.... Peace...

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Thursday 09/26/2019 5:30 PM DST

Kaliber profile image
Kaliber in reply to j-o-h-n

Well , bless this mess I guess yayahahaha. Thank you brother...

Patrick-Turner profile image
Patrick-Turner in reply to Kaliber

Well that's well written response if ever there was one.

But there's no lonely ladies who want a man even when they all say they do. They sure don't want a man with terminal cancer. None want to care, they are all quite selfish as ever they were, and all could be a liability if I were to involve myself with them.

So what? not a worry for me, I did like or love some women along the way to here, but none stayed on the porch, all could not commit.

I've never been a needy man.

I read the latest research from PCA treatments with Lu177 in Melbourne Peter Mac, and they seem to be reproducing results from German research years ago for Lu177. They say that where Pca does not mutate to many different types then Lu177 will again be effective if initial treatment gives the mean increase of survival time of about 14month. This means later Lu277 may easily extend survival to 40 months, so I may well be alive and well in 3 or 4 years.

So I have time to do a few things around the house to allow this longer life and do some refurbishment, basically just because I can, and maybe make my sister more comfortable if she or anyone else visits.

I just went away for 3 days, to attend a wedding yesterday of a nephew a girl who is wannabe Miss World at 35yo, now wants babies, but they have not saved a cent for a house. She's "high maintenance" and can any dream be kept going forever? Will this union of 2 ppl fly to bits or lead to what they say they want? Hoo Noze. It was a typical "nice" $20,000 wedding, on a beach, sort of like a Hollywood production, so unlike the wedding I had in a little stone church in a county town where my wife had grown up. The wedding occurred, we were happy, but 18 months later she basically told all ppl she had known including me and her mother to get pharqued, and vanished to hide away from the future. I don't like mu chances of succeeding now no matter how romantic or presentable I was,

so I'll just die alone.

At this wedding yesterday, didn't want to dance in what seemed orgiastic drunkenness with band so loud I used toilet paper to plug my ears to avoid ear damage, I mainly sat alone, not knowing anyone there except my nephew surrounded by many more friends than I ever had. I was keeping an eye on one of his 2 schizophrenic brothers, 140Kg, who didn't understand how to socialise, so he had 10 beers, and tried cadging cigarettes all night. My sister was thankful for my sober support. I am back how in my quiet house to continue largely person-free existence. I just ain't into drunken decadence.

I don't believe in romantic love now, that idea was smashed years ago, I do need to avoid some lady expecting to care for me, then inherit all my dough. Its love without love.

I am a bit more well than I expected to be right now than last year, and had Lu177 not worked, I might be on palliative care now, and getting to that wedding would not have been achieved. I enjoyed the on beach ceremony while they all remained sober, but now what followed. I just don't care if ppl think I am boring.

I have so little to offer any woman, I am poxed up with Pca, and well and truly neutered, and even when well dressed, tall, with a nice figure with no fat and polite, I know how unattractive I am. Last night was yet another re-run of what happened so often when I went out to a bar 30 years ago with an eye out to meet a nice lady. None were ever there.

And none were ever there after spending years on dating sites online, well before diagnosis. There were alcoholics, self admitted witches, and a small number of insane ladies. When I replied politely with my phone number to some amoung the profiles I read of the ladies within 20km of where I lived, none replied, they really didn't want the reality of a real man, they found it empowering to post a profile, say they want, but could not actually respond, so remained alone, all so different to 25 years before when they 25, and aching for sex, without admitting it.

I know the dating game, its a big sham.

Patrick Turner.

Kaliber profile image
Kaliber in reply to Patrick-Turner

Roger that .. seems like you have made up your mind I guess.

Be careful what you wish for tho brother. The grass is absolutely never greener on the other side of the street. I’m 73 and been married over 55 years of that to 4 different ladies .... 42 years alone to this last one. My entire adult life. It never takes long for the shiny to wear off .. and the rest is navigating landmines , learning to compromise then learning to do with less ... and learning to eat $hit yayahahahaya. The ladies can be very vindictive and they never forget... catching you when you are down and needy is like candy for them sometimes.

Just say’in

Hey J O H N ... how about a video of the song that goes “ make an ugly woman your wife, she’ll stay with you the rest of your life “ .

Truthfully, if it came down to it .... a pretty Rent-a-Mommy doesn’t sound bad to me. If she did her job right - convincingly .... she can have it all anyway. Seriously, none of us are going to need a speck of it eventually. I’m not going to care when I’m gone anyway..... none of us will.

Patrick-Turner profile image
Patrick-Turner in reply to Kaliber

Although I heard about Lady Gold-Diggers who went after men for their money, I always saw her coming, and unlike some friends I have, I never found any woman became a good house keeper after a divorce, when they got the house using good lawyers. So I have nothing against those ladies who did spend time with me, deeply in love, and then took off because they knew they could never do what their mothers or mine or grandmothers had done. Such was the revolution of Feminism in 1970s. Some of these feminists screamed that all sex in marriage is a form of rape, but women I knew including the one I married found it was impossible not to have sex with me. So they seemed to want things that were in conflict, freedom, and sex without any commitment. Men did not need to form a Masculinist movement, most like me just waved the conflicted good bye, and lived a better life without them. I did, that's for sure. The one I married tried at first to get nearly 1/2 the property value off me, but her lawyer explained to her that she had no rights for that, and that she was lucky to get a cent, and fighting me in court would have given her a big bill she could not pay.

So she settled on 1/10 of the property value. She'd not had kids, paid not one cent for her housing during marriage, and had not stayed long, but after a few tears and a few months she accepted the deal than many other men would never have given her. She bought a brand new 400cc Honda motorcycle. All the others made no attempt to get dough from me, so I had good reason to conclude that most ladies were not after your money, but just what were they after? Just what did they want? Could they please spell out exactly what they wanted? Could you prove how good you are? Well, all way to hard for most ladies at under 35. They could have me, but no others. And no tantrums please. They change when they become mothers, then they become a bit more focused on survival, and of course they need support, but I never had the funds to support a couple of another man's children. Where did their ideas on feminism then go to? Many I met rejected me or any man's support because they valued their freedom, ie, to pick and chose various men....

I often found most mothers alone with kids were in that position because of terrible treatment by men who'd caused all their troubles, boozing, violence, gambling, mental craziness, etc, so I sympathised with those I met, but had not enough income to give them security, and many seemed to be plain worn out.

The sadness of existence pursues us when we are young. Things don't work out as planned, ppl trust the wrong ppl. and ppl are blind to the faults or a partner they are considering. By 30, I was entirely wised up about women who would cause more trouble than good for the both of us if I ever tried to get close.

The Mind ruled me, not Rodger.

So I got to here in good condition, and little to complain about.

Its spring time, and grass looks green to me, no need to see if its greener elsewhere. Its really too green here, and will have to begin the mowing next week, and clip my hedges. Get the house to look well, like someone lives here. He nearly doesn't live here, but who cares about that? :-)

Its a nice quiet Sunday, and I am glad to be away from the madness of a wedding, and the crowds of a big city, and the ambitions and concerns and neurotics of young ppl. I'll cycle a few km later, in peace.

Get lunch in a quiet café.

So please try to have a good peaceful Sunday too.

Patrick Turner.

Kaliber profile image
Kaliber in reply to Patrick-Turner

Man Patric, I’ll bet you’d be totally absorbing to talk to at that dinner party, I’d love to be there and soak it all in. Your existential perspective is really kewl.

I live in California where it’s a community property state ... no questions much about property ownership here . Give them 80 keep 20 ... simple. Yayahahahaya no one has ever figured out the ladies yet far as I know ... not me for sure. It’s still mysterious after a lifetime with them. Not saying I’ve been the best guy to be around for decades as well. ( who me ? )

Sometimes it’s the small quiet ones that are the real dangerous junk yard dogs yayahahaha.

Hope you have a great weekend too brother ... peace

Patrick-Turner profile image
Patrick-Turner in reply to Kaliber

Here in Australia, our Family Law takes many things into account during the inevitable disputes over money when a marriage fails.

I had bought a small 2 bedroom house on 880sq.M of land, and put deed in both names, mine and hers, so if I died on a building site she'd automatically collect all. But house was worth only $26,000 in 1976 just after we married, and bank loan was $17,000, and I'd put in $11,000 and paid the stamp duty of $2,600, and paid all loan payments and charges which were mainly interest.

So if I'd died, she would have had to pay the loan payments but she earned only 1/2 my pay and so unless she shared house, she'd be in poverty, and have to sell, and not get 1/2 the property value she'd been dreaming about.

But nobody could say what she might have done. We know what might have happened if she'd plunged a kitchen knife into my chest, in one of her "I hate you" moments she had so often when doing the slight amount of housework involved with living with me.

But if a marriage makes children and lasts a long time, the 50-50 split applies, but is adjusted with regard to needs of children and who gets custody of children. Departing wives or husbands usually get far less or nothing from any property settlement, and that led some men to placing bombs and killing ppl at the Family Law Courts.

One guy here had built his whole house, and didn't like see his own work going to his wife, so he drove around on the backhoe he used in his drainage business and demolished the house, still full of stuff. She still got the land, and an extremely bitter memory.

Court fights can go on for years. The lawyers fees can exceed whatever funds are granted by a judge.

But I made sure my ex wife found a lawyer of her choice to represent her and to possibly fight for her interests as the date drew near for our case to be heard in court, where I wanted her name gone off the house deed in return for $2,600.

It was quite simple, if she would not be a wife to me, she could not share ownership of a house I'd paid for, and I had a 7 page statement that described accurately where all our money went, and nobody could refute it. So her lawyer had no case to pursue, and agreed with mine so the court case took only 10 minutes to decide as I wanted. Thus she got a motorcycle and I got the house, but with displeasure of paying off the loan. But by 10 years later I'd paid the house loan off, had completed extensive extensions, and I shared house with many ppl happier than the wife, all of whom paid a share of expenses that I put at less than normal average rates. We had lovely parties and fun, and I had no time for neurotic haters. I have no clue what happened to that wife years later. Occasionally I got laid, and always offered the gals the option of going further, but none wanted that. I watched while so many others fared so much worse than I did after love run out the door.

I sometimes think the God Of Love thinks I had it too good, so he gave me Pca as punishment for not having the usual struggles after ppl marry.

OK, But I know a few good doctors...….

I also quite like bicycles......

Time I changed into lycra and off I go to my café for lunch, and to read newspapers.

Patrick Turner.

ctflatlander profile image
ctflatlander

Congratulations! Keep up with the diet and the exercise plan. I started with PSA 34 , gleason 8 and went through similar treatment , ADT Lupron, Zytiga, Avodart, IMRT,SBRT to the bone,Xgeva but it took me almost 2 years to achieve undetectable. I'm 75 and your treatment response deserves a celebration.

Bob

john205 profile image
john205

I am 68, 15 months post diagnosis with high burden metastatic prostate cancer, Gleason 8, with about a dozen Mets to spine, ribs and pelvic bones. After beginning Lupron, I had radiation to one met in the neck that was at risk, then had a course of docetaxel for 6 cycles. PSA began at 148 and hit bottom at 0.16 around 9 months out. Last PSA was .20. Oct 18, how many Mets did you have altogether? Anyone know if any cancer center is doing radiation for high burden Mets?

Oct18 profile image
Oct18 in reply to john205

5 visible mets showed on first scan for me.

Cmdrdata profile image
Cmdrdata

Great news and congratulations. There was no mention of subsequent scans after PSA drop. Are you now in the clear with no mets anywhere ( as best as current technology can do)? PSA (other than detectable met) is the only quick way to determine if the PC is growing again, so make sure you are getting periodic check ups.

Oct18 profile image
Oct18 in reply to Cmdrdata

The Dr. says scans will not show anything at this point, but will do them after the first of the year.

Currumpaw profile image
Currumpaw

Hey Oct18!

Congratulations! Keep it at bay, better yet, KILL IT!

Have you read about Ruth Heidrich? Breast cancer in both breasts, metastasis to ribs, no chemo, no radiation but a plant based diet and a distance runner who became a tri athlete. Her diet isn't easy but has worked for her.

You are so right about what transpires in the gray matter. It is important to limit negative influence around you.

A study funded by a non-profit found that singly, four supps did little to inhibit prostate cancer even in large amounts but when the four were taken together in small amounts they were very effective at killing prostate cancer cells--a YouTube video with Dr. Greger about that and info online as well. When the money ran out the study ended before any other supps could be added.

Nothing like combining conventional and what some call pseudo science to get what doctors call, "a good outcome".

What would have been considered off label use of some drugs is now common for us. Were there studies? No. Observant doctors found that certain drugs commonly and not quite so commonly prescribed for other diseases and even an addiction are very effective in preventing recurrence.

There is so much known today about diet and timing as well.

Your story has reinvigorated me and my belief that we, each of us, can do much to help ourselves. Thank you!

Currumpaw

Oct18 profile image
Oct18 in reply to Currumpaw

Dr. Ruth H. being interviewed by "chris beat cancer" was my first sign of hope. My prayer for what to do next being answered. A family member sent me the youtube link. I follow her cookbook and some things on the internet that would fit into her diet. I've even emailed her and she's responded. I know it's not the same cancer she had but a great inspiration.

leo2634 profile image
leo2634

Sounds very encouraging. I'm 20 months 0.1 PSA on Eligard,Zytiga, and Xgeva for bone Mets. 65 years young I've also had Provenge infusions this past June. I go for my six month scans in a week. .hopefully good news prayer. Never give up never surrender. Leo

pilot52 profile image
pilot52

Who is your Doc at Duke...? Dr. Zhang is who I see at Duke...I feel personally that research hospitals have the most to offer....The Docs are on the road attending different symposiums and be exposed to many new therapies. I also go to MD Anderson...My new OC actually trained at Duke...anyway what a great report....Blue Skies I will do a ground loop for you! Hopefully only a temporary grounding of Sky King!!! and Gracie his loyal sidekick.....This kind of news is important to us all!!

Oct18 profile image
Oct18 in reply to pilot52

I see Dr. Armstrong

gleason9guy profile image
gleason9guy

Great news! Stay well and God bless!

rocket09 profile image
rocket09

Wonderful , what a great outcome . All the best to you and your family!

PGDuan profile image
PGDuan

Terrific to hear! Thanks for sharing

poofers profile image
poofers

welcome to the undetectable club Battle Brother. May you stay that way forever and conquer this beast. We are behind you all the way. Never put your sword and shield down. With positive spirits anything and everything is possible. 👍👍👍😊😊

dancedaily profile image
dancedaily

Congratulations and Thank you for sharing your great news. It offers us more hope than you can know, for patients, their families and friends.

Continued prayers and good health to you and yours!

Blueslover profile image
Blueslover

Good luck to you - you are so young! I also have been going to Duke for the last 2 years, but I am 75. Surgery in 08. Live in Kernersville.

jfoesq profile image
jfoesq

Congrats!!! IIf you read the postings on this site, you will see there are some who have made it 10, 15, 20 yrs and even more. I am at 7 yrs and hoping for many more.

Boywonder56 profile image
Boywonder56

I always liked you and was lucky to get in the Titan trial 2 and 1/2 years ago I would suggest throwing erleada into the mix if you can get it and afford it

47 , whoa , that’s crazy too young my friend . Faith in God is a plus .. it is one hec a ride ... 🙏

gamemaster34 profile image
gamemaster34

Congratulations! God is good !

georgef16 profile image
georgef16

Thrilled for you brother....I am on Lupron as well...5 month....Had my prostate taken out in 2017....In Feb/18 PSA started rising....waited 8 months for it to be at 2.0...then C11-Choline at Mayo to discover where the boogers were...2 spots...prostate bed and bone...both dealt with radiation...Proton and Sbrt for bone...I hope as well Im free from it for the rest of my life. Psa now is negarive -0.1.....God bless you and all of us.

monte1111 profile image
monte1111

Congratulations. Less than 0.01 is great. Loved the post. Would like to see the lynching party of all female Me Too women with their whips and carving knives, when they knock at Patrick's door. I am sure he will invite them in for tea.

VictoryPC profile image
VictoryPC

Do intermittent therapy on that stuff or you will develop CRPC in 18 months.

Urang profile image
Urang

Feel good about the PSA but don't think this is the end. It is more like the beginning of the "Cure" that's what you want! I have been fighting now for over 20 years and though I have won many battles I have not yet won the war! last PSA was 294 but I am still here and refuse to stop trying to get rid of the insidious Cancer... Carpe Diem

Oct18 profile image
Oct18 in reply to Urang

Was yours metastatic 20 years ago?

Urang profile image
Urang in reply to Oct18

Yes! The first place it went to was my spine. After 19 years the tumor enlarged to the point that it shattered two vertebra last September (2018). I was having problems with pain in my left arm and neuropathy but a CT scan showed them that wasn’t the whole story. So, on the 27th of September, I had six vertebrae fused together, C5,6,7, & T1,2,3, and then two titanium rods screwed into the spine to help support it. Then came the beam radiation to help relieve some of the pain from T-1 and C7. But it took 19 years to cause all the problems... LUCK! Carpe Diem

Oct18 profile image
Oct18 in reply to Urang

Well I’m sorry to hear of your recent pain and surgery but YES, 19 years is inspiring! Keep fighting!!

Urang profile image
Urang in reply to Oct18

As John Paul Jones (Captain of the Bon Homme Richard) said "I have not yet begun to fight!"!

My ship might be sinking but I refuse to strike my colors!! Fighting to the end (and then some)…..

Carpe Diem loosely translated "seize the day"

Kaliber profile image
Kaliber in reply to Urang

Right on brother ... up anchor haul up the main jib and set her into the wind. Not the farts , not that wind ... the other wind.

Kaliber profile image
Kaliber in reply to Urang

Hey winged wonder ... glad to see you are still kicking out there in the deep woods. If you get much more shiny jewelry installed , you’ll be looking like Arnold in the terminator when his fake skin is off. Already closing in on Steve Austin.

Guess you are getting the chips and drinks ready for Sven if you are back home now. Say hello to Peggy for me.

Tell those bugs to quit screwing with your back , I’ll come over there with some razor blades, bandaids and pliers and we’ll pull them out of there. I need to get a gene splice from you while I’m there. Nobody takes a licking and keeps on ticking like you do .... you have to be the champ of resiliency ... I need some of that. You are probably in the top 1% of survivors.... ever .... on this group.

Peace brother

Urang profile image
Urang in reply to Kaliber

Back to the Hospital today and am having more problems with the back. No loose screws this time but they are going to open me up for the third time (Monday Oct 7th, 2019) to make some "small" adjustments... Och!

Dr. Mesfin will be doing the surgery on me Monday!

Kaliber profile image
Kaliber in reply to Urang

Kripes .... tell the docs to put in a zipper or do it right the first time . Dang ...

I know you are getting sick and tried of that crap. There is no such thing as a “ small adjustment “ when it comes to that part of your spine.

They probably forgot to change the oil and filter when they were in there last time. Check the wipers ....

Lemmie know when you are out .... so I’ll know you are OK and not paralyzed or something.

Back into Kaiser again tomorrow myself .. got that nasty Zometa infusion and another 3 month Lupron injection. Gonna be real sick until the Zometa wears off ... 5 - 7 days. My oncologist told me last Friday to load up on the hydromorphone before the infusion this time ... to try to head off the severe bone pain. Get out ahead of it . He gave me some extra Xanax to manage the breathing panic attacks too.

Well, if it doesn’t kill us, we’ll just get stronger .... right . We bad 💪💪💪. Bad to the bone brother. You got this.

Urang profile image
Urang in reply to Kaliber

Cutting edge stuff....

Kaliber profile image
Kaliber in reply to Urang

Yea I did .... but channel “13 “, horsing around , cadaver bones and silly putty ??? The stuff in that syringe looks just like what comes out of a pack of cherry cool aid ... just say’in .

Tell him to add a custom monogram of your initials that can be seen with x-rays before the putty hardens ... for that customized look and personalized satisfaction. Maybe a Superman logo or a Batman emblem.

Urang profile image
Urang in reply to Kaliber

Cutting edge stuff and the bones fuse together faster and stronger..... I need the faster! The newer hardware is looking good and is holding up nicely...

It has been an extremely exhausting day. I got to get some sleep. Later DUDE!

Carpe Diem loosely translated "seize the day"

Kaliber profile image
Kaliber in reply to Urang

Later gator ... get some rest ...eat some snacks. I’m gonna eat half a cookie and veg out myself.

Tomorrow is not going to be a nice day.

Urang profile image
Urang in reply to Kaliber

Everything went just ok. A few problems but then....

They keep trying to give me pain killers (Percocet's, Oxycodone, and others) but that is not what I need....

I just want to live normally.

But it is what it is....

I am going to take the rest of the week off to recoup

Carpe Diem "seize the day" or in my case the whole week!!!

Kaliber profile image
Kaliber in reply to Urang

Well that’s a relief ....... not paralyzed or something worse. Thank goodness. You’re probably not going to run that Missouri Mule 5K marathon this October tho yayahahaha.

You bad to the bone my brother ( pun intended).

I hear that about the pain meds ... I’m right there with you on that .... fed up taking them. Never thought I’d see that happen but it has. Who wudda thought. Got a couple PCa friends here and I told them that ... one told me “ this “ is my new normal, just get over it and get over myself too yayahahahaya.

I got my Lupron and Zometa infusion / shot stacked at the same time last week , BP been in overdrive within 24 hours ever since. Messed up big time ... 188/110 and a fist full of meds won’t touch it. Messy. If I get a stroke I want it to be decisive .... don’t want to hang around half paralyzed or worse.

We both got this brother, we 💪

Kaliber profile image
Kaliber in reply to Urang

So, exactly what did they do for your loose spinal screws ( if that was what is was ) during this last time to have to open you back up so soon ? It had to be pretty serious to go back in so soon. I think you said they added more stainless rods ?

What is your psa at now ? Is it holding in the mid 200s or are you getting a doubling time experience ? Is there any talk taking place about you possibly getting the new lu-177 treatment or have you already had too much radiation? You have had a lot. It might not be an option yet thru the V.A , dunno. What’s the skinny ?

💪💪💪

Btw: it been 8 days since the stacked treatments , the Zometa finally wore off and my skyrocketing BP returned back to normal yesterday or so ( normal for me). Another PCa crisis averted for now yayahahahaya. Scary for a few days tho.

Urang profile image
Urang in reply to Kaliber

All the hardware in my back, rods, connector rods, brackets, and screws are all titanium.

There was no problem with the new hardware what so ever. It was my bone trying to puncture through the skin in my neck so he moved muscle over it to pad the bone.

My PSA numbers, right now, are irreverent to the progress of my cancer so they are not even testing for it.

Nice to hear that you are handling your treatments now with a minimum of side effects that only last for a short period of time after injection. What really sucks is when the side effects last until it is time for the next treatment!

Carpe Diem "seize the day"

Kaliber profile image
Kaliber in reply to Urang

Roger on the bone protruding..... yikes ......it’s a new use for bivalves I guess. Do you get some tarter sauce with that .... fries ? Yayahahahaya

I get it , you meant muscle yayahahahaya the good news is that you still had something to relieve the potential bone sticking issues. Some padding left to use. Seems like it’s always something doesn’t it , dang ...

Makes sense to shine on the psa tests for now , what’d be the point besides antagonizing you. You don’t really need to know anyway huh ?

seems like you are doing OK ... all in all, probably better than I am since you are off the all the treatment drugs for now. You got the bone pains tho ....

Bib and I are headed up to Yosemite tomorrow for the cardiac conference, back Wednesday. Lots of smoke and fires up there and you probably heard about the power being turned off all over the place. I’ll be staying at a lodge just outside the park on hwy 41. They have two restaurants and great indoor - outdoor spa decks. I hope our room will be close enough for me to walk to things .

Take care big guy

Cisco99 profile image
Cisco99

If God is helping you, why doesn't he help other people of faith? I never have understood that.

I'm very happy for your good health!

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