Hi All,
As usual, I'm having trouble breathing in the days leading up to the next doc appointment and PSA test. Questions that run through my mind:
- Are we doing everything we should at this point?
- Would a prostatectomy prolong life? At a higher quality than he'd have otherwise? (husband is reluctant to have it and doc is neutral).
Should we pursue a second opinion at MD Anderson or Sloane-Kettering at this point? Somewhere else?
Would love insights/suggestions from those of you who are very knowledgeable. Thanks for all that you share and the time you spend helping so many of us.
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Here's my husband's history:
PSA Sep 2013: 2.4
PSA Oct 2014: 3.6
PSA Oct 2015: 5.4 (doctor forgot to follow up or refer)
PSA Nov 2016: 13.2
(referred to urologist, thankful we had to move and therefore saw a new doctor)
PSA Dec 2016: 17.1
Bx January 2017: 1/12 pos, 15% in one core
G7=4+3 (Vanderbilt); G8=4+4 (Johns Hopkins)
Bone Scan showed lesion on L1 vertebrae, biopsy confirmed
Retroperitoneal lymph node involvement confirmed with CT
Lupron started 4/2017
Taxotere -- 6 cycles - finished 9/2017
PSA 9/2017 = .2 ng/mL
Started Zytiga 10/17
Stopped Zytiga 1/18; liver damage
PSA – UNDETECTABLE since 2/2018
Quarterly Lupron injections continue
Scans between 2017 and 2019 show everything is stable
Symptoms, primary fatigue and hot flashes, are manageable. Aromatherapy and acupuncture have help tremendously with hot flashes. Effexor had a negligible effect.
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Again, THANK YOU, for any insights and suggestions.