Hello everyone,
I haven't posted too often but read all of your posts. I appreciate hearing about all of your experiences and take comfort that I am not alone.
I want to share an update of where I am in this journey. I am hoping someone will relate and/or gain some benefit from my story. Also hoping others may have advise or comments about my situation. And lastly, I find writing about it cathartic.
I was formally diagnosed on January 28th, 2020 at the age of 54. Over the previous 3 weeks I had PSA readings of 433 followed by 579. (BTW, I had been seeing my family doc and a urologist for a year with urinary difficulty and neither did a PSA or DRE…another story).
I now had a new urologist and an oncologist. After the CT scan, bone scan, biopsy and cystoscopy, the extent of my cancer was understood, metastatic cancer, Gleason score of 9 with mets to multiple lymph nodes and 3 small bone mets.
My urologist promoted a healthy lifestyle, so since meeting him, I've been a pescatarian, with pomegranate juice, Omega 3 and vitamin D every day. Not going to lie, I will try a bite of steak every now and then and if I feel I really deserve a cheat day…eggs benedict! I also try to stay active. Riding my Peloton, yard work, golf, etc.
I was put on Firmagon immediately and 6 weeks later started a 6 dose cycle of Docetaxel every 3 weeks. The Firmagon side effects have been minimal (minor hot flashes) but the cumulative effect of the chemo was pretty bad by the end. I kept working the entire time but had a few afternoon naps to get through it. The worst were the aches in my hips and legs. This continues to this day so I suspect the Firmagon is also responsible.
At the advice of my urologist, I talked to my oncologist about radiation. As most of you are aware, radiation has not been given to metastatic prostate cancer patients historically. However, there was evidence of some benefit so we went ahead. 6 weekly high dose radiation treatments in a new machine called an MR-Linac (MRI Linear Accelerator). Side effects were minimal, difficulty peeing.
The last change I've made, I introduced intermittent fasting a few months ago. It wasn't difficult as I wasn't having much of a breakfast anyway. If nothing else, it has helped me drop a few unwanted pounds.
So here I am, 1.5 years later:
• My PSA dropped to under 100 immediately with the Firmagon
• Dropped to 16 at the end of chemo (July)
• Dropped to 8.5 after radiation (December)
• After chemo and radiation, scans showed some areas of cancer had decreased and others were the same
• March PSA was 10
• June (now) PSA is 5.9 and scans show no change
I realize the numbers will start going in the other direction at some point in the future, I just hope it is much further in the future. Also, my wife and children (24 and 25) have been incredible. And in the odd moment I feel sorry for myself, they help me focus on the now an stay positive…I could not have battled this hard without them. I see how many of you have supportive families and we are lucky. They are fighting for us just as hard, in some ways it’s harder on them (could be another deep discussion on its own).
I wish all of you Warriors the best in your fight against this awful disease…peace and love!
Greg
Go off Firmagon to see if radiation worked?
What do you think? 
Rising PSA - When to be concerned?
RO said 6-12 months
Pain Management
