feeling thankful

[Jmr11820]

Received my latest PSA results, 0.00. I’m now 3 years post surgery and 2 years post adjuvant radiation. I chose radiation early, PSA was only .03, because of adverse pathology and high risk DECIPHER. Also did not have any HT, because of my low PSA. My urologist reminds me that typically there’s a two year honeymoon period following RT. Whatever the case, I’m feeling extremely fortunate and blessed to have PSA of 0.00 for the past 2 years. Best to everyone!

[Blackwildhorse]

Congratulations. Good luck.

[Jmr11820 in reply to Blackwildhorse]

Thank you, to you as well!

[Kaliber]

good for you brother .. I hope you last decades, outlive your disease and then some.

💪💪💪❤️❤️❤️

[Jmr11820 in reply to Kaliber]

I hope the same for you too. Thanks for the kind words.

[Tall_Allen]

I'd take the win too!

[Jmr11820 in reply to Tall_Allen]

Thanks Allen. Appreciate your advice here. Still hoping my HT decision a few years ago will ultimately turn out to be the right one. Seems the rules are changing a bit these days in terms of whether or not to choose HT with low PSA , now putting more emphasis on genomic score in that regard, at least that’s what I see on Twitter from the PC braintrust (correct me if I’m wrong) . Meanwhile, I’ll certainly take the win! Best to you.

[anony2020 in reply to Tall_Allen]

Second that.

[dockam]

Yay, and Congrats. Live long and Prosper Brother

[Jmr11820]

Hey thanks and likewise. All the best to you.

[RMontana]

Really Good news. Savor each day. I too had IMRT sRT May21 at PSA of 0.13, 9 months post RP n I did not wait even to be dry; still leak a little. Am starting ur journey this Dec22 as I also choose to go on ADT for 15 months post RT. My Decipher was a whopping 0.97 OUT OF 1.0 max ; it was supposed to come back 0.45-0.55 due to my GS 4-3…that got my attention. I also had pattern 5 noted at the single EPE margin which was negative at resection (they got it all) but I had bladder neck invasion as well where I suppose the PSA post RT was coming from. Before sRT I had a PSMA PET done n there was no MET found, so hopefully the bladder neck contact was the only place left. I know I am not out of the woods for many years to come but will celebrate each year that I get without PSA for sure.

What does HT stand for; high Testosterone? Yeah important to have rising TET n low PSA (below zero)…u n I should b fine as long as we watch this thing the rest of our lives. Like an annoying injury that never heals. But life is good…cheers.

[Polaris1 in reply to RMontana]

In this case, I believe HT means Hormone Therapy.

[Jmr11820 in reply to RMontana]

Thanks for the kind response. All the best to you, sounds like you have a solid plan.

[Hippomike]

great news. I am where you were a few years ago. Had RP and just started to get a PSA reading of .035 in January and the last test was at .05 in September. Had one doctor tell me to be patient another wanted RT not sure what to do. What made you do the therapy at .03, any thoughts would be helpful.

[RJAMSG in reply to Hippomike]

Early salvage is as effective as Adjuvant, I would not wait, it's already detectable? Blessings for wisdom friend!

[ck722]

Thank God. You are golden.

[Jmr11820 in reply to ck722]

Man, I hope so. Thank you!

[BanjoPicker]

This is good news that I hope all of us on this unwanted journey can share from our own experience one day.

[Blackpatch]

Congratulations - I know what you mean about the nervous wait through the 2 yr window of zero PSA that HT brings … I had RP Dec 17, recurrence May 18, eSRT Feb 19 and HT starting Jan 19… PSA got to 0.117 but it was the Decipher of 0.91 that decided me on 12 months HT, including 8 months of Zytiga at the start. My PSA has been zero ever since and T started returning in Jul/Aug 20, maxing in Nov 20, so two years of zero PSA at full T. My MO has just dropped me back to 6 monthly tests, and talks about a “cure”.

I reckon it will be back one day - but hopefully late enough to let me die of something else!

[Jmr11820 in reply to Blackpatch]

thanks. In my case I did not have HT, only radiation 6 months after prostatectomy. His 2 year honeymoon comment referred to radiation. Sounds like you’re in a good spot. You Feeling good and are the effects of ADT all gone?

[Blackpatch in reply to Jmr11820]

Oh, sorry - I have only heard the “window” comment in respect of HT, not radiation.

I found HT quite tough - a lot of men on this site talk at length about their ability to control these effects, including weight gain and muscle loss, through regimented exercise, and I don’t doubt them for a minute. But neither do I believe that theirs is a widely felt experience. I was quite depressed, very tired, and often quite difficult to get on with - exercise, when I did it, made me feel better, but I lacked the focus and discipline to stick at it.

Luckily, I had full and fairly rapid T recovery, and the only lasting impact has been about 10kg of abdominal fat that seems hard to shift. But I’ve walked 21km today in Kochi in Japan with my youngest Son, and the weight is gradually drifting down.

My Decipher result, and two young daughters, drove me to HT, including doubling down with Zytiga, and I don’t regret it. There were parts of being on HT that were quite tolerable, but it’s an emotional roller coaster…. I no longer tolerate those around me making jokes about menopausal women… we men don’t realise how lucky we are to be wired for slow hormonal decline.

The last thing I’d say is that I was truly relieved to find that I was still me when on HT - a slightly different me, but still me. If I had to start it again I would not be afraid, and that’s something I’m grateful for. Anyone reading this who is facing HT has my sympathy, but it’s doable, and better than the alternative.

Stuart

[jackcop]

Great news! 👍

[Jmr11820 in reply to jackcop]

thanks. Appreciate your support. All the people on this sight are great!

[Vangogh1961]

Congrats. I hit one year mark of the "<" this week. Chemo and radiation sucked, but I wanted to be as aggressive as possible early on.

[Jmr11820 in reply to Vangogh1961]

fantastic! Congratulations!

[Metaldraft]

May you see and have continuous jubilant and continuing good aspirations with longevity results and I wish wholeheartedly for everyone.

[Jmr11820 in reply to Metaldraft]

Ditto to you sir. Very nice to hear!

[Jmr11820]

that’s very nice. God bless you as well.

[garyjp9]

Congratulations!

[Jmr11820 in reply to garyjp9]

Thanks, hope you’re well.