started treatment plan

[Raflo]

recurrent Prostate cancer suspected as PSA climbs to .62. I had prostate removed in 2017 and PSA was non detectable for several years.

received treatment plan from city of Hope. 6 months ADT (Orgovyx) daily pill. I’m 5 days into hormones.

Meeting with radiation oncologist next week to determine when we will start 7 week radiation treatment. Will be handled by local radiation oncologist (I live 2 1/2 hours from city of Hope).

feeling good about the plan, and the medical team helping me! Keeping fingers crossed on side effects. I’m 66 and in pretty good shape. But I do have aFib and wear a pacemaker so that brings another dimension into play.

[Geno2853]

Please keep us updated. I may not be far behind you.

[Raflo in reply to Geno2853]

Will do, I find out next week when salvage radiation begins. Almost a week into Orgovyx, no real side effects that I can detect so far.

[bldn10]

Did you have a PSMA?

[Raflo in reply to bldn10]

I did, it came out clean. The diagnosis was based on rising PSA and risk factors.

[Steve507]

Hey Raflo! What does non dectable for several years mean in your case?

When did your PSA hit 0.1? Good Luck Brother

[Raflo in reply to Steve507]

Steve, here’s the breakdown. It started to move up after several years in 2020. Lesson for all, I had a very unaggressive Dr., but I didn’t do my own due diligence until early this year. That’s how I got on the road I’m on now

PSA: 9/20 .22

9/21 .23

6/22 .45

8/22 .47

3/23 .47

5/23 .62

7/23 .55

[Steve507 in reply to Steve507]

I have potency and full continence 4.5 years later. Last PSA was <0.03 for that was as low as the assay tested. Due for another PSA real soon.

[Steve507]

Gotcha! Important reminder for my prostate disease was similar ...

[Steve507]

I on my own was very aggressive and had salvage radiation at 0.05,22 months after my Rad Prostatectomy. 0.01 last check in February. PSA comes test next month.

[Hidden in reply to Steve507]

Can you confirm your decimal points?

Did you mean 0.5, and 0.1? I don't think any RO would treat .05

[Steve507 in reply to Hidden]

You read correctly. 0.05!

[Steve507 in reply to Hidden]

The number of patients who progress to biological recurrence of 0.1 after two consecutive rises in PSA after 0.03 is high. I nipped in the bud early. My oncologist read the study and suggested I wait until 0.09.

[MakeItRainbows in reply to Steve507]

I know this is a year ago, but as I approach possible BCR, I'm curious about these kinds of studies. Do you know which studies are available for this?

[PSAed]

Like others have said I would appreciate if you would keep us updated. I completed my treatment RT and 2 years LUPRON (last injection June '22 ) at the moment getting 6 monthly Blood tests PSA. I'm by no means" out of the woods" just hanging on each PSA test. Gl 4+3 N1M0- Best wishes

[Raflo in reply to PSAed]

I will, and continued good news for you! I have my appt with radiation oncologist this week to determine when we will start.

1 weeks into Orgovyx (oral) and only today starting to feel a little fatigue. No other side effects so far.

[Raflo]

update: started Orgovyx (capsules) on 8/15. Had blood drawn on 8/24.

PSA dropped from .55 to .37

Testosterone dropped from 319 to <10.

So far everything is doing as expected. Minimal side effects so far. Some hot flashes (didn’t last long), fatigue (doesn’t take much to tire me out), and a little moodiness. I told my wife, I’m turning into a menopausal 55 year old woman. Lifetime Channel is next

First radiation appointment on 9/18.

[Raflo]

UPDATE:

I’m 45 days into Orgovyx hormone treatment. Only real side effects are hot flashes, not horrible but frequent. Having to pay attention to eating as I’ve gained some weight.

Just started 2nd week of radiation. So far, no side effects though I may be feeling some intestinal changes.

Had second blood draw since starting Orgovyx. PSA has dropped from .67 to .07 👏👏👏👏 Testosterone near 0 so that part of the plan is working so far.

Will keep updating if any side effects start.

Feeling pretty positive about the treatment plan 💕

[Raflo]

Apologize for the lack of updates. Lots of life happening right now 😄

So, I am 32 days into my 37 day regiment with radiation. For the first 4 weeks, the lymph nodes were included with prostate bed. After that, just the prostate bed.

Thankfully side effects have been minimal. Some burning, so bowel issues, some fatigue, but that’s it. Last treatment for radiation is 11/14 😄

Hormone treatment (daily Orgovyx) is doing its job. PSA has dropped to .004 Was at .67 when we started this). This was for 6 months. I’ll be done with it in Feb, and I expect to be cured of prostate cancer (for the second time 😜).

Drs wanted me to run genetic testing due to family history. It’s come back that I have a variant which leads to an increased chance for pancreatic cancer (which has been in my family). I’ll begin screening for that soon.

That’s my update!

[Raflo]

Ok all....hopefully the second to last update.

Finished radiation treatment in early December (37 doses). Next week, I take my last scheduled hormone dose (Orgovyx tablets) which I have taken daily for almost 6 months.

A few weeks ago, my PSA had dropped to .04. I have one more blood test before my appt on 2/7 with the City of Hope.

The plan with the City of Hope was to be "cured" and it looks like everything has gone according to plan! I hope to be "ringing the bell" next week! I'll update after that appointment!