Happy Gobble Day

[Yokohama2023]

Hello,

Hello, been visiting for 7 months first post…I’m a foreigner in Japan with prostate cancer … quite a journey … not that great at Japanese … which makes everything a bit more difficult .. on top of that I broke my finger 4 weeks ago so a bit difficult to type so I’ll keep this short.. appreciate everyone’s input it’s been useful for me. PSMA pet scans aren’t used here so a bit of a disadvantage but I feel the quality of care is good ..plan on getting one in the near future….I’m 56 a couple cores 4+3, a few 3+3 .one lobe only on the peripheral edge hence the determination margins might be compromised .. all scans mri , etc,, show no intrusion ..bone scan as well. PSA high … 18. Here is Japan Tri modality is recommended for intermediate unfavorable…..ADT , Brachytherapy, and some external beam radiation.. I’ve been on ADT for 6 months and just had brachytherapy…LD .. sorry missing a lot including acronyms but a lot of this is new to me and difficult in another country. To be honest it’s all been OK , biopsy was ok not bad… ADT ok not that bad a few emotional outbursts but working out really helped .. until broken finger .. bummer… the brachytherapy was pretty easy…except for the catheter which was like a Starbucks larger green straw massive .. had an epidural form of sedation below waste so didn’t feel anything . Afterwards removal another story … pain. blood.. 24 hours but really not that bad maybe I have a high threshold for pain.. next day .. trying to sleep removed and that wasn’t fun but afterwards smooth sailing .. ! Here in Japan you have to stay in the hospital for 3 nights . Nice hospital, friendly staff , great food can’t complain. Afterwards I really haven’t had any urinary issues … slight blood 24 hours due to catheter.. they made me pee into a strainer to catch any rouge pellets. Within 24 hours I felt normal crazy … a bit constipated for 2-3 days but then OK! Some feedback which I haven’t read here … brachytherapy made my balls blue sort of funny .. since the ADT sort of screwed that up as well. I mean really blue ! Hair in my head is thicker fuller nice ..people comment..haha. ADT. Other hair doesn’t grow .. facial slow .. had to shave pubes before surgery .. 10 days later little growth. I will embrace my femininity..haha.. Armpit hair disappeared.. I guess for body odor not bad! One thing which was hard to find here is ejaculation info .. after ADT dry ..not sure If I can expect anything after ADT ..feedback appreciated.. holding out after brachytherapy a bit scared. Didn’t notice much shrinkage but balls definitely reduced a bit .. will they come back ? Cost for healthcare is way better than the US. I actually left the hospital on a Saturday and the cashiers were closed so didn’t pay …imagine that ! but I think it will be around 2K. Will pay on my next visit .. Appreciate everyone’s input.. hopefully I can help.. ask me anything regarding my healthcare here or Japan in general ..

good luck to you all!

[j-o-h-n]

Greeting Yoko & hama,

Besides the left over Turkey you have a lot on your plate. Was a smart idea to join this group. You'll find a lot of information from our members as well as comradery. So keep posting and as far as abbreviations are concerned there is a list of them if you look to your right (I think). I try not to use them. Update your bio if possible (and age?). Keep posting and stay well.....

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Thursday 11/23/2023 10:09 PM EST