Awakeman

[Awakeman]

Brand New to the whole thing. Had surgery in February, just had 2nd lupron shot. My world has been turned up side down. Stage 4, Metz in left hip. Any advice?

[cpcohen]

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My world has been turned up side down.

<<<

That sounds about right -- you have my sympathy. I haven't been through Stage 4, and I can't offer much information of value.

For the ADT side-effects (which can be pretty bad), I can recommend something you might find useful:

"Androgen Deprivation Therapy: An Essential Guide for Prostate Cancer Patients and Their Loved Ones" -- by Richard Wassersug (and others)

It's available from Amazon, and at lots of libraries, and hospital libraries.

. Charles

[DLWill in reply to cpcohen]

Thank you, I just ordered it. "Androgen Deprivation Therapy: An Essential Guide for Prostate Cancer Patients and Their Loved Ones" -- by Richard Wassersug

[David1958]

I am sorry to welcome you to this site. You have to have had bad news to get here. How old are you? I was 52 when diagnosed in 2011. Robotic surgery that June. Wish I could help.

[AlanMeyer Moderator in reply to David1958]

Hello Awakeman,

I'm sorry to hear of your diagnosis.

DHeberling asked your age. I think that's important to know. If you have any other details you can share - initial PSA, PSA at last test, Gleason score would all be helpful.

Are you in pain from the metastasis to your hip? If so, has the Lupron eased the pain?

What kind of doctor is currently treating you - oncologist or urologist? Does the doctor specialize in prostate cancer or is he a generalist, for example an oncologist handling all kinds of cancer, or a urologist handling all kinds of urinary problems? At this point, ideally, I think you want a medical oncologist (not a urologist) with a specialty in prostate cancer.

Has the doctor discussed the possibility of chemotherapy with you? Recent trials in the U.S. and U.K. have gotten better results for some patients by combining Lupron with chemotherapy.

The last statistics I saw for the United States were showing 240,000 men diagnosed each year but only 30,000 dying - which means that only one of out eight men who had the disease died of it. Many of those men were identified and treated before metastasis occurred, so you're not in the low risk group, but the odds are still decent that you'll be able to hold the cancer in check for the rest of your life, or at least long enough for new treatments or (crossing fingers) even a cure to be discovered.

You might be interested in joining the Advanced Prostate Cancer group at HealthUnlocked. All the men there, like you, have more advanced cancers.

Best of luck.

Alan

[Awakeman in reply to David1958]

I am 58 had robotic surgery and have advanced to stage 4