Hello!

[mhally]

I I'm new. I thought I would introduce myself and say hi! I'm Mike. I had my prostate removed 6 months ago. I just had my first PSA after surgery. And i am cancer free. I'm not sure what I need to do to remain cancer free . Meaning making healthy choices. Any advice?

[AlanMeyer Moderator]

Hello mhally.

Congratulations on your treatment results! May they last forever.

More often than not, if no cancer is found within six months after surgery, the cure is permanent and all the cancer has been found and removed.

I'm not a doctor and am not able to give you expert recommendations. However if I were in your shoes I think I would do the following: 1) Lead a healthy lifestyle with good diet and exercise. Give up smoking if you do that now. 2) Get your PSA tested regularly, perhaps every six months for a couple of years and at least yearly thereafter. If the cancer recurs you want to know that as soon as possible in order to have the option of attacking it with radiation before it gets out of the prostate bed, or with drug treatments if it has already become metastatic. 3) Consider taking supplements that might reduce the probability of recurrence. I'm not the right guy to ask about supplements. Probably our best person is Patrick O'Shea. If you look for postings by "pjoshea13" in this group you'll get a lot of ideas. There's a web page produced by the National Cancer Institute summarizing what they believe to be known about supplements and prostate cancer here:

cancer.gov/about-cancer/tre...

Here's hoping that you're home free.

Alan

[mhally in reply to AlanMeyer]

Thank you, very much for the info. I will post more as time goes on.

[Dr_WHO]

Welcome to the group Mike! It is great that you are doing so well.

To get the most out of this group could you please share more information on your cancer journey. That way fellow members can not only share advice but celebrate your success.

I will go first. I was diagnosed with advanced cancer when I was 58 years old almost two years ago. My PSA was first measured at 4.7. Two weeks and two digital exams later it was over 11. Had DaVinci surgery Fed. 2016. The pathology report showed the prostate weighed 74 grams and one lymph node was “100%” cancer, T3N1, Stage 4D1, Ductal (rare). Two months after surgery I started and I am still on Lupron followed by 38 rounds of radiation. They added Zytiga to the mix about a year later. So far my PSA has been <0.1. However, at least 30% of the cancer does not produce PSA, so they have to follow it with scans. I still leak enough that I have to wear pads. “Mr. Happy “ has been asleep since I started Lupron. Have major fatigue (sleep more than I am awake), hot flashes, joint pain, muscle loss (and fat gain) and brain fog. Despite that, I am enjoying life to the fullest. In fact, I will be going SCUBA diving soon (with some help). Of course this is all do to my wonderful wife.

It would be great if you can share this type of information. Please feel free to expand on any topic that you want. Remember we are all in this together. Do not be worried about including and personal issues or questions you may have.

Let me once again say that it is great news you have shared with us! I hope that you go out and celebrate 🎉 !

[James789]

I had cancer at 53 in 2005 and my friend also and cancer, while i'm still cancer free my friend has come back and his psa number is climbing at each check up.

My doctor told me the further from the day of the cancer day you are the better for being cancer free.

[joetxn43]

Hi Mike I just had my 3 year follow up this past Tuesday and I remain cancer free too! I don't do anything different than before I was diagnosed. I just take care that I keep hydrated as much as possible, eat my usual sane meals. Since I do not smoke or drink there's not much else that I feel can make it come back other than perhaps some stray cells that might decide to reproduce. Good on ya and congrats on being cancer free.

[David1958]

How old are you? When were you diagnosed? Where do you live? What was the staging of your cancer, your Gleason score, etc.

[michael42301]

I'm 69 and had robotic surgery nearly 6 years ago. At that time, my surgeon said it was a textbook operation and I was "cured," and my PSA is still zip and I'm cancer-free. I haven't done anything different as far as diet goes, though I've developed a dairy allergy and had to renounce butter and ice cream, but I exercise more since I retired. I have ED (which I had problems with before the surgery), but I manage just fine. Welcome to the club. It's the only disease I know of in which a stranger can ask you about your erections and you don't feel weird.

[Captain_Dave]

Hi MHally,

I had surgery and was considered cured, PSA <0.01, for a year and a half. Then radiation kept my PSA <0.01 for another year and a half. I am an advocate for diet, exercise and supplements. Also stress reduction and gratitude for all the gifts in your life everyday.

I have lost 60 pounds since diagnosis, my cholesterol numbers are perfect (they were awful at diagnosis) and I have energy to run my dog plus feel a lot happier about life, even tho my PSA has started to go up again.

On the subject of diet and supplements. there are opinions, articles and websites from one end of the spectrum to the other. Many people out there seem to act on people's fear and are selling something like supplements or books, so be careful.

Around the time of my diagnosis, I had wandered away from taking care of myself, actually for many years. I am glad to be back to taking care of myself. People in my family tend to fall over at a young age from massive heart attacks. Getting cancer may have saved me from that fate. I now have hope for living a long time.

This is just my opinion, do your best to take care of yourself. One of my favorite supplements is green tea, eat your veggies, avoid dairy / fatty meats, don't eat fried foods or sweets like candy / donuts, get out and walk or exercise. You can take this a lot further like many of us around here do. If interested in supplements, I echo the previous advice of reading Patrick O'Shea (pjoshea13) postings.

Wishing you health and happiness,

Dave