New guy here!

[Ernbud]

I’m just starting my journey to eliminate my prostate cancer. I did active surveillance for a year after a PSA of 9 and a biopsy that showed 5 positive samples in the 3/3 range. PSA went to 18 and second biopsy showed 6 positive samples with one at 4/5. Bone scan came out negative and had an MRI today. Should get the results tomorrow but the Dr. doesn’t expect to find anything outside the prostate. Started Lupron and bicaltumide today and in 8 weeks will do 28 EBRT sessions followed by 2 sessions of HDR brachytherapy. Committed to6 months of ADT but we’ll see how everything looks then. Could end up with more.

[Tall_Allen]

It should include 18 months of ADT. Definitely not 6 months. This was recently proved in a major randomized clinical trial. This is not something that you can "see how everything looks then" - the ADT will suppress tumor growth and PSA at 6 months, so there will be nothing to "see." Read this article:

prostatecancer.news/2020/04...

If you can afford it, pay for a PSMA PET scan at UCLA or UCSF (about $2800 out of pocket). You still have time to do this before you begin therapy. The goal is to see if (1) there are any distant metastases that might preclude treatment, and (2) to see if there are any pelvic lymph node metastases that may indicate whole pelvic radiation with a boost to those lymph nodes.

[Ernbud in reply to Tall_Allen]

Thanks! The Dr’s recommendation is 18 months, but when I had my first visit with him I had it in my mind that all I would need is brachytherapy. When he started laying out the plan, 6 months was all my head would accept! Getting me to agree to 18 months will probably be easier as we go on. I had total knee replacements in January and February of this year and the physical therapist told me I was in the top 10% of his clients for speed and aggressiveness in my recovery. I plan to go after this with the same mindset! It’s part of my competitive nature to exceed all expectations. I may stumble and fall but I don’t plan to stay down!

[westof]

Hey Bud,

Ok, here is my story...

Dx 8/18. G9, S3 and no mets (according to the scans).

Started on Casodex and Lupron 10/18.

HDR Brachytherapy 4/19 and started Zytiga and prednisone same time.

PSA nadir was .014 on 5/19 and is the same today.

25 weeks of IMRT , started on 6/19

This February my Sloan Kettering Docs declared that I'm now cancer free ( hmm... they still want me to continue ADT and Zytiga for the full 24 months). Tall Allen, please feel free to chime in!

Bottom line: I'm 71, feel great and continue to work full time (lack of work will kill me!!).

A positive attitude goes a long way in dealing with this.

Best,

AJ

[Ernbud]

Thanks!

[CHPA]

Good luck. At 72 it sounds like you are on the right track. I was diagnosed last year at 57 and went the surgery route which was the right course for me. Eight months post surgery things are looking good! Quite a shock to ones system being told they have cancer. But there is light at the end of that tunnel.

[Ernbud in reply to CHPA]

As long as the light isn’t a train! 😁

[j-o-h-n in reply to Ernbud]

Or a mirror.............

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Friday 07/03/2020 5:38 PM DST