I had a sudden runup in my PSA from 5.2 to 9.2 in mid-2023. My primary care physician referred me to a well-known urologist in Denver. After a digital rectal exam, DRE, he immediately scheduled a biopsy. The results were six cores at Gleason 9 and one at 6. The risk level is 5 out of 5 and highly aggressive, CT and ultrasound scan, and later a 3D MRI did not see a sign of metastases (mets). This only means that any metastasis is smaller than two or three millimeters in size and below the resolution of the scans.
I had a significant hemorrhage the following day while touring a senior living center (we did not join). Blood ran down both inside thighs to my ankles but stopped at my shoes. I did not mark the carpet.
My medical oncologist started me on Orgovyx as hormone deprivation therapy, ADT, on January 27, 2024. I had most of the listed sides effects of fatigue, mental confusion, sore joints, and depression, but they were all at a 1 or 2 on a scale of 10 except for depression which was and is a 3.
My PSA has dropped after six weeks from 9.2 down to 2.2. It is likely going much lower. I am scheduled to have fiducials, little gold markers, placed in my prostate on April 12, 2024. These will guide the stereotactic beam radiation therapy, SBRT, in late April. I will receive five sessions a week apart.
I am on Prolia as a medicine to minimize the loss of calcium from my bones and limit any deposition in my heart vessels. I checked with my cardiologist and dentist. The Prolia tends to exacerbate infections you might have, especially dental infections.
I mitigate the physical side effects of the ADT by heavy exercise in a gym 3 or 4 times a week, weights and cardio, and walking my dog daily. I mitigate the mental confusion by playing music every day, and the preludes and postludes in my church service on Sundays. They say music tones up the entire body. I also write action/adventure books in the historical fiction genre. I have three on Amazon and am working on a fourth.
This is a long post. Thanks for reading. I am at the very limit of prostate cancer and at the threshold of advanced, metastisized cancer.
Many men come through this treatment well. I feed good too, but am starting this journey at 85 years old. I enjoy each single day to the maximum and accept but manage whatever the future may hold.
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