Update from Sonny - Surgery to Radiation in 8 weeks- Gotta be a record

WHW
WHW Member Posts: 189
edited March 2014 in Prostate Cancer #1
A month ago I posted that my 30 day PSA test came back at 0.40. I wanted to believe that it was just a blip and there were some little PSA critters still running around in there and I was prepared to wait until the next test.

So at 7+ weeks I ordered a Specific "Post Surgery Ultra Sensitive PSA test from a different lab.

Today the results came back 0.53. Not the good news I was looking for, I gotta tell you.

I was so looking forward to buying the beers as the newest member into the ZERO club. Sorry guys, you'll have to buy your own.

In preparation (I like being organized) I had a consult with a RAD Oncologist just before this last test. I called my dr in Detroit just to keep them in the loop and he said he really believed that the 4 month check-up would be key.

Well I called him today after the 0.53 result and he concurred that I should continue to move ahead with discussions about IMRT/IGRT. He is also aware of the recent studies that indicate that when surgery is followed by rad within 18 weeks the resulting outcomes are much improved. Looks like I am going to be giving that study a try and will test their theory and add myself to their stats.

So tomorrow I am going to MD Anderson to schedule a meeting with their PCa Specialist and RAD Oncologist. My wife being a cancer patient there is greasing the wheels for me to move to the front of the line to schedule appointments hopefully.

As most of you know, my wife is a cancer patient and had an experience of her own this summer. She spent 7 weeks in the hospital (4 in ICU) and it was at this time that I was diagnosed with PCa. She said later that it was the best she could do at allowing me to be able to think of something else besides PCa every once in a while. LOL. She is such a sacrificing person, you have to admit. LOL

Well as I write this we are back at the hospital again. She is again doing her best to take my mind off of PCa and today's crappy news. In addition to the trials and tribulations with her cancer treatment over the years, at one point she experienced a TIA (mini stroke). Well for the last couple of days she has been having a few symptoms and her doctor called us tonight and told us to go to the hospital for tests and evaluations.

As you can tell, my wife loves me an awful lot to make sacrifices like this so I can give the PCa mind games a break. What a gal.

So there you have it folks. Strap me in, stick the nuclear rod up my butt and let's go for a ride.

I am sure that there will be more to follow.

Thanks for being here folks.

Sonny

Comments

  • txbarton
    txbarton Member Posts: 89 Member
    Sonny,
    I don't know what I

    Sonny,

    I don't know what I could say to lighten your load, just know I am here to share whatever portion of it I can.

    My thoughts and prayers are with you and your wife.

    Sincerely,
    VB
  • WHW
    WHW Member Posts: 189
    txbarton said:

    Sonny,
    I don't know what I

    Sonny,

    I don't know what I could say to lighten your load, just know I am here to share whatever portion of it I can.

    My thoughts and prayers are with you and your wife.

    Sincerely,
    VB

    Thanks,
    I appreciate the

    Thanks,

    I appreciate the sentiment and the support. We'll just have to bide our time and see what the future will bring. We keep and trust in our faith.

    Sonny
  • randy_in_indy
    randy_in_indy Member Posts: 496 Member
    WHW said:

    Thanks,
    I appreciate the

    Thanks,

    I appreciate the sentiment and the support. We'll just have to bide our time and see what the future will bring. We keep and trust in our faith.

    Sonny

    Sonny, you will win...as I can tell your attitude says it all!
    You are an inspiration for us to follow with such a correct approach and focus about our shared predicament! We are all praying for you and your wife!

    Randy
  • hopeful and optimistic
    hopeful and optimistic Member Posts: 2,339 Member
    Hi Sonny
    I wish you and your wife the best...........sorry that my words are not more elegant......Ira
  • William Parkinson
    William Parkinson Member Posts: 60 Member
    Hi Sonny
    I am so sorry to hear that you have what appears to be a local recurrence. As you know, with IMRT at a dose of say 85 grey to the prostate bed and pelvic field, in addition to androgen deprivation therapy, you stand a good chance at keeping the disease at bay. And, for what it is worth, according to Pound (a John Hopkins urologist) the average time from biochemical recurrence to distant metastasis is seven years and then from there until death it is another 5 years. So, I am hoping that you can beat this recent setback. And I hope that your wife can also keep her disease at bay as well. I know a man here who had prostate cancer and his wife has breast cancer and it has been difficult for both of them. I wish you the best!
    Cheers
    Bill
  • steckley
    steckley Member Posts: 100
    Update from Sonny - Surgery to Radiation in 8 weeks- Gotta be a
    Sonny,

    Best wishes and good luck.
  • dopplerjockey
    dopplerjockey Member Posts: 39
    Damn It !!
    Sure sorry to read today about that most recent PSA level. We were hoping that the results would come back at a level that would keep you in the ZERO Club.

    Yes, your wife must be an amazing lady ! We will be sending lots of "Good" wishes your direction, for you both.

    Keep the faith my friend !

    Dallas
  • tjsskier
    tjsskier Member Posts: 11

    Damn It !!
    Sure sorry to read today about that most recent PSA level. We were hoping that the results would come back at a level that would keep you in the ZERO Club.

    Yes, your wife must be an amazing lady ! We will be sending lots of "Good" wishes your direction, for you both.

    Keep the faith my friend !

    Dallas

    Your in my prayers
    Dear Sonny,
    I am so sorry to hear about this set back.... but from the many posts I have read from you... you keep moving forward. Both you and your wife are very fortunate to have each other on this difficult journey. I don't know if you are a Christian or believe in God, but you and your wife are on my daily prayer list. I wanted to share a promise from Jeremiah 29:11-13 that has meant a lot to me in difficult times.

    "I have good plans for you not plans to hurt you. I will give you hope and a good future. Then you will call my name. You will come to me and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will search for me. And when you search for me will all your heart, you will find me. "

    Some of the worst things that have happened in my life.... have lead me to the best things in my life. God loves both of you and I pray that some of these difficulties will lead to good things and better days for both of you. I know that you have been a blessing and encourager to me and others because of your situation. I pray that good things will arise from the ashes of the bad for both of you.

    I am going to Michigan a couple times before the end of the year... if you up to it or would even like a visit... I would like to take a day and say hello personally. Let me know. I'm praying for you both.
    Tim
  • NM
    NM Member Posts: 214
    tjsskier said:

    Your in my prayers
    Dear Sonny,
    I am so sorry to hear about this set back.... but from the many posts I have read from you... you keep moving forward. Both you and your wife are very fortunate to have each other on this difficult journey. I don't know if you are a Christian or believe in God, but you and your wife are on my daily prayer list. I wanted to share a promise from Jeremiah 29:11-13 that has meant a lot to me in difficult times.

    "I have good plans for you not plans to hurt you. I will give you hope and a good future. Then you will call my name. You will come to me and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will search for me. And when you search for me will all your heart, you will find me. "

    Some of the worst things that have happened in my life.... have lead me to the best things in my life. God loves both of you and I pray that some of these difficulties will lead to good things and better days for both of you. I know that you have been a blessing and encourager to me and others because of your situation. I pray that good things will arise from the ashes of the bad for both of you.

    I am going to Michigan a couple times before the end of the year... if you up to it or would even like a visit... I would like to take a day and say hello personally. Let me know. I'm praying for you both.
    Tim

    Prayers
    Sonny that news sucks. Sorry for the bluntness. I will do for you as you did for me and add you again to my prayer list(never actually removed you). Good luck and please keep us informed...

    Peace to you both Nick
  • Ocean-View
    Ocean-View Member Posts: 26
    Sorry to hear about it Sonny
    Sorry to hear the PSA news. As you know, my surgery was Sept 24 at ORMC and then at MD Anderson after surgery. They are good people there.

    I had my first follow up blood test Monday Nov 2, and Dr Baker called Wed. to tell me that my PSA was undetectable.

    I think you should still have that beer!

    Tom D Orlando
  • KMFRY50
    KMFRY50 Member Posts: 3
    Hoping for the best
    Sonny ,
    Just wanted to let you know I am wishing you the best during your treatments.
    Myself having had the DAVINCI surgery in June of this year elected to get Radation treaments after reading the survey that you referring to and after consultanting with my doctors at FOX CHASE.
    I elected to have the CALYPSO beacons implanted into my prostrate bed and I am scheduled to start my treatmnets NOV 30 - 5days a week for 7 weeks
    The doctors advised me that even though my first PSA was less than 1 radiation treatments after surgery is well advised as a proventive measure , based on that survey the radition treatment deceases your chances of the cancer coming back .
    I am new to the group and have not read any reports about men who have elcted to have this radition treatment preformed.
    My 6 months PSA test results come back next Wednesday
    Wishing you well during treatment
    Mike
  • jhagerup
    jhagerup Member Posts: 68
    Thinking of you
    Sonny - I'm sorry to hear about that. You have been such a blessing to this message board and I'm sure we all are thinking of you and wishing you nothing but the best outcome. Of course, my prayers are being lifted up for complete recovery.

    All the best,
    Jim