When to consider yourself cancer-free post surgery

Marlon

Some of you US guys may be familiar with Rick Steves, the travel guru. He has the most popular guidebooks for travel to Europe, as well as TV, radio, podcasts, and tours. He had surgery for prostate cancer last October. Recently, he made an online statement saying he is cancer-free, based on his most recent non-detect for PSA, and quoting his doctor on that.

Now, I have had my third quarterly non-detect, but would never refer to myself cancer-free, until a much longer period of time, as certainly for long as I am doing quarterly tests. I have a friend who went two years post surgery before a detect and eventual salvage radiation.

So how do the rest of you look at it? I know it's just a mental perspective of your condition and gets you nothing, but I still wouldn't make that claim so quickly.

swl1956

If I'm not mistaken, Dr. Mark Scholz (PCRI fame) states that after 5 years of remission you might be considered cured. There is no guarantee however. I've read where individuals have been in remission for longer periods and then their PSA starts rising again. The way I look at it; if your treatment was successful, count your blessings and enjoy life the best we can between PSA tests. I don't know about others, but even if I'm lucky enough to achieve a remission after my treatments I wouldn't be saying I'm "cancer free". Perhaps in Rick Steves case after an undetectable psa he's thinking he's cancer free. At least for the time being. Anyhow, I agree with you, I think remission is a better choice of words for such a short time period.

Marlon

Thanks swl1956. In his case he said his doctor told him he was cancer-free. That didn't sound right to me so thats why I brought it up.

I know an oncology nurse, who likes to say that "everyone is pre-cancerous".

Steve1961

this is how I look at it. My first treatment was radiation therapy. I had a tumor thatbwas cancerous that was in my prostate. I did radiation treatment and a over three year period My PSA slowly dropped dropped dropped which means to me I was in remission. the cancer was still there, but it was dying so was I cancer free no …then fortunately I was able to have salvage surgery. I removed the prostate and I removed the tumor that was in the prostate. The surgery went well. Pathology report was clean. I have had three psa in a row that came back undetectable nine months and to me That means I am cancer free and as long as I keep getting undetectable, I’m gonna say I am cancer free , that’s how I look at it. That’s how I feel right now I’m cancer free and I thank God.

Old Salt

No Evidence of Disease (NED) is the better term.

Marlon

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1721282#Comment_1721282

Good lawyer-ly language there, Old Salt.

Josephg

IMO, the word 'cure', when it comes to cancer, is an illusionary term. When you are positively diagnosed with cancer, I prefer to think you have started a lifelong journey. If you think 'cure' with prostate cancer (PCa), there is a very real and significant percentage of the time you will be sorely disappointed, when PCa recurs. This can have a profound psychological impact on the patient, as well as everybody around him.

As a PCa survivor for well over a decade, I think of my PCa as a journey, and since I've already had 2 recurrences of PCa, I see PCa as a coming and going phenomenon to which I react as advised by my Medical Oncologist. As such, I don't have a profound negative psychological impact, when my PSA starts to rise. Sure, I am disappointed when the PSA rises, and yes, I get nervous every three months when I go to the hospital for my PSA blood draw. But, I've accepted PCa as part of my life's journey, and to the extent possible, I do not let it erode my quality of life or my mental state.

I also thank my lucky stars, that if I have to have cancer in my life, PCa is so much better than most other forms of cancer, with so many treatment options available for a continued and long life.

Clevelandguy

Hi,

I am over 10yrs. undetectable but don’t call myself cured, I like to say I am in remission. I saw Rick Steves post and was going to comment on his facebook page but did not. I have seen more people here than I care to 10yr+ with reoccurring Pca. All you can do is hope it does not return and reassure yourself with yearly PSA tests. I put it out off my mind as much as I can until the dreaded yearly physical and blood work.

Dave 3+4

swl1956

Josephg has an admirable attitude regarding his journey. I aspire to his not letting it erode quality of life. I must admit however that I am struggling with it. Just the logistics alone keeping up with appointments, treatments, and medications is wearing me down. Realizing that many have it far worse I try to stay focused on that, but being an average human, I do engage in self pity sometimes. I hope I can rise to his attitude towards Pca. I would imagine that if I were lucky enough to not have another recurrence after my ongoing treatments, I doubt that I'll ever say that I'm cured.

Steve1961

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1721282#Comment_1721282

which means cancer free which is the better term fir me …no disrespect

Josephg

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1721508#Comment_1721508

No disrespect taken.

I will, however, remind you of your own VERY profound disappointment when you found that you had a recurrence of PCa, and your numerous posts here conveying that disappointment in yourself and your doctors, and your continuous elevated mental stresses. If that is your preference, it is your right, and so be it.

centralPA

I figure we are all on active surveillance, either waiting for treatment or tracking after treatment. Because if you know you are free of prostate cancer, why are you monitoring?

But hey, tell yourself the story you need to tell to put yourself in a happy place. 😀

And keep monitoring. Trust but verify!

Ppotts

15 years post radiation therapy for prostate cancer. As my doctor likes to remind me, most of us will die with prostate cancer, not because of it. That’s just a part of getting up every morning and getting on with life. I am thankful for each and every one of those mornings.