Less than a week after diagnosis - which treatment is best???

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Comments

  • dafuston
    dafuston Member Posts: 26
    #42
    hopeful and optimistic said:

    some information, see the sentence in quotes

    Active Surveilance for delayed treatment is a very viable treatment decision for low risk prostate cancer, since 97 percent of men with LRPC are likely to die of something other than prostate cancer. "The pathologic stage of patients who are closely monitored, is similar to initally treated patients with LRPC, so the treatment decisions will be very similar." I've been doing Active Surveilance for the past two and a half years . I plan to continue with this treatment option for the rest of my life if I can. If not I feel that I will still be able to seek any necessary treatment

    Decision made
    We met with both the urologist at Emory and the radiation oncologist at Kennestone where the CK facility is. We chose CK, hands down. The marker seeds were implanted this week...the ct scan and MRI are next week, and the 1st of 5 treatments start 2 days later. We have chosen to spread the treatments out over 2 weeks after reading that even 1 day between treatments reduces the chances of rectal bleeding from 38% to 0%. So we are feeling very positive about our choice and prognosis. Again, thank you all for your encouragement and experience.
  • Swingshiftworker
    Swingshiftworker Member Posts: 1,017 Member
    #43
    dafuston said:

    Decision made
    We met with both the urologist at Emory and the radiation oncologist at Kennestone where the CK facility is. We chose CK, hands down. The marker seeds were implanted this week...the ct scan and MRI are next week, and the 1st of 5 treatments start 2 days later. We have chosen to spread the treatments out over 2 weeks after reading that even 1 day between treatments reduces the chances of rectal bleeding from 38% to 0%. So we are feeling very positive about our choice and prognosis. Again, thank you all for your encouragement and experience.

    Best wishes and good luck!
    FYI, I had 4 treatments @ UCSF every other day w/2 days rest over the weekend between treatments #2 & #3; 9.5 Grays each for a total of 38 Grays. Some rectal bleeding from the marker placement. No bleeding, incontinence, ED or anything else from the treatments. My post treatment PSA scores have been irregular but the trend has been down. My next PSA test (the 4th followup at year 1) is due the end of this month. Hoping it will be lower than the last, but my RO says it could take up to 4 years to reach a nadir.

    The CK "club" is growing. Think there are 4-5 (maybe 6?) of us here now. Let us know how it goes for you!
  • VascodaGama
    VascodaGama Member Posts: 3,701 Member
    #44
    Swingshiftworker said:

    Best wishes and good luck!
    FYI, I had 4 treatments @ UCSF every other day w/2 days rest over the weekend between treatments #2 & #3; 9.5 Grays each for a total of 38 Grays. Some rectal bleeding from the marker placement. No bleeding, incontinence, ED or anything else from the treatments. My post treatment PSA scores have been irregular but the trend has been down. My next PSA test (the 4th followup at year 1) is due the end of this month. Hoping it will be lower than the last, but my RO says it could take up to 4 years to reach a nadir.

    The CK "club" is growing. Think there are 4-5 (maybe 6?) of us here now. Let us know how it goes for you!

    Peace at last
    Dafuston

    I am gal to know that you got to a decision. You both have done your “home-work” well and chosen the best to handle your husband's case. Confidence is a big step to success so that you are already at the winning pathway.
    He will do well and soon become free from that bandit.
    Please let us know about your experiences along the process.

    Wishing a successful treatment and an eventless quick recovery.

    VGama
  • dafuston
    dafuston Member Posts: 26
    #45
    VascodaGama said:

    Peace at last
    Dafuston

    I am gal to know that you got to a decision. You both have done your “home-work” well and chosen the best to handle your husband's case. Confidence is a big step to success so that you are already at the winning pathway.
    He will do well and soon become free from that bandit.
    Please let us know about your experiences along the process.

    Wishing a successful treatment and an eventless quick recovery.

    VGama

    At 1st treatment
    My husband is getting his first of five CK treatments today. The technicians took both of us back and gave us a "tour" of the Cyberknife. Fascinating, really! He's been back for a little over an hour now. We will have a break until Monday till the next treatment. Then Wednesday, Friday and finally Monday the 19th. So far so good.
  • lewvino
    lewvino Member Posts: 1,010
    #46
    dafuston said:

    At 1st treatment
    My husband is getting his first of five CK treatments today. The technicians took both of us back and gave us a "tour" of the Cyberknife. Fascinating, really! He's been back for a little over an hour now. We will have a break until Monday till the next treatment. Then Wednesday, Friday and finally Monday the 19th. So far so good.

    Glad to hear that your
    Glad to hear that your husband has started his treatments. I'm sure he will do fine. Just think when he graduates on Sept. 19 he moves into a new club. The Cancer Survivor club!

    larry (lewvino)
  • dafuston
    dafuston Member Posts: 26
    #47
    lewvino said:

    Glad to hear that your
    Glad to hear that your husband has started his treatments. I'm sure he will do fine. Just think when he graduates on Sept. 19 he moves into a new club. The Cancer Survivor club!

    larry (lewvino)

    Last CK treatment tomorrow
    My husband's last CK treatment is tomorrow...other than some discomfort sitting up straight in a chair and some frequency/urgency with urination, all is goig very well...he has been able to work, attend our son's football practices and games, etc. He does feel fatigued, but so far, so good.
  • johnnymacswife
    johnnymacswife Member Posts: 1
    #48
    aggressive treatment
    Hi all,
    New member and first time posting but felt the need to share our story. In Oct 2010 hubby (59) got the dreaded call that his PSA came back at 18.6. A biopsy was done and the cancer showed in all areas. After numerous other tests, it looked to be contained in / on the prostate. We did a lot of research and decided to go with aggressive treatment. Decided on robotic prostatectomy and after more research narrowed it down to three surgeons ( talked to all three) then made our choice. The surgery was done in December with the biopsy showing that the cancer had reached the outside of the prostate. Had to wait a couple of months for the next PSA and it came back at .018. Since the cancer wasn't contained in the prostate we made the decision to go with radiation(39 treatments) which ended in July. John's had side effects from both the surgery and the RT but still stands by the choices that were made. He just got his latest PSA last week which was " less than .01 ". So its still a waiting game but we're not as stressed as we could have been waiting for a "time bomb" to go off ( his words, not mine). To all who have been just diagnosed, the key word is research, check out all the major sites, talk to other people, get different opinions and pray to make the right choice. Everyone is different and our way may not be the way you need to go, but have faith, we have the worlds best mediacal treatment available to us.
  • dafuston
    dafuston Member Posts: 26
    #49
    johnnymacswife said:

    aggressive treatment
    Hi all,
    New member and first time posting but felt the need to share our story. In Oct 2010 hubby (59) got the dreaded call that his PSA came back at 18.6. A biopsy was done and the cancer showed in all areas. After numerous other tests, it looked to be contained in / on the prostate. We did a lot of research and decided to go with aggressive treatment. Decided on robotic prostatectomy and after more research narrowed it down to three surgeons ( talked to all three) then made our choice. The surgery was done in December with the biopsy showing that the cancer had reached the outside of the prostate. Had to wait a couple of months for the next PSA and it came back at .018. Since the cancer wasn't contained in the prostate we made the decision to go with radiation(39 treatments) which ended in July. John's had side effects from both the surgery and the RT but still stands by the choices that were made. He just got his latest PSA last week which was " less than .01 ". So its still a waiting game but we're not as stressed as we could have been waiting for a "time bomb" to go off ( his words, not mine). To all who have been just diagnosed, the key word is research, check out all the major sites, talk to other people, get different opinions and pray to make the right choice. Everyone is different and our way may not be the way you need to go, but have faith, we have the worlds best mediacal treatment available to us.

    Last CK treatment yesterday
    My husband had his last CK treatment yesterday! We go back in 3 weeks for a PSA test, then every 3 months until the 1 year mark. We are very optimistic and certain that we made the right choice for us. Thank you all for all your feedback and encouragement.
  • lewvino
    lewvino Member Posts: 1,010
    #50
    dafuston said:

    Last CK treatment yesterday
    My husband had his last CK treatment yesterday! We go back in 3 weeks for a PSA test, then every 3 months until the 1 year mark. We are very optimistic and certain that we made the right choice for us. Thank you all for all your feedback and encouragement.

    Congrats on finishing the
    Congrats on finishing the treatments. Let us know that first PSA.

    Lewvino
  • dafuston
    dafuston Member Posts: 26
    #51
    lewvino said:

    Congrats on finishing the
    Congrats on finishing the treatments. Let us know that first PSA.

    Lewvino

    First PSA down 10%
    My husband had his 1st PSA three weeks post treatment today. It was down 10% from 3 to 2.7. All the side effects have gone away and his urination is back to "chipping porcelain" :). So far, so good!
  • dafuston
    dafuston Member Posts: 26
    #52
    lewvino said:

    Congrats on finishing the
    Congrats on finishing the treatments. Let us know that first PSA.

    Lewvino

    My husband had his 1st PSA
    My husband had his 1st PSA test today. Just 3 weeks after finishing treatment, his PSA dropped 10% from 3 to 2.7. Al the side effects have gone away and he is back to "chipping porcelain" again. :) We are very pleased and optimistic!
  • jtl
    jtl Member Posts: 456
    #53
    dgospel said:

    EARLY DETECTION EARLY CURE
    If it is positive treat aggressively! Ever here early detection early cure? Now the latest buzz in prostate cancer is 'oh, it is slow growing, you can adopt the wait and watch with tests every 6 months". Most men die with cancer not of it" DON’T LISTEN
    My biopsy showed 2 small 'slow growth' "spots" my PSA was 4.5- I made and appointment at MD Anderson and they did another biopsy only to see if it was near the edge- it was not according to the biopsy.
    I was given the choice of watching and waiting- Radiation- or radical removal. I am a Pharmacist and had already studied the choices. Radiation, if effective burns the surrounding tissue- thus if you have radiation fist they USUALLY can not do a surgery to follow it up. Watching and waiting is dangerous. I had the Robotic surgery 2 months later and when they did the biopsy post surgery there were 4 cancers, not 2, and one had just escaped the capsule. The doctor was able to get it all we think- another month waiting and you would not be getting the info. Later the doctor told me that the only accurate biopsy was the post surgery one. The gold standard in the treatment of cancer is surgery. Please don’t put it off.
    The side effects have been mild stress incontinence. Not bad just different. And Impotence. The use of Cialis and a Vacuum devise takes care of that and there are corrective surgeries for both when I make up my mind to do it.
    May God bless you both in the years ahead

    radical prostatectomy
    I had my surgery 9 years ago when I was 55 years of age. I was offered all of the options and chose a prostatectomy. Robotics were in their infancy so I found a wonderful Dr on the east coast of FL. I was in the hospital overnight, have no visable scars, had no external stitches and never took so much as an aspirin for pain. It is worth checking out.

    http://laprp.com/
  • westsidemed
    westsidemed Member Posts: 1
    #54
    johnnymacswife said:

    aggressive treatment
    Hi all,
    New member and first time posting but felt the need to share our story. In Oct 2010 hubby (59) got the dreaded call that his PSA came back at 18.6. A biopsy was done and the cancer showed in all areas. After numerous other tests, it looked to be contained in / on the prostate. We did a lot of research and decided to go with aggressive treatment. Decided on robotic prostatectomy and after more research narrowed it down to three surgeons ( talked to all three) then made our choice. The surgery was done in December with the biopsy showing that the cancer had reached the outside of the prostate. Had to wait a couple of months for the next PSA and it came back at .018. Since the cancer wasn't contained in the prostate we made the decision to go with radiation(39 treatments) which ended in July. John's had side effects from both the surgery and the RT but still stands by the choices that were made. He just got his latest PSA last week which was " less than .01 ". So its still a waiting game but we're not as stressed as we could have been waiting for a "time bomb" to go off ( his words, not mine). To all who have been just diagnosed, the key word is research, check out all the major sites, talk to other people, get different opinions and pray to make the right choice. Everyone is different and our way may not be the way you need to go, but have faith, we have the worlds best mediacal treatment available to us.

    another newbie
    I am probably one of the younger guys here on the board. I am under 50 and had my Radical Prostatectomy earlier this year. I chose the prostatectomy after my psa was 10 and the biopsies showed cancer in all 12 tests. I had 9 Lymph nodes removed and 2 were found to have cancer in them thus putting me into the HIGH risk stage 4 Ca. Yea, my sex life went down the tubes, but we chose life and the surgeon chose going wide with our approval to try and get all he can to keep this fire from spreading. For those of you who are single I think I would reconsider the " going wide" with the surgery and do the nerve sparing. Since I am married with 3 grown children, I chose to look into the inplants down the road and for the time being to use the shots. The golf game is awesome and love life not so good. I cannot score on all 19 holes now can I? My psa is 0.01 for the past 9 months now. My testoserone levels went from 50 the month I took Firmagon the ADT to now is up to 200. I am scheduled to do the 7 weeks of radiation and since there are no studies of using the Lupron with Radiation for guys who have had their prostates removed, I am chosing to do both together. I may stop the Lupron at 6 months due to the cardio issues that could arise down the road. Some on this board I WOULD LOVE TO trade places as in my eyes" you caught it early enough". Since mine leaked into the Lymph nodes, I am going thru the unknown.

    When I speak to the surgeon who has told me he had performed over 250 prostatectomies this year, i have asked him how many were guys under 50 and he said 3. That puts me in a 1% category. My Luck.
    I am curious with those who have changed their diet and have cut down the sugars etc. I am doing the budwig diet with flax seed oil and cottage cheese and am curious what is working for those who have been in my shoes years ago.
    I remember how scary it was when I was first diagnosed and all I can tell those of you who had their PSA's rise is ask alot of questions and educate yourself with this crazy box that we type on. Also get second opinions. You will feel better about your decisions.I am looking forward to more vacations and enjoying life to the fullest.

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