Cancer found in Lymph and tissue afer DaVinci surgery

Risk of Recurrence
abaixo

ADT and So Cal
Jack,

Welcome to the forum. Sorry to read that your post-op path report identified ECE (extra capsular extension) to the local lymph node(s). While the info you have presented is important and of concern, it is very limited since your pre tx PCa history and add’l details of your post op path report are missing and critical to understanding your case, for you as well as anyone attempting to provide advice or share experiences on this forum, even if your only goal here is to obtain info about ADT (aka hormones/androgen deprivation therapy)side effects.

It is recommended that you obtain copies of any tests, pre and post-op pathology reports and meeting notes from consults you’ve had with doctors re your PCa. The reports are yours. You just need to request them from your doctors and be familiar with the info in those reports.

You are wise to thoroughly research ADT (or any primary or salvage PCa tx) prior to agreeing to beginning a tx protocol. There is much to learn about the different ADT drugs, drug combinations, wide range and intensity of side effects, and “prophylactic” type drugs, such as statins and bisphosphonates, which are often prescribed with ADT to mitigate possible heart/bone health issues, especially when ADT is used continuously for extended periods of time.

IMO, there is a lot of misinformation about ADT out there, not only from well-intentioned patients, but from medical professionals as well. This is why it is critical at this point in your PCa journey, to make a shift from your urologist (who also may have been your surgeon) and obtain a consult from an oncologist specializing in PCa who can discuss the various PCa salvage tx options (such as RT &/or ADT) and determine if/when/how salvage tx should begin. Your first post-op PSA will be an important piece of info for your PCa oncologist.

Your fears are understandable. IMO, with the exception of a few men posting here about ADT, many of the posts on this PCa forum are from men who have shared horrific stories about their ADT experience, often venting with angry warnings against the use of ADT. While I respect all opinions and understand the need to vent, I believe there are many more men who have tolerated ADT well and benefited from ADT protocols (perhaps this is the silent majority?) than those who have not, especially those cases staged at intermediate or higher risk.

Since there are many different ADT drugs and drug combinations, in general, ADT affects every man differently, including the range and intensity of side effects; however, newer, intermittent ADT (IADT) protocols are now favored in some cases over older protocols which often called for long term, continuous ADT use. You can read more about IADT here: http://www.pcf.org/site/c.leJRIROrEpH/b.7633981/k.3C11/Intermittent_Androgen_Deprivation.htm

I would suggest that you try to attend an established face to face PCa networking group (facilitated by an experienced professional) where you can personally meet with and speak to survivors who have been on, or who currently are on, ADT. If you need help finding one, we are familiar with several of the active PCa face to face networking (educational) and support (emotional) groups in the LA and OC areas.

My husband, PJD, did not elect surgery as his primary tx. He chose a combination of neo-adjuvant txs, including nine months of ADT3 using Lupron, Casodex, & Avodart. All were well tolerated. We are in So Cal. PJD has read your post and asked me to convey that he is open to speaking with you. If you would like to speak with him, please send me an email using the CSN confidential internal email feature (red box on the upper left of the page). Include your phone # & best times/days to call and he will contact you.

All the best,

mrs pjd