Life Is Good

Ken Life Is Good
Ken Life Is Good Member Posts: 5
in Prostate Cancer #1

 

Life is Good

 

 

 

I am 63 years old and I was diagnosed with prostate cancer in Aug 2011. I went into complete urinary retention on my return trip from my summer vacation on July 30th. I endured five hours of pain on the road and then waited four hours before my trip to the hospital. A Foley was inserted and I was instructed to see a urologists to have it removed. My visit led to a PSA reading of 9, my first and a DRE, my prostate having hard lumps and a biopsy with a gleason score of 7. 12 out of 12 cores were positive with 70 to 100 percent cancer. For those that did not enjoy their Foley experience, I had mine for 3 and ½ months. The discomfort from the Foley was not as bad as not being able to pee. I asked the urologist if I could have the seeds, he said no, I needed surgery. My bone scan and ct scan was clear.

 

My surgery clearance physical required a chest x-ray, nodules where noted in lung and a chest ct was done with the notation that nodules were to small to determine and a pet scan was done with notation that nodules were to small to determine if cancerous. The same radiologist read all three scans. Da Vinci surgery was done on 31 Oct, The after surgery biopsy was changed to gleason 9 with SV involvement and cancer to bladder neck and apex margins, no lymph node involvement. The after surgery scan for catheter removal showed that was kidney was blocked by at the ureter in the bladder.

 

A biopsy was done on the bladder in Jan. and the growth was not cancerous, the kidney had started functioning by then.

 

 

 

The good news, I was continent when the catheter was removed. The PSA readings have been undetectable. I was scheduled for IMRT in Jan and was started on Lupron and Casodex in Nov 2011.

 

Received Casodex for 4 months and will receive Lupron every 4 months for shots for two years. Did have a Oncologist evaluate my treatment in Feb 2012. I have had no serious side effects from the three forms of treatment, I continue to work in construction doing remodels and have since the 3rd week following surgery. I can no longer have children and have no desire to have any, but life is great, I enjoy my 8 grandchildren, increasing to 11 this year.

 

 

 

I realize I am new to this and still have a future of PC treatment. I can not evaluate others conditions, but only say that the treatment has worked for me. I am a Vietnam Vet for those that are keeping score.

 

I would be happy to answer questions. The Lupron has made me more emotional, I enjoy Movies and TV more, I even get weepy at he old Gunsmokes when there is a happy ending. I can say that I feel you pain and I wish everyone success with their treatments.

 

 

 

Ken

 

 

 

 

 

Comments

  • ralph.townsend1
    ralph.townsend1 Member Posts: 359 Member
    #2
    Where to go

     Sorry for your conditions. Where to go from here? Lupron, yes I cry at sad moive and even the funny ones. I have been on Lupron for 3 years. I don't like it, but know it's cutting off food to the Cancer. 

    As far as Vietnam, welcome brother to the Vietnam veterans with prostate cancer. If you were boots on the ground, it was most likely from Agent Orange and you can be compensated for your cancer and many other cancer's. Prostates cancer will and can move into other organ like Lungs, brain, Bone, ETC. Just goggle agent orange and look for the government site. There other Vet's with PC in their Lung at this site.

    Good Luck

    God bless

  • Samsungtech1
    Samsungtech1 Member Posts: 351
    #3
    Lung nodules

    Ken,

    Glad it is going well.  You do not say what they are going to do with your lung nodules.  If you read up on AO and prostate cancer they say it metastisises as soon as it starts.  My urologist did not believe in AO so he ignored the single nodule that showed up.  Six months later I had four more nodules.  Mine were small, but doubled in size in six months.  I had radiosurgery for nodules and they disappeared.  My radio onc said that after a certain size they could not treat them.  He went on to say that the smaller at time of treatment the better your chances are.

    How often are you getting CT scans?   Has anyone discussed your options with the nodules?  I had to get a biopsy because I. Guess they treat it differently.  Not sure why.

    Glad you are doing so well.  Life is Good.  Everyone needs to enjoy every minute of it.

     

    Mike

  • Ken Life Is Good
    Ken Life Is Good Member Posts: 5
    #4
    Samsungtech1 said:

    Lung nodules

    Ken,

    Glad it is going well.  You do not say what they are going to do with your lung nodules.  If you read up on AO and prostate cancer they say it metastisises as soon as it starts.  My urologist did not believe in AO so he ignored the single nodule that showed up.  Six months later I had four more nodules.  Mine were small, but doubled in size in six months.  I had radiosurgery for nodules and they disappeared.  My radio onc said that after a certain size they could not treat them.  He went on to say that the smaller at time of treatment the better your chances are.

    How often are you getting CT scans?   Has anyone discussed your options with the nodules?  I had to get a biopsy because I. Guess they treat it differently.  Not sure why.

    Glad you are doing so well.  Life is Good.  Everyone needs to enjoy every minute of it.

     

    Mike

    Lung Nodules

    Mike,

     

    The last scan I had was in Jan 2012 and the nodules had not changed in size. My lung nodules have not been diagnosed as cancer. I am due for another scan. The bladder biopsy was negative and I had a colonoscopy in Aug and it was clear. None of the Dr's have been concerned about the nodules. I realize the PC can return at any time, But I have blessed and have had skilled Drs, considering my gleason 9 and the percentage of cancer in the gland I have been very lucky.

     

    Ken

  • Samsungtech1
    Samsungtech1 Member Posts: 351
    #5
    Ken Life Is Good said:

    Lung Nodules

    Mike,

     

    The last scan I had was in Jan 2012 and the nodules had not changed in size. My lung nodules have not been diagnosed as cancer. I am due for another scan. The bladder biopsy was negative and I had a colonoscopy in Aug and it was clear. None of the Dr's have been concerned about the nodules. I realize the PC can return at any time, But I have blessed and have had skilled Drs, considering my gleason 9 and the percentage of cancer in the gland I have been very lucky.

     

    Ken

    Time between scans

    Ken,

    I really find it hard to believe your Onc has not done a scan for a year.  Sounds like my Urologist.  You have cancer.  You have nodules in your lungs and they have not done a biopsy?  I realize they are small, mine were in the mm size.  I had no pain, no shortness of breath, nothing after the beginning.  You do have acancer Onc right?  

    I do not want to be an alarmist but you should have been checked at least every six months.  When they did the biopsy on me they tried through my nose first, and then vats, and finally he went in with his hand.  It was prostate cancer.  Still not sure why they had to know.  Must be different treatments.  Anyhow anything growing in your lungs is not good.  They can be calcified deposits, which are nothing, but you really need to find out. Cat scans once a year with this is not good.do not rush the biopsy.  When they go in with their hand it really hurts, still hurts two years later.

    Good luck,

    Mike

  • Georgews
    Georgews Member Posts: 5
    #6
    I got PC in 2000 at age of

    I got PC in 2000 at age of  56.  Had op to remove it plus radiation.  PSA was around 18 at the time.  All OK till 2011 which PSA started to rise again.  May 2012 I was put on Lucrin (lupron) and PSA has dropped like a stone.  Hate the side effects though, hot and cold flushes, lethargy etc.

    Sounds like they just put you on it rather than other treatment.

     

    Hope all goes well for you

    Cheers

  • ralph.townsend1
    ralph.townsend1 Member Posts: 359 Member
    #7
    Georgews said:

    I got PC in 2000 at age of

    I got PC in 2000 at age of  56.  Had op to remove it plus radiation.  PSA was around 18 at the time.  All OK till 2011 which PSA started to rise again.  May 2012 I was put on Lucrin (lupron) and PSA has dropped like a stone.  Hate the side effects though, hot and cold flushes, lethargy etc.

    Sounds like they just put you on it rather than other treatment.

     

    Hope all goes well for you

    Cheers

    Ken

    You need a second opinion. Your doctor maybe has to many patient's. Maybe he thinks he to good to look outside the box.

    Mike is right!!!!!!

    I hope the best!

  • laserlight
    laserlight Member Posts: 165
    #8
    ralph.townsend1 said:

    Ken

    You need a second opinion. Your doctor maybe has to many patient's. Maybe he thinks he to good to look outside the box.

    Mike is right!!!!!!

    I hope the best!

    Ken welcome to the group

    It would be a very good idea to get the second opinion. When fighting prostate cancer you need all of the options available to you. I too am a Viet nam vet with prostate cancer and I work with a couple of doctors on this cancer. Keep in mind that you are in the drivers seat on this. Your treatment centers around what you feel is best.

    If you have not done so yet get in touch with your VSO officer and start claim with the VA, like Ralph said if you were boots on the ground, then this is most likely AO related.

     

    Hang in there  Kurt

  • Ken Life Is Good
    Ken Life Is Good Member Posts: 5
    #9
    Treatment

    I appreciate the advice that has been given. I have been reading the posts for many months and many of you have an extensive knowledge of PC. I am concerned about the nodules and will have another ct scan. Tthe nodules had not changed in size with the 4 scans that I had. The PSA has been undectable for 15 months. I was given the Rt as a adjuvant treatment. HT was started following the biopsy done after surgery. I did start my claim with the VA in April 2012, someday they might process it.

     

    Ken

  • Samsungtech1
    Samsungtech1 Member Posts: 351
    #10
    Ken Life Is Good said:

    Treatment

    I appreciate the advice that has been given. I have been reading the posts for many months and many of you have an extensive knowledge of PC. I am concerned about the nodules and will have another ct scan. Tthe nodules had not changed in size with the 4 scans that I had. The PSA has been undectable for 15 months. I was given the Rt as a adjuvant treatment. HT was started following the biopsy done after surgery. I did start my claim with the VA in April 2012, someday they might process it.

     

    Ken

    Time

    It will probably take  a year to process.  They are really busy.  They do not even answer the phones at the Hampton VA for appointments.  When I go in there it is full.  Unfortunately these poor men and women from Iraq, and Afghanistan are starting to come i to the system.  Brave men and women.  It is all retroactive so you should be fine unless you can not work.  I wish you well.  

    Mike

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