Checkup Status - Post-Radiation / Existing Hormone - 8/5/2021

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  • Josephg
    Josephg Member Posts: 386 Member
    edited April 2021 #62
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    Exercise and Bone Density

    I completely agree with you, Old Salt.  Prior to these hormone treatments, I lifted weights and walked/jogged on my treadmill every two days, like clockwork.  About a month into the hormone treatments, I lost all desire to work out at all.  Not surprising, but still a fact.  I am now 'forcing' myself back into my routine, not easy, but doing it, as I want to keep both bone mass and muscle mass loss to a minimum.

  • rosatt8
    rosatt8 Member Posts: 5 Member
    #63
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    exercise and cystoscopy

    I had bladder cancer and prostate cancer 4+5=9.

    Bladder cancer hopefully in remission. I also have prostate cancer hopefully in remission. I am 77 years of age.

    I have had radiation of the prostate and surrounding lympth nodes. I am currently on first generation hormone therapy. My PSA has dropped to 0.02.

    I reluctantly do exercise with weights on advice from oncologist.

    I am a bit scared of upcoming cystoscopy about 6 months after end of radiation.

  • Josephg
    Josephg Member Posts: 386 Member
    edited May 2021 #64
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    Cystoscopy

    Have you had a cystoscopy before?  I would think that you have, if you had bladder cancer.  What is the concern - what might be found, or the procedure itself?

  • Josephg
    Josephg Member Posts: 386 Member
    edited August 2021 #65
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    8/5/2021 Status

    Summary:

    I had my 3 month checkup yesterday, and my PSA has dropped to <0.02 (from 0.05 three months ago), which is now considered undetectable.  This is good news, in that my current hormone cocktail of leuprolide acetate, abiraterone acetate, and prednisone is currently effective in slowing down the bandit and potentially forcing it into a period of dormancy.  All of my bloodwork parameters are within the standard control limits, so currently my hormone cocktail is not overtly interfering with my liver and kidney functions.  I did not see a Testosterone level in my bloodwork results, so I have requested that it be added to my bloodwork script for all future blood draws.

    I also received my third 3-month leuprolide acetate injection, 3 down and 5 to go, in my 2 year hormone cocktail regimen.  Apparently, the Lupron brand shortage is over, as I received a Lupron brand injection (intramuscular, injected into the butt) versus the previous 2 Eligard brand injections (subcutaneous, injected into the abdominal fat tissue).  My preference is Eligard (though, I don't have a choice, since Lupron is apparently much cheaper), as it is painful for only 1 minute after injection, while the Lupron injection is painful in the butt for 2-4 days.  That said, I am told that many folks prefer the Lupron injection over the Eligard injection.

    I had a follow-up MRI in June to view the recently SBRT radiated lesion in my pelvic bone, and it did not show any new issues.  This MRI image will be used as a baseline for observing this area in the future.

    I also had a bone density scan yesterday, and this will serve as a baseline for monitoring any future bone density changes, resulting from long term hormone therapy.

    As always, I appreciate the guidance and support that I have received from the members of this Discussion Board, and I wish you all the best of outcomes on your PCa journeys.

     

    Related History and Data:

    Post-Robotic Prostate Removal Surgery Pathology Report

    A.  Lymph nodes, right pelvic:  Two (2) lymph nodes; negative for metastasis.

    B.  Lymph nodes, left pelvic:  Two (2) lymph nodes; negative for metastasis.

    C.  Prostate, radical resection:

      1.  Prostatic adenocarcinoma, Gleason grade 4+3=7, involving both lobes, at least 2.1cm and occupying 15% of the prostate by volume.

      2.  No lymphatic/vascular invasion is present.

      3.  Perineural invasion is present.

      4.  Invasive carcinoma focally extends into extraprostatic soft tissue adjacent to the left posterior prostate (C20).

      5.  The Seminal vesicles are free of carcinoma.

      6.  The inked margins are free of carcinoma.

      7.  High-grade PIN is present.

      8.  Necrotizing granulomas are present within the prostate parenchyma; stains for microorganisms will be performed and reported in an addendum.

    D.  Left mid margin:  Fibrovascular tissue; negative for tumor.

    Diagnosis Comment:  AJCC:  pT3a NO

     

    Da Vinci Robotic Prostate Removal Surgery

    11/21/2011

     

    AMS 800 Artificial Sphincter Implant Surgery

    1/9/2013 - Original implant

    9/28/2019 - Replacement implant (original implant failed, due to leakage)

     

    First Hormone Therapy (Lupron tri-monthly and Casodex daily)

    Started 5/4/2013

    Stopped 11/6/2013 (2nd and last 3-month dosage shot given on 8/6/2013)

     

    Second Hormone Therapy (Eligard/Lupron tri-monthly and Casodex daily)

    Started 1/29/2021

     

    First Radiation Therapy IMRT (38 visits, 68 Grays)

    Started 6/4/2013

    Stopped 8/9/2013

     

    Second Radiation Therapy SBRT (3 visits, 30 Grays)

    Started 2/17/2021

    Stopped 2/22/2021

     

    PET Scan Report - 1/21/2021

    Technique:  Radiopharmaceutical: F-18-fluciclovine.  Dose: 10.87 mCi.

    Image acquisition:  Approximately 3-5 minutes following IV tracer administration via a right antecubital fossa vein, positron emission tomography was performed from the vertex through the mid thigh. Non-contrast low-dose helical CT imaging was performed over the same range without breath-hold for attenuation correction of PET images and anatomic correlation.

    Results:  There is focal mildly increased radiotracer uptake within a sclerotic lesion in the left inferior pubic ramus, most likely representing an osseous metastasis.

     

    MRI - 6/21/2021

    Reviewed the initial results of the 6/2021 SBRT radiation therapy and set a baseline for future monitoring of the left pelvic bone.

     

    Bone Density Scan - 8/4/2021

    Set a baseline for monitoring any future changes resulting from long term hormone therapy.

     

    PSA History

    5.22 - 6/28/2011 (59 years old)

    0.05 - 12/22/2011

    0.05 - 3/25/2012

    0.05 - 6/22/2012

    0.06 - 10/13/2012

    0.08 - 12/31/2012

    0.11 - 3/30/2013

    0.13 - 4/23/2013

    0.02 - 8/6/2013

    0.02 - 11/26/2013

    <0.015 - 7/28/2014

    <0.015 - 1/3/2015

    <0.015 - 7/7/2015

    0.02 - 1/15/2016

    0.05 - 8/23/2016

    0.07 - 2/21/2017

    0.10 - 8/22/2017

    0.13 - 12/29/2017

    0.19 - 6/18/2018

    0.26 - 10/15/2018

    0.29 – 2/11/2019

    0.41 - 5/20/2019

    0.43 - 9/13/2019

    0.46 - 1/17/2020

    0.65 - 5/22/2020

    0.97 - 9/25/2020

    0.98 - 1/11/2021

    0.25 - 3.4.2021

    0.05 - 4/28/2021

    <0.02 - 8/4/2021

     

    Related Permanent Side Effects

    Complete Incontinence - Prostate removal surgery (had to remove the left side nerve bundle)

    ED - Prostate removal surgery (had to remove the left side nerve bundle)

    Gynecomastia (benign breast tissue growth) - Hormone treatments of Lupron and/or Casodex

    Hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating every time performing very minor physical activity) - Hormone treatments of Lupron and/or Casodex.

    Hematuria (abundant blood in urine) - Radiation treatments caused recurring instances of bladder wall inflammation.  Biopsy negative.

     

    Previous Related Posts (Mostly artificial sphincter and hormone/radiation experiences):

    Artificial Sphincter Experiences

    http://csn.cancer.org/comment/1324584#comment-1324584

    http://csn.cancer.org/comment/1326323#comment-1326323

    http://csn.cancer.org/comment/1339326#comment-1339326

    http://csn.cancer.org/comment/1339561#comment-1339561

    http://csn.cancer.org/comment/1344785#comment-1344785

    http://csn.cancer.org/comment/1413239#comment-1413239

     

    Hormone and Radiation Salvage Treatment Experiences

    http://csn.cancer.org/comment/1414101#comment-1414101

    http://csn.cancer.org/comment/1414282#comment-1414282

    http://csn.cancer.org/node/299431

  • VascodaGama
    VascodaGama Member Posts: 3,654 Member
    #66
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    Thanks for the update

    Hi Joseph, 

    Wonderful news. I am very pleased to hear on the remission levels. Other blood parameters look good and that is all in your favor. It may be rightful to celebrate. How about going somewhere, visiting that place long forgotten. Europe is accepting travelers with US vaccine certificates. 

    Congratulations 

    VG

    (Another excuse for a bottle of Esporão red)

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