[2006] Hey Guys...anyone having prostate problems?/Merged

[Kay H]

Alan
It sounds as if you breezed thru this whole thing. I'm sure your positive attitude had a lot to do with it. I hope you continue to live life to the fullest.

 

[AwayWeGo]

Thanks.

Alan
It sounds as if you breezed thru this whole thing. I'm sure your positive attitude had a lot to do with it. I hope you continue to live life to the fullest.

Thank you. Your positive words are much appreciated.

I wouldn't say it's been a breeze, but it was OK.

I am coming along (although still moving slow). And my attitude is positive -- also thankful.

Fortunately The Chief Of Staff is administering copious TLC & I have nothing much scheduled for the next few weeks other than going to a book signing Tuesday evening.

The author signing the books is the family doctor I didn't go to when it was time to take my Medicare physical back in January that set in motion all this prostate cancer detection & treatment.

That's right, I've been 2-timing the family doctor. As a matter of forthrightness, I feel I have to tell him what's up -- that for my Medicare physical I went instead to an internist who takes Medicare, & then when my blood test result raised a red flag I stuck with the same internist, who referred me to a urologist, & the rest is history.

It's a free country. People can go to any doctor(s) they want. I just feel funny & semi-guilty about this situation, & so I'm hoping I can use the occasion of the family doctor's book signing to show I still have some loyalty simply by showing up.

Oddly, I don't feel the same way about bailing out on my well regarded private urologist with 1 week to go before surgery & signing on instead with the National Cancer Institute. Then again, I did call the private hospital & the urologist's office right away to let them know I was going with the National Cancer Institute, so there is no unfinished business to be concerned about.

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​

 

[AwayWeGo]

O. K. At 6-Week Post-Op Check-Up.

My 6-week check-up came a few days early (at my request) to resolve an inadvertent schedule conflict.

Pathology report was clear -- no tumors anywhere except in the tissue that was removed surgically (i.e., no need for any follow-up treatment).

PSA at 6-weeks post-op = undetectable (i.e., below 0.04).

Next appointment = March 2009.

I'm to keep going back for more PSA blood tests 4 times a year for 5 years, then 2 times a year for 5 more years.

By then I'll be age 76 -- not that there's anything wrong with that.

I am extremely grateful for the early detection & successful treatment.

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​

 

[The Conch Man]

Great to hear your good news Alan! Below, where I quoted your post in blue, I've been doing since 1996 & my PSA is 1.7. My Doc doesn't care how high it gets as long as it doesn't double in any given quarter or year, which so far is good. Looks like your got a lot of time on your hands for a long life!

PSA at 6-weeks post-op = undetectable (i.e., below 0.04).

I'm to keep going back for more PSA blood tests 4 times a year for 5 years

I am extremely grateful for the early detection & successful treatment.

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​

 

[AwayWeGo]

Watching Out For P. S. A. Velocity.

My Doc doesn't care how high it gets as long as it doesn't double in any given quarter or year, which so far is good.

Right you are. What got my doctors more exercised than my high PSA number -- 3.9 in January 2008 -- was the suddenness of the increase to 11 in August 2008.

How quickly it goes up -- PSA velocity, they call it -- is the red flag.

My PSA is low now because I no longer have any prostate tissue in there generating any PSA.

The reason the doctors want to keep on testing for it year after year is that if I start having detectable PSA, that means there is some prostate tissue in there somewhere making trouble -- & they'll jolly well want to know what's up with that.

It could be recurrent prostate cancer (bad) or metastatic prostate cancer (real bad). Either way, it would have to be dealt with.

But the likelihood is that my prostate cancer is over & done for good. Even so, I won't be skipping any of those quarterly PSA blood tests. Can't be too careful.

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​

 

[Jaybee]

Alan, that is truly great news about your 6 wk checkup. I've been wondering how you were doing. Thanks for the update.
We're still waiting. Philip had his first Lupron injection yesterday, and he'll have the 2nd one, and another appt. with the Oncologist in April, to see if the prostate has shrunk enough to treat.
It looks like our HMO won't cover the Tomo Therapy in Palm Desert, and we may have to go to Temecula. Of course, Temecula is much closer, but we don't know what the treatment would be....kind of like starting over? Ohno! Jean

 

[AwayWeGo]

Wishing You All The Best.

We're still waiting. Philip had his first Lupron injection yesterday, and he'll have the 2nd one, and another appt. with the Oncologist in April, to see if the prostate has shrunk enough to treat.

This is still very scary stuff & I feel like I dodged a bullet. So I am hoping for the best for you & Phil.

Plus, just because I dodged this particular bullet, that doesn't mean there's not some other 1 out there with my name on it waiting for me.

So I have an attitude of gratitude every day -- for my life & my wife & my sons & my daughters-in-law & my grandson & my other grandchild-to-be & all my extended family.

It's like there's a worldwide conspiracy out there at work to do good things for me.

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​

 

[Jaybee]

Alan, I love your "Attitude of Gratitude" philosophy. I try to live that way, too. I like the idea that it's one of the philosophies painted on the wall of the Curves I go to.
Positive energy always helps. Hugs, and happy healing, and good wishes to you, The Chief of Staff, and all of you out there. Jean

 

[Miss Marty]

FDA Approves New Prostate Cancer Drug

WASHINGTON (Dec. 29)

Federal regulators on Monday said they have approved
the first new drug to treat prostate cancer in four years.

The injectable treatment from privately held Ferring Pharmaceuticals fights the cancer by lowering levels of testosterone, which promotes the growth of tumors in the prostate.

Food and Drug Administration officials said older drugs in the same class can actually increase testosterone production before they begin lowering them. In studies on prostate cancer patients, Ferring showed that its drug, degarelix, does not raise testosterone levels.

According to the FDA, patients treated with degarelix had testosterone levels comparable to those seen after the testes are removed.

 

[AwayWeGo]

Keeping It Simple.

According to the FDA, patients treated with degarelix had testosterone levels comparable to those seen after the testes are removed.

Shux, wouldn't it be cheaper & less trouble just to get'm cut off, compared (say) with taking daily doses of an expensive new drug whose effect is the same as surgical removal ?

Nobody likes to think about that, but there you are. In fact, I had the same question in mind about removal before Marty sent in the information about degarelix. I wondered about that when I was reading the section of Dr. Torrey's book covering hormone treatment for prostate cancer.

As for me, my cancerous prostate is gone as of 11-3-2008 & so there is no need to have anything else cut off down in that general area.

Just think -- last month I had cancer & this month I don't have cancer.

Let me tell you, I am a happy man.

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​

 

[AwayWeGo]

Still In The Clear.

PSA at 6-weeks post-op = undetectable (i.e., below 0.04).

Next appointment = March 2009.

Same result at my 2nd scheduled follow-up PSA test this morning = below 0.04 (i.e., undetectable).

Next follow-up test = June 2009.

Every day is an answered prayer -- & not just regarding health matters & dodging this particular bullet.

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​

 

[pwrshift]

That's great news Alan. Congrats!

Brian

 

[Jaybee]

That's wonderful news, Alan! Yea for you, and the medical folk.
We have to wait until late April to find out if the meds have shrunk Phil's prostate enough to treat it. It's a long 6 month wait, but we have high hopes. Jean

 

[AwayWeGo]

Is There An Echo In Here ?

Same result at my 2nd scheduled follow-up PSA test this morning = below 0.04 (i.e., undetectable).

Next follow-up test = June 2009.

Every day is an answered prayer -- & not just regarding health matters & dodging this particular bullet.

Same result again at my 3rd scheduled follow-up PSA test today -- below 0.04 (i.e., undetectable).

Next follow-up test = December 2009.

They didn't say why they're switching me to 6-month intervals for follow-up blood tests. I thought they said I'd be having tests quarterly for 5 years after surgery, then semiannually for 5 more years. Either I got it wrong or something changed.

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​

 

[DeniseM]

Wonderful news! I'm happy for you!

 

[rickandcindy23]

Alan, so glad you chose the best option for you, and I know this good news will continue.

 

[taffy19]

Same result again at my 3rd scheduled follow-up PSA test today -- below 0.04 (i.e., undetectable).

Next follow-up test = December 2009.

They didn't say why they're switching me to 6-month intervals for follow-up blood tests. I thought they said I'd be having tests quarterly for 5 years after surgery, then semiannually for 5 more years. Either I got it wrong or something changed.

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​

Your reading had no change so that may be the best news they were hoping for so you no longer have to come this often.

This good news must be music to your ears, Alan!

 

[SueDonJ]

Great news, Alan, and I hope you have continued good health and results ...

 

[pwrshift]

Alan - best news I've heard all day. Congrats.

Brian

 

[AwayWeGo]

So Grateful For Continued Good Medical News.

Same result again at my 3rd scheduled follow-up PSA test today -- below 0.04 (i.e., undetectable).

Next follow-up test = December 2009.

Today's PSA test result continued the streak of undetectable readings (some indeterminate quantity below 0.04).

Now they don't even want to see me again till December 2010.

I am extremely grateful for the superior treatment & follow-up I have received.

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​

 

[Jaybee]

Alan, I am so very happy about your outcome (so far...don't want to tempt the gods of superstition).
Philip had a series of 40 short radiation treatments, and completed them Nov. 20. He goes back this Mon. for his follow-up appt. He's also had 3, or maybe 4 injections, 3 or 4 months apart. The last ones were something called Trelstar. Must be something "female", since he complains of hot flashes.
We're hoping for good results. Strange disease, this. He'd never have known he had it, if someone hadn't told him. Makes one wonder, doesn't it?
Merry, healthy Christmas, everyone! Jean

 

[cgeidl]

Does flomax cause memory Loss?

Sorry, I take it but can't remember if it causes memory loss.

 

[Jaybee]

Who knows? It's a good thing when you need something to blame it on.

Sorry, I take it but can't remember if it causes memory loss.

 

[caterina25]

I did not see any thread which included the HIFU procedure .HIFU is a treatment for certain confined cancers and is a very good option for some men. The procedure is done in one visit and side effects are minimal. It is currently being tested in trials at many sites in the USA but is only available as a treatment choice outside the USA.I believe it will be approved and be available as a choice in the USA soon. This is just another piece of information that you may use when making a treatment choice. My family just went through a prostate cancer situation and I did some research and HIFU looked promising as treatment choice.
What is HIFU?
HIFU, which stands for High Intensity Focused Ultrasound, was first developed as a treatment of benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) and now is also being used as a procedure for the killing of prostate cancer cells. This procedure utilizes transrectal ultrasound that is highly focused into a small area, creating intense heat of 80-100° C, which is lethal to prostate cancer tissue. Since ultrasound is non-ionizing (as opposed to ionizing in radiation), tissue in the entry and exit path of the HIFU beam is not injured.

 

[AwayWeGo]

Same Again This Year -- Still Extremely Grateful

Today's PSA test result continued the streak of undetectable readings (some indeterminate quantity below 0.04).

Now they don't even want to see me again till December 2010.

I am extremely grateful for the superior treatment & follow-up I have received.

Undetectable PSA -- below 0.04 -- again this year.

That means they got it all when they removed it in 2008.

Re-test in 6 months -- plus a reminder to see my regular doctor for a full check-up to make sure everything else is OK (heart, lungs, kidneys, cholesterol, etc.).

My minor cancer adventure is so minimal in comparison with those of so many others that it's hard for me to think of myself as a Cancer Survivor even though I suppose I am.

Combined with my gratitude for the outcome of my own treatment are prayers for all the others out there going through their own cancer adventures. God bless you.

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​