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Posted 1/9/2010 5:53 PM (GMT 0)

Hello everyone

  Just joined a few days ago & this is my first post here. Was wondering if any one could share their experience on adt as my psa failure will make this a reality. I lost my father to pca in 93' @age 68. Sad that in this day and age of early screeming (I started at age 43,50 now) i ll be lucky to see 68.

 On to my question:

 I would like to keep this treatment between my wife and myself. Is that possible or will i eventaully show signs or symptoms that would be noticeable to others?

Thanks,turner

Posted 1/9/2010 6:01 PM (GMT 0)
Hello, and welcome Turner, to HW Prostate Cancer. There are a lot of men here with similar stats. I am also a Gleason 7 (3+4) like you. I had surgery. It failed, and I recently completed Salvage Radiation Treatments. Sorry that your father died from PC at a relatively younger age. From your posted stats, you do have recurance going on for sure. It would be most normal at this point to have some form of radiation treatments, with or without hormone treatments being added to the mix. In my case, my radiation oncologist thought it was best to give me a strong dose of radiation without the HT, in hopes of knocking the remainder of the cancer out of my prostate bed. RIght now, the jury is still out.

Don't quite understand your last question, with PC, not sure what kind of signs/symptons you think someone could see. From the outside, no one would ever know I had cancer or had been through all the treatments that I have.

Please stay with us and keep us posted on your journey. You are most welcome here.

David in SC
Posted 1/9/2010 6:23 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Turner,
Welcome to HealingWell. I just completed a two year four month stint on hormonal therapy, and try not to be too negative about it. I am in remission and I have been very positive for the most part. You are setting expectations for the worst and I can't blame you for it. I did have a brief bout with depression in the early going, but once I recognized what I allowed it to do to my psyche I better prepared myself mentally and "got a grip" so to speak. I am off the drugs now and things are indeed looking up. An important note is that I was diagnosed at the age of 44 with advanced prostate cancer. I am 47 now and believe I am living a very satisfying life.

Please follow my motto and that is to "Stay Positive". I believe in the power of positive thinking. And besides, why let this disease take away what you still have ~ Hope.

Peace to you my friend. And welcome again!

Tony
Posted 1/9/2010 6:34 PM (GMT 0)
David

 Thanks for the welcome and quick reply. Radation has been considered. Thats one reason for my appt. at u of m on monday. My problem is rapid failure & doubleing time..approx 2 months. Last psa on tues of 1.1 points to micro metasis along with prostascint scan showing distant lymph involvement. If one can rely on such scans.Radation might not be of much benifit with distant mets? My question pretains to visiable signs of hormone therapy.

 My uro suggests hormone therapy but is worried that u of m MIGHT want me to consider some possible clinical trail as i have not yet started any salvage therapy. Sounds tempting but iam just going to wait and see what happens on monday. Will report back then.

Posted 1/9/2010 6:39 PM (GMT 0)
Think you need that other consultation before, and perhaps others before you make that next step. I am aware of PSA velocity and doubling time issues, that's been the deal with my journey right from the start.

Hoping the best for you.

David in SC
Posted 1/9/2010 8:01 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Turner,

I will be getting my sixth lupron shot next week. This will be month 20 for me on HT. The side effects that I have had related to the hormone therapy are as follows:

   Loss of body hair. (legs, arms, chest, was already missing a good bit on my head so can't say that it has affected that)

   Hot flashes. Initally quite uncomforatable and frequent. These days less frequent and not as long in duration.

   Atrophy of testicles. Thought it was my imagination but doc says there can be some shrinkage here. Says it will come back when lupron is stopped.

   Can't say that I had a lot of depression but I did have some brief moments of self pity. Like Tony, I try to stay optimistic and positive about all this.

   Zero libido. Yesterday I was taking more notice of the women in the airport for the first time in months. My last shot must be wearing off.

   I have had a modest weight gain. I keep up with my workouts but have slid a little on diet. More likely the diet is the cause.

   I have had to cut back on the weight I was lifting. Just cannot seem to do as much so I do a few more sets. That may just be age too.

   I do tire a bit more easily when doing strenuous work but luckily I am not called upon to do that too often.

All in all the side effects have not been too intolerable. As for anyone noticing.... do not worry about that. The only one that is even remotely noticable to others is the brief moisture on your face from the hot flashes.

On the radiation side.... been there done that. It was a piece of cake. Had a mild bout with diarrhea and urinary difficulty about half way through due to full pelvic treatments. Cleared up as soon as that was complete and had no further problems and none since that I can tie to the radiation. I do not have erections but then I do not have any desire either. I am single and live alone so this has not been as issue for me.

As you know each of us are different and our bodies have different tolerances to abuse. (for example Keith Richards smile ) Your experience may be better or worse.

Wishing you the best possible outcome.

Don

Posted 1/9/2010 9:21 PM (GMT 0)
I have had the same experience with two years of Lupron as don826,except I did not have the hot-flashes that others have had. My weight gain was not modest.

From my personal experience, I would strongly encourage you to discuss the issue of osteoporosis with your doctor if you do have the hormone therapy. At 12 months my Dexascan showed significant osteoporosis. At 18 months I had a vertebral fracture, requiring a spinal fusion and 4 months in a back brace.

After my bout with self-pity, I too decided to live my life to the fullest and deal with whatever comes when it comes.

Pray that your journey goes as well as possible.
Posted 1/9/2010 10:19 PM (GMT 0)
 

 Tony,Don826 and Navyman:

  Many thanks. Appreciate your time and input. Will stay in touch. Its one day at a time now .....turner

Posted 1/9/2010 11:47 PM (GMT 0)
Turner,

I think before you rule out HT, you will need to see what chances the radiation guys think about the chances for getting the PC are. As I look at my own situation, which I exect will result in radiation, I am thinking that 20% is better than 0 %.

I totally understand your desire to keep it between you and your wife also. I started out the same way, swearing my family to secrecy. But you know, the longer I deal with this disease, the more I am beginning to think I 'm not going to worry about who knows. In some ways, I have begun to think it is another way cancer is beating me. Making me sneak around hoping no won finds out, like I have done somtehing wrong.

I am not ashamed of having PC, and I am becoming more open about it. First of all, if by being open, I can keep one man from letting PC get the best of them, then I will continue to let others know. Secondly, I'm tired of letting this disease get the best of me. I am caring less about who knows. This thing can be beat.

I'm only telling you my own journey with PC. I am not suggesting that you should or shouldn't do anything. We all have to do what we believe is the right thing.

Good luck on your decisons you will have to make in the next few weeks.

Goodlife
Posted 1/10/2010 12:01 AM (GMT 0)
Well put Goodlife. I hide my surgery but my boss asked if she could share with my co-workers about my next step, which is radiation. Didn't want to feel like I was hiding anything and the more support we have the better. But each person does it their own way, but as men we are taught to keep things to ourself and hold it in. Women with breast cancer make us look like idiots as they have a great support sytem.

 Anyway best to you Turner as you make your choice. We are here to support you.

Michael

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