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Posted 6/9/2010 3:01 PM (GMT 0)
 

Well now I know why I put off going for my PSA for so long my worst fear was realized appartently the radiation did not work.  My PSA is now 1.5 up from 0.5 prior to radiation.

Of course, the doctor told me not to panic that they wait for 3 jumps blah, blah, blah.

He wants me to go back to my Uro guy in 6 weeks for another PSA but my wife feels since we are dealing with Cancer that I should see a medical oncologist that deals with Prostate cancer not my Uro guy who deals with all kinds of patients.  I would be interested in what you all think.  Right now not quite sure what to do hate the thought of living in fear from PSA test to PSA test but I guess I do not have a choice,

Jerry1 

Posted 6/9/2010 3:06 PM (GMT 0)
Jerry, I'm sorry to hear that. I am following your story, as I'm sure many others are.

Your wife's advice sounds good to me. It certainly can't hurt to get things rolling with the oncologist.


Best wishes.
Posted 6/9/2010 3:07 PM (GMT 0)
Sorry to hear that Jerry, was hoping big things for you on your salvage radiation. You definitely need at least another PSA test, again, to see if fluke, or if it is a true rise, you might as well have the test done the same as normal for you, so that you will get apples to apples from the same lab.

Its also possible that your pre-SRT radiation had continued to rise some prior to your actual treatments, and if so, it may not have had enough time to come back down yet. The next test should prove or disprove that theory.

Yes, I would see a very good medical onclogist next, because if the SRT has failed, then you really need to know what the next steps and options are out there for you.

Feel bad for you, my friend, but lets keep hope going. Certainly isn't over by any means.

David in SC
Posted 6/9/2010 3:44 PM (GMT 0)
So sorry Jerry. Hope the next one drops back down. Lots of road left to explore. Hope we can support you along the way to final success.
Posted 6/9/2010 4:45 PM (GMT 0)
Jerry, very sorry about your PSA. You still need have a chance it will go down at the next test. Our stats are very similar. I'm am also a gleason 8 and had BCF one year after surgery. Also, starting radiation treatments with .5 PSA. I agree that you should line up a good medical oncologist or two now and set-up appointments. When my PSA started going up after surgery I set-up appointments with two medical oncolgists "just in case". Of course I ended up seeing them both and both recommended radiation which I will start in July. My Uro and one of the medical oncologists told me that my chances for a cure where less than 50%. The medical oncologist said 30-40% so I am going into this with the expectation it may well not result in a cure.

In any event you should prepare for the next stage of treatment if needed. If you haven't read Dr Myers book on Hormone treatments and diet you should. Gives you a lot of hope that even advanced PCa can be successfully treated for many years.

Good luck. I very much hope your next PSA shows a downward trend. BB
Posted 6/9/2010 4:54 PM (GMT 0)
I'm so sorry to hear the news Jerry, but your wifey's plan sounds good to me. As others have already stated, there are still treatment options, but I know the sickening pit in your stomach of hoping that it would have all been over, just to find out that it is just the beginning. Hang in there friend and keep us posted!
Posted 6/9/2010 5:03 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Jerry,

I too had the SRT and can well imagine the panic and disappointment you feel at this time. The way I understand it, SRT is a bit of a long shot anyway, but we all hope for good outcomes. I'm so sorry that yours wasn't successful. Several guys here have carried on quite well for many years with the help of a good Pc Oncologist, so, please don't give up hope and keep us informed of your continuing journey.
Wishing you all the best.

Magaboo
Posted 6/9/2010 7:54 PM (GMT 0)
 

Thank you all for your support I guess even though going in I was sure it was not going to work because of my pathology the chances that it was local were small, but I still got hit hard with the result.  I know there are other treatments but right now I am not ready to start the HT process.   I feel maybe after a couple more PSA tests I will feel differently.  My Radiation Doc is the one who suggested going back to my Uro doc not a medical oncologist not sure why said have a couple more PSA tests done with him then decide.  It seems to me that the PSA had more than doubled in 6 months so not sure how high it goes before they start other treatments.

Jerry1   

Posted 6/9/2010 8:57 PM (GMT 0)
Jerry, I have gotten very different answers to the when to start HT question from the two medical oncologists that I saw. One says not to use it until you need it, I assume at some level of PSA. The other says to hit it hard right away while it is still weak and hope to drive it into remission. I don't know what the right answer is, but I like to idea of hitting it hard early. BB
Posted 6/9/2010 9:03 PM (GMT 0)
Jerry,

Wishing the best for you. Most of us kind of plot out a worst case plan, that we hope we never have to execute, but when execution time comes, it's not easy to do , or not do what we had planned.

Hopefully you can just take whatever time you need to decide on what will be best for you. HT has come a long way, and many other drug options have been added to minimize side effects. HT is on my list of don't want to do's.

Good luck, and hopefully we can help in some way as you journey down this path, if nothing else to be listening ears to you as you vent from time to time.
Posted 6/9/2010 10:24 PM (GMT 0)
From one Jerry to another Jerry:

So sorry to hear about your current PSA results. I have been on HT since November, surgery in January and today was #22 for my radiation. Not sure (yet) if any if this is working, but I remember a while back, Purgetory said, looks like they are throwing the books at you. I hope he is right and I'll be okay. In your case, if the doc says go on HT, DO IT. It's not fun but we got to do, what we got to do.

Jerry in Canada.

 

Posted 6/9/2010 10:30 PM (GMT 0)
Jerry:  My stats are a lot like yours and BB Fan, I finished my SRT on Dec. 29, 2009.  I've been on HT since August of 2009 and plan on staying on it until August of 2011.  I figured I'd throw the kitchen sink at the cancer and see how I did.  My PSA has been >0.01 since I started HT.  The HT journey hasn't been a bed of roses but it hasn't been unbearable either.  As BB said get Dr. Meyer's book, it disspells some of the myths of HT.

There have been some breakthrough trials recently and I'm not talking about Provenge.  Arbiterone and MDV 3100(I think that' the number) have shown a tendency to stop PCa in its tracks so there is hope for guys who have tried Surgery and SRT and subsequently failed them.

Find one of the top Prostate Onc's and follow his lead but I wouldn't wait too long as Dr. Meyers says"why would you let the cancer get stronger, it makes no sense to do so." 

Good luck, I truly believe we'll still beat this thing.

David

Posted 6/9/2010 10:33 PM (GMT 0)
Jerry,

I know that you have seen my travels down this PCa path, so you know that I am walking the same path as you. I too was surprised to see my PSA go from .6 before the SRT to 1.0 and then 1.5 after. But the last couple have gone down and just seem to be bouncing around. I am seeing an Oncologist and he said after the last one that had gone down again he wanted me to wait 3 months and then re-test and come see him again. Unfortunately, they found a met in this last round of screening and I am going for radiation in about 4 weeks. Gonna try and kill the little bugger before it gets out of control.

I have stated my position on HT here before and I am still trying not to think about what I will do if the doc says it's time to spit or get off the pot. Hoping I catch a break sometime in the next 4 weeks.

I feel for you man. I am walking the same thin line.

Hang in there,
Sonny
Posted 6/10/2010 7:28 PM (GMT 0)
 

Thnaks again for the information and support after having a long talk and a few drinks with MJ last night I ageed to see an oncologist and not go back to my Uro Doc, my sister who lives in Houston and works at Methodist Hospital is also looking into getting me a consul in Sept at MD Anderson.  I know a few people have gone there can anyone recommend a good Prostate Oncologist?  As far as the hormones I still want to wait until something is seen on a bone scan I hear so much negative stuff I also understand it is not covered by Medicare and is extremely expensive to be on for a long period of time.  MJ tells me money is not the point if it can help we will get the money.  Does anyone have and idea on the cost currently the only prescription plan I have is Medicare Part D not sure how the HT treatment is billed if I have to go that route.

Sonny hang in there and thanks for the supportive words we are all here for each other and it helps more than you anyone could ever know.

Jerry1   

Posted 6/10/2010 7:33 PM (GMT 0)
Jerry,

Sorry to read about your recent results... Others here have given you some great words and advice... Your wife has a good handle on the start of a plan for the upcoming journey as needed... I hate this dang PCa disease as it is so unpredictable and our bodies respond so differently to the many forms of available treatments. I do not know the parameters of how long one should wait for SRT treatments to show results, but a good doctor that specializes in the field will. You still have options and technology is making great strides every day.

For what it's worth, I did change my diet and add vitamin D, omega fish oil, and pomegranite extract capsules to my diet right after completion of the SRT treatments. If nothing else, those "proactive" steps and prayer seemed to help my otherwise pessimistic thought patterns that tended to occur from time to time.

I pray for you that your future holds faith, hope, remission and healing...

God Bless,

pasayten
Posted 6/10/2010 8:56 PM (GMT 0)
Jerry -

This is the guy you want to see at MD Andersen:

http://faculty.mdanderson.org/Christopher_Logothetis/Default.asp?SNid=1074469933

He is one of the best in the country. You could not do better.

Best wishes,
Medved
Posted 6/10/2010 9:03 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Pasayten for you support

Thanks Medved for the name of the doctor at MD Anderson will have my sister contact him.

Jerry1

Posted 6/10/2010 9:40 PM (GMT 0)
Jerry1, All I can tell you is that everyone that has been to MD Anderson says nothing but good about the place.  Best of luck.  Do keep us posted.

Cajun Jeff

Posted 6/10/2010 10:21 PM (GMT 0)
O
N        URO/
DOC + DROP = Better results for U
O
Posted 6/10/2010 10:30 PM (GMT 0)
Sorry to hear your news. I have no words of wisdom on what to do but the one thing I really love about these forums is how EVERYONE is there for each other. So do keep us posted on your progress.

Larry

Posted 6/11/2010 12:13 AM (GMT 0)
Jerry, sorry to hear the news.  Frequently radiation has a "bounce" where there is an initial decline then a rise before falling back to a nadir.  Not sure if this applies in your case or not but would ask the radiologist about it.

 

Something interesting that you might be interested in...although I am pre-treatment I eliminated all dairy in my diet based on some internet research (read Jane Plant's prostate book...available at Amazon.com) and like many others who have ceased dairy intake, my PSA dropped dramatically in a very short period of time.  It went from 4.3 to 2.8 in about 4 weeks.

 

Best of luck to you.

Posted 6/11/2010 12:25 AM (GMT 0)
Jerry sorry to here psa results mind didn't drop real quick but then finally drop some I hope it stay there
Posted 6/11/2010 12:51 AM (GMT 0)
Jerry, sorry to hear the initial psa wasn't better and glad you are consulting with a medical oncologist just in case. Not being too knowledgeable myself but I calculated your rate of psa increase at almost doubling every 2 months (from 7/09 to 12/09 just before srt). So if I'm correct then it seems like the rate of increase has slowed quite a bit.

At any rate if my psa doesn't continue down in 3 months then I plan to consult with a good medical oncologist too.

Our best to you and the others,
Jake
Posted 6/11/2010 3:14 AM (GMT 0)
There was a study released just a few days ago that discussed the combination therapy of radiation and hormone treatment. A pretty good article about it could be found at www.medscap.com/viewarticle/723107 Basically, it said the combination therapy is better than hormone treatment alone.
Posted 6/11/2010 11:11 AM (GMT 0)
Jerry on Drums reading I was giving 4 months cassdix 2 shot Lurpron 40 srt 72g in 3 months period and it seems to have work it was a clinical trial at Emory in Altanta I also saw a oncologists same time
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