Oncologist Follow up visits

I meet with the Oncologist last Thursday.

You may remember that a week ago today, last Monday, I found out that my PSA was .12 after rising from .05 the previous time.  The time before that it was .04 and before that it was .02.  Not a good trend…

Regardless, with my history, low grade Gleason 6, no positive margins and because it took over three years post prostatectomy to reach .12, the prognosis is good for success with the radiation therapy.  The Oncologist thinks so anyway.  They say that there is a 65% chance when you consider all those that go through this, but with my factors it sounds like they think that the chances may even be better then that.

Today I want through my preparatory session for the radiation therapy.  I did the enema thing at 6:00 AM, drank the bottle of white yuck at 7:00 AM.  I even drank more water versus evacuating the tank from the night before as I usually do in the morning, just so that my bladder would be fully extended for the CT scan…  Oh what fun we have with this stuff.

After they did the CT scan, I was initiated into the RT club by getting my three tattoos and X marks the spot markings.  I always wondered when I would get my first tattoos…

I will be starting my daily ritual for RT on March 1^st.  Can’t you tell that I am looking forward to the next two months of fun?

I will keep posted on how things go.

To all my fellow PC survivors,

Ted.

Get my Calypso markers in this Thursday and CT simulation scheduled Thursday week. I'll be going thru adjuvant RT at the same time your SRT. Hellavu club to be a member of. regards, <bobr>
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Age: 54
Routine Physical on 10-20-2010 DRE Normal
PSA 4.3, up from 0.6 5 years prior
PSA 0.6 on 10-25-2005
PSA 0.4 on 7-30-2004
PSA 0.5 on 5-9-2002
Followup with Urologist on 11/10/2010 after elevated PSA; DRE noted slight bump
November 30th, 2010 had prostate biopsy.
December 9th, 2010, Biopsy results 3 of 12 cores positive.
LLB: Gleason's 4+3=7, 11 MM Tumor Length/15MM Core Length (73%)
LLM: Gleason's 4+4=8, 12 MM Tumor Length/15MM Core Length (75%)
LM: 0.1 MM Tumor Length (1%)0.1 MM Tumor Length
Urologist recommended robotic removal using da Vinci method.
RALP Surgery 12/27/2010 Released: 12/30/2010
Thunderbird Banner Hospital, Glendale, AZ
Post-Surgery Pathology: GS 4+5=9
Pathologic Staging: pT3a, N0, MX; location: Left Side; Volume: 10%
Margins: Left posterior inked margin focally involved
Extraprostatic Extension: Observed
Seminal vesicles: Not observed
Lymphatic/Vascular Invasion: Not observed
Catheter: Removed 15-days after surgery

Post-OP Followup on 1/11/2011; Catheter/Staples removed
Adjuvant IMRT 8 Weeks Post-OP.
No exercise for 4 Weeks Post-OP.

Radiation Oncologist Initial Consultation on 1/18/2011

Ted, this is no big deal..(the treatment, not the bills) I just finished 40 days of 1.8 Gy a day and it was a piece of cake..about 2/3rds of the way through, you may notice a little more urinary frequency and urgency but that was it for me..No bowel issues at all, no fatigue, no "sunburn", no real discomfort..