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1 YEAR AFTER RP PSA .5

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Posted 6/1/2012 5:28 PM (GMT 0)
Hello to all. Just got my psa result and it came back at .5 . I don't know what to do at this point, this could not have come at such a crappy time in my life, but there really is no good time. I am in limbo with a pending divorce after 25 years of marriage. I don't know what to expect and just don't feel like I have the energy to go thru this. I feel very depressed and find myself constantly thinking of my wife and kids and not the severity of this illness. I joined a local support group that meets once a month and when I walked in I immediately felt out of place not only because of my age (46) but because I saw all these men with their wives. I lost my best friend. As I sit here and type, all I want to do is give up. I don't know what sort of treatment is expected but I can't find the strength to start researching so I am just going to put all this away and try to clear my head. Posting this is helping.
Thanks.


I know a lot of yo will ask for my stats which I just dug up:
Gleason 6 (3+3)
perineural invasion : absent
tumor location: peripheral zone: right and left
tumor volume 10%
high grade P.I.N.: multifocal
seminal vesicles : negative for tumor
extraprostatic extension: absent
Posted 6/1/2012 6:03 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Carlitos

Well that is a bad hand you've been dealt but all I can suggest is that you treat each issue as what it is. A separation/divorce is never easy but you can get through that - don't beat yourself up, be patient, look to your changed life as opening up possibilities, even if you'd rather go back to how things were.

Your recurrent cancer is treatable and your surgery nipped it in the bud. That it came back is unfortunate but it's weaker than it was and there are many options for further treatment. I'm in a somewhat similar position and was about to make a post here when I saw yours.

Good luck ... you can get through this and find a new phase of life worth living.

Gerry
Posted 6/1/2012 6:23 PM (GMT 0)
Carlitos, sorry for your news, wish it were better. There's a course of attack most people use for BCR to combat cancer reoccurance. You don't say when your cancer first appeared or the specific treatment for it, but I'm gonna guess you had surgery. More details would be helpful.

Future action goes something like this:
1. retest to make sure the result in valid.
2. move on to a radiation oncologist or a medical oncologist or both. They can give you specific recommendations, specific to your situation.
3. Usually the next treatment step is salvage radiation, with or without hormone therepy. This will be a doctors and your choice after discussing the pros and cons.

The main thing is to study your options, discuss them with the experts and come to a decision that will fit you and your future. I realize you been emotionally gut punched right now, but you gotta look beyond the present, as the divorce will either happen or not, but your cancer progression, if confirmed, will continue to grow and that is something you will have to address, no matter what your current life situation is. Sorry to be so blunt, but you gotta fight the disease, while you fight to recover your balance from the blows you are suffering now in your persoanl life. We are here to help at any time, so continue to reach out.
Posted 6/1/2012 6:44 PM (GMT 0)
Have you seen an actual copy of the test result. I would go by the doctors office and get a copy of the print out and read it yourself. With your stats. your vaule of .5, although not impossible, is not likely. We have had several occaions here where the doctors office mis-read the test results. Also, you should retest to make sure it was not a lab error.

Also, did you have a postive margin or was it organ confined?  I agree with James C.  more details of your post-op and pre-op stats would be good.

Post Edited (ChrisR) : 6/1/2012 12:54:29 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 6/1/2012 9:46 PM (GMT 0)
I know the feeling fof the .5 six months after surgery but not on top of a pending divorce. But somehow my best guess is that you will make it thru all of this. Hope that you have some other supports in your life to help ease the burden. keep us posted.

Michael

Posted 6/3/2012 8:19 AM (GMT 0)
Hi, I had a PSA of 5.8 before RP, and 0.5 after, then I had Radiation, and after that, guess what 0.5, it stayed between 0.5-0.7 for 4 years, then a jump to 1.31, then 1.7, 1.0, and 0.9 in a year, so don't get too worried, It has been 5 years for me nearly, since RP and I am still here.

So don't worry too much my friend, 0.5 although a dissapointment, is small, your Gleason is encouraging, hang in there, your next PSA may well be the same or less.

Regards Mal.
Posted 6/4/2012 12:59 AM (GMT 0)
Carlitos,

I'm sorry to hear about your circumstances. Divorce is a bitter pill, and it's easy to see how a cancer recurrence on top of it can really get you down.

Quick story: One of my colleagues at work had a prostatectomy about 3-4 years ago. Six or eight months later he had a recurrence and did a round of radiation. Bummer. But his PSA has been undetectable ever since, and he may just be cured.

Hang in there. 90 percent of the crap we worry about never happens, and a lot of the rest isn't as bad as we think. Get retested and take it one step at a time. Get counseling or antidepressants if you need them. I think you'll get through this ok. Do what you need to do to get through this, and you'll come out the other side.

I'll keep a good thought for you.

Peace,

Jonathan
Posted 6/4/2012 4:11 AM (GMT 0)
Carlitos, Like all who posted before me, I am so sorry to hear of the gut punch you just got on the PSA test laid on top of the other life challenges you are facing. I hear you reaching out for help, that is step #1, good job. You will get through all of this and come out the other side strong.

I'm guessing some of the overwhelming feeling is coming from that initial shock of hearing the test results and not knowing what to do, and how you deal with this on top of everything else. Think back to the gut wrenching fear you may have felt (I know I certainly did) when you go the initial PCa diagnosis. Those first weeks were utter hell. Then for each of us, we came to terms with it as we got more knowledge and then got comfortable with our next steps as we got a plan of treatment figured out. It all took time, research, learning, and action. Right now you are in that shock stage. What you are feeling is normal. Start some learning in background, work with your doctors to figure out the plan. It's tough timing with everything else going on, but you can do it. Don't give up. You will win all these battles.

Hang in there. We are all hear with you. We are a sounding board, we'll be here.
Posted 6/4/2012 4:23 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks to everyone for their reply and much needed kind words. I am going to get retested on the 14th and see what happens. I will also requite a copy of the psa results as suggested. I am looking for something to take my mind away from this and the pending divorce. All I can do is try to stay focused and see what the results will be from the next test. I am currently seeking professional help as I have found it very difficult to sleep and function in my business. This weekend I made plans with friends who wanted to take me out golfing for the first time. I had to cancel because I could not get out of bed. I slept the whole weekend away. I have never done that before. I am hoping this week is better. Just tired of being punched in the gut.
Thanks again.
Posted 6/4/2012 10:23 AM (GMT 0)
Carlitos, my situation is similar. I was diagnosed in February and had my surgery late march. A little before my surgery the girl I had been dating for 3.5 years decided that was the right time to drop me and start seeing someone else.

Needless to say it was a heck of a second punch to the gut. At the lowest time of my life the girl I loved gave up on me. There have been times during the last few months were I felt like giving up but I didn't. And more importantly you can't. Now I know that I can't compare losing a girlfriend to losing a wife of 25 years but again just wanted you to know that I had a similar experience and have an inkling of what that is doing to you emotionally.  

This is my first post here and that is mainly because I just couldn't bring myself to post. But your situation struck a cord in me and I just wanted to share my story with you. Even though I haven't posted before I have been stalking the forum since the beginning of my surgical recovery. There are many good people here who will give you good advice on courses of action for your treatment. 

Mike
Posted 6/4/2012 2:16 PM (GMT 0)
Hang in there. Sorry about your divorce, that has to be tough. I'm glad you are getting help. Sometimes you just need that...and there are meds that help with depression. It's a tough couple of blows you have taken, but you will get through this. I hope things get better for you. Good luck to you.
Posted 6/6/2012 6:43 PM (GMT 0)
Carlitos,
Hang in therre my brother, GOD never places something on us which we can not handle... I too got diagnosed with cancer while going through a seperation and eventually a divorce. It was hard and there were days when I stayed in bed all day and night. BUT each day you make it through makes you a littel bit stronger. believe me I know from experience.. Talk to people get stuff off your chest.. and please whatever you do refrain from drinking as a vice.. Drink to enjoy yourself NOT to depress yourself. Each Day Carlitos make you stronger, and you need to be strong for your children and for yourself. I was so worried and twisted with what I was going through all my levels were out of wack. My blood suger and cholesterol was up. After my papers were signed and I STOPPED letting it bother me all my levels are back under control.. Go to the gym work out. Get this stuff off your mind because you have another battle to fight. I am here for you if you ever want to talk... my personal email is [email protected].... Take care...
Posted 6/6/2012 7:24 PM (GMT 0)
Buzz, and everyone else, thanks for the support. It's great advise but I have been going to the gym 4 times a week and bike riding. I also have been diagnosed with hypertension, high cholesterol and diabetes. I know it's bad because I am in the best shape of my life. I dropped 50lbs after my surgery and even though my wife was there for me for the surgery and recovery, I guess I was just hoping she would reconsider, but that isn't going to happen. I know it will be better once the papers are signed but I feel like she is holding on because of the lack of money. I find myself feeling used because she calls just when something needs to be repaired or when a bill needs to be paid. Now I have to find the energy to finish the remodeling I started a few years back because the house needs to be sold. I want to drop everything and tend to myself, but can't do that just yet. I need to put more energy to myself and this cancer issue.
Thanks again everyone. I have to promise myself that I will make myself #1 priority and everything else should follow.
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