HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

VA Treatment

Support Forums
>
Prostate Cancer
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 7/24/2012 5:37 AM (GMT 0)
Has anyone had any experience with the Veterans Administration providing treatment? 

I have just been diagnosed, after a biopsy performed at the Prescott VA Hospital in Arizona.

The doctor suggested two types of treatment.  One is surgery and the second external beam radiation.

At first I was in favor of the radiation treatments, but after days of reading not too sure now.  If radiation fails there can be no surgery as back up.  If surgery goes bad, loss of bladder control.  I am at the point of just flipping a coin.  This is so frustrating.

3 of 11 cores on right and 1 of 13 cores on left had cancer.  gleason 3+3, score 6. PSA at time of biopsy 13

 

Posted 7/24/2012 5:50 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Gary:

More knowelegeable people than myself will soon join in

May I suggest that yoiu Google "YANA" "Yoiu are not alone. Terry Herbert has a fine PCa site there.

Read "The elephant in the room" first.

I have been in the VA hosp in Prescott myself many years ago. Very nice town.

Don

Posted 7/24/2012 9:29 AM (GMT 0)
Now is the time to educate yourself and look into all treatment options.
Just to confuse you further, assuming it is covered under VA, please look into Brachytherapy too as a treatment option.
Wishing you all the best.
Posted 7/24/2012 11:07 AM (GMT 0)
Hey Gary, welcome to our site and sorry you have to be here. The VA is just like private care. Its a hit and miss. Hopefully some others can advise you on the Prescott VA. Nice area there for sure. Anyways, take a deep breath and learn as much as you can about your DX. There are many different treatment paths and knowledge will help you decide what treatment is best for you. Sometimes you will have make some tough decisions. Everyone is individual with their DX and their priorities. But with more info, we can help you to find out what others similar to your DX chose and the pro's and con's. "Surviving Prostate Cancer" by Dr. Walsh is a good read.

Here is a good start...

https://www.healingwell.com/library/prostatecancer/info1.asp
Posted 7/24/2012 11:08 AM (GMT 0)
Gary M

Welcome to our little corner of the world, sorry you find the need to be here - but if you have prostate cancer this is really where you want and need to be.

I'm under the care of the VA Hospital in Washington DC. I have, and my Doctor Son in Law has been, impressed with the level of care, the knowledge and professionalism of all the staff.

I really like the computerized medical records, the one stop shopping (where I can have everything done at the single location), and the willingness to listen and discuss treatments.

As to what treatment is best for you, thats really up to you too decide. Learn all you can and than go back and discuss with your medical team.

Hugs!

Bud

We will beat this crap!
Posted 7/24/2012 11:41 AM (GMT 0)
Welcome to our forum Gary, this is a great place to find the information you will need to help make your treatment decisions.  You gave us your DX information but not your age. Your age will figure into what is the best treatment options to seek.  Your G6 grade means your PC is the least aggressive and you have time to make decisions for treatment as well.  Did the VA cover treatment with RT seeds or brachytherapy?  This can be very effective for G6 PC and provide a great cure chance up there with surgery and EBRT. You might also want to get a copy of Dr Patrick Walsh's book "Surviving Prostate Cancer" Dr Walsh is one of the pioneers in Davinci robotic PC surgery but his book also cover RT and seeds treatments.

AS for your question about the VA in AZ I can not offer any help but we have several members from AZ in the forum.  Another thing to look into, if you served on the ground in Vietnam you could have been exposed to Agent Orange which has been proved to increase chances of having PC. If this was the case you could be entitled to VA disability benefits. Good luck on your journey and please keep in touch with us.

Terry The Water Guy

Posted 7/24/2012 3:10 PM (GMT 0)
Others have given you very good advice about researching other options, especially brachytherapy. Sometimes the VA contracts with a major university nearby to perform some procedures, and I would ask about this.
In general after 44 years of dealing with the VA I would never have a major procedure done with them unless it was my only option. A brachytherapist should have at least 500 procedures, an RO 250 procedures and a surgeon at least 500 procedures before they would be considered experienced enough.
Posted 7/24/2012 3:59 PM (GMT 0)
Hey, the good news is it's Gleason 6 which is very treatable and curable..Very few men die from G-6 prostate cancer no matter how it gets treated. But with your PSA, it needs to be treated ASAP...

Much depends on your age, overall health and lifestyle when making your treatment choice...Treatment at a VA facility can be spotty..Some are excellent, some not so excellent...Just do your homework and the best of luck to you...
Posted 7/24/2012 10:25 PM (GMT 0)
We asked to be referred to a private surgical urologist and Tricare sent us to the Dr who ended up doing the surgery, very happy with him. If you don't want treatment at VA have the refer you off post
Posted 7/25/2012 2:35 PM (GMT 0)
Susan...tricare and VA are totally different. Tricare is for active duty, retired or some medical discharges and you have to be enrolled. VA is off post at a VA clinic and is used primarily for vets who dont have tricare. I have tricare too and was referred off post because most army clinics and hospitals dont handle cancer. VA and tricare are a totally different pool of money.
Posted 7/26/2012 12:16 PM (GMT 0)
I started receiving my medical care from the VA in April 75, and I don't have any complaints. Well, there is the one rude, condisending, SOB in the dental clinic at the Atlanta VAMC.

Rodney...
Posted 7/27/2012 6:14 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you all for your answers.

I have been going to the VA for treatment of my diabetes and they are doing a good job. The VA doctor said they farm out the external radiation to a cancer clinic, but we did not talk about the surgery option too much. He talked a little about both options. He wanted me to research both then get back to him to discuss the treatments and answer all my questions.

I am on disability for agent orange with the diabetes and have filed for the prostate cancer. It took 13 months to get the diabetes claim approved, so I am not holding my breath on the PC. It will probably happen but not too soon.

Gary
Posted 7/27/2012 8:25 PM (GMT 0)
My mistake
Posted 7/27/2012 9:11 PM (GMT 0)
Susan

No mistake really - the VA does use other doctors so what you said is correct.

We will beat this crap!

Bud
Posted 8/14/2012 4:40 AM (GMT 0)
Update on the VA treatment.

Just found out the VA in Prescott or anywhere in AZ. does not treat PC. They will send me to a doctor of my choice, as long as they accept payment from the VA.

I have heard a lot of Vets go to the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix so I will give them a call to see what they offer.

Gary
DX 7-19-12
3 of 11 cores on right and 1 of 13 cores on left had cancer.
gleason 3+3, score 6.
PSA at time of biopsy 13
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply