Posted 1/5/2013 2:58 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Everyone - I am way way way overdue in posting an update on Eric. 2012 was a crazy year and I am very happy to say goodbye to it. Here is our timeline in a nutshell starting with Eric's dramatic PSA rise in late 2011:
• October 2011, PSA increases to 2.0
• November 2011, PSA increases to 3.5 (WTH!)
• November 2011, C11 choline scan at Mayo Clinic detects nothing
• January 2012, Dr Leibowitz suggests HT with possible radiation. Also, dosage of Revlimid increased from 5mg/ day to 10mg/day
• Feb 6, 2012 PSA = 2.98
• Feb 24, 2012 PSA= 3.15
• Mar 3, 2012 PSA = 4.16
• March 2012 Meeting with Dr Myers, with suggested supplements, (Resveratrol, Pomegranate capsules, Lecithin, Super Curcumin) added.
• April 2012 Sand Lake for Feraheme MRI/CT scan by Dr. Bravo shows significant number of affected lymph nodes in the iliac and retroperitoneal area. (pelvis and lower back)
• Also in April I receive word that the company I have worked for for 29 years is “re-organizing” my discipline and I need to post for a new job. (Our insurance is through my work)
• There was a couple of months of down time here due to waiting for the scan reports and some communication issues with Dr. Myers office.
• July 16 – I receive breast cancer diagnosis-luckily low grade
• After discussing Sand Lake results with Dr. Myers, then scheduling a conference with Dr. Datolli, we determined that Eric is an excellent candidate for DART, however the inguinal lymph nodes could not be radiated due to prior salvage radiation just after his prostatectomy. Surgical removal of the inguinal nodes was recommended.
• Based on Dr. Datolli’s referral, we make an appt with and fly to Long Island to see a Doctor to have Eric’s femoral nodes surgically removed. Unfortunately through some unexplainable miscommunication, upon our arrival and meeting with the Dr. we are informed he did not understand the nature of the surgery and can not perform it. So back home we go with nodes intact.
• That surgeon referred us to another doctor in Salt Lake City that performs a similar removal of the inguinal nodes but does so endoscopically. Although the risk of morbidity from endoscopic surgery was significantly less than that from open surgery, Dr Myers felt that the risk was still too high, so now it appears that the best course of action is to get the node biopsied specifically for molecular profiling purposes. This must be done prior to Eric starting the HT that will be required prior to undergoing Dr. Datolli's radiation protocol.
• Nov 2012 – I undergo a lumpectomy and 5 days of twice daily radiation. Results come back great, margins clear, lymph nodes clear. Moving on.
• Dec 2012 - PSA HAS DROPPED FROM 4.1 IN OCTOBER 3.1!!!!
• Dec 28, 2012 – Eric has biopsy of femoral node for molecular profiling.
Phew! Our next step is to determine what HT Eric will go on for 2 months prior to heading down to Sarasota for the Dattoli protocol, it will most likely include Xtandi.
So, 5 years and 3 months after prostatectomy things are going pretty well but we're still hoping and fighting for a time when we can have the luxury of prolonged periods of time that Pca doesn't dominate our thoughts and lives. We're looking forward to a year of progress and good things. We wish the same for all of you.
Amy