Starting to Panic

Also, anyone familiar with Dr Aaron Katz? He seems to be pretty well known, and is chairman of Urology at a major long island hospital, up until about 18 months ago was at Columbia Presbyterian.

I see reason for reasonable concern, but certainly not panic.

Hopefully, you will still dodge the PC bullet.

Personally, I would pass on the suggested supplements, but for me, supplements aren't taken anyway, and my personal oncologist is opposed to them. Not saying they are either bad or wrong, each to his own on that subject.

Good thing, if MRI showed any suspicious shadows, then uro could do a targeted biopsy into the shadows. that is how my PC was found on the 3rd biopsy.

Good luck, and steady nerves ahead, I suggest to you, my friend.

David in SC

Hi Prato:

Apologies in advance for my long, rambling response...

I'm new here myself - just diagnosed a few days ago -but I've had prostatitis for years, and I knew at the beginning of March that I was going to need a biopsy. So while it certainly wasnt welcome news, my Dx wasn't a surprise.

In my opinion, you have every right to panic, be afraid, curse the heavens, whatever you need to do. But here's the thing about panic: what good does it do you? Cancer is as much about genetics as it is about anything else - and you can't do anything about your DNA. But what about the things you CAN control? Are you living a healthy lifestyle? Did you improve your diet, step up your exercise program, manage your stress? If you answered no to any of these questions, now is the time to get on it - the bell of awareness is ringing my friend, and it won't ring forever.

The way I look at it, I've probably had PCa for few years already - all that happened this past week was that I found out about it. I've been slowly making the kind of lifestyle improvements I mentioned above for the past few years, but when I got my first inkling that I might have PCa, I stepped it up into high gear. Why? Because when I beat the cancer (and I plan to), I intend to be as healthy as I can for the rest of my life. I can't do anything about the fact that I got cancer - but diet, exercise and stress are things I have 100% control over. Sure wish I had gotten serious about it sooner - but you can't change the past - all you can do is look toward the future.

What if instead of feeling scared, you looked at herself as being lucky. The universe has sent you a message loud and clear: you aren't going to live forever, so take the best care of your body and soul NOW as you can. Some people don't ever get that message - they just drop dead of a heart attack without any warning at all. You've been given a heads-up - what a waste if you don't pay attention and make the most of it!

I haven't read your earlier posts - maybe you're doing everything you possibly can, and you're still worried it won't be enough to prevent PCa. I get it - but that level of worry and stress are the very things you should be trying to avoid. I hate that I have cancer. I hate that my wife, children, parents, family and friends are going to have something serious to worry about. I hate that my body is going to be very different after surgery. But I can't change the fact that I have the disease - all I can do is make good, informed choices, take care of my body the best I can, and have a positive attitude about my life and my health. That's all.

All that said...cancer sucks, and worry and fear strike me as perfectly reasonable responses to your situation. Just don't let those responses be the only ones you have.

I terms of supplements: I've been seeing a homeopath for about a year - I started last summer in the interest of improving my general state of health. She has me on all kinds of supplements and remedies, including 5000 iu/day of Vitamin D3 and something called UltraProstagen. Do I know for sure they're helping? No. But they certainly aren't hurting - and the way I see it, every little bit helps.

My completely non-professional advice is to stay focused on the things you find encouraging, and for the time being stay away from the stuff that scares you.

Apologies for any erroneous assumptions I might have made - feel free to ignore everything I said!

Wishing you all the best for a successful outcome...

Doug

prat,

just a long history of suspicion on supplements, not based on experience or fact, just gut feeling. When I underwent SRT, they were emphatic about no supplements. And with my current oncologist of 2 years almost, it's not so much that he's against them, he's just not for them. My longterm PCP of 14 years plus, doesn't even believe in the use of multi-vitamins for his patients, says all you end up with supplements is expensive pee. I know there are many other doctors that support various supplements. I guess no harm in taking anything that is known not to cause harm. If I ever saw convincing scientific evidence, I might feel differently.

I always advise people here, to be compliant to their doctors, so if yours wants you to take whatever supplements, it wouldn't be wise for me to advise differently
Your "history" is worrisome, but so far, you keep avoiding the bullet, that is the best outcome I could hope for you, and pray it stays this way. HW PC is a great club, but always a better place if one doesn't need to become a permanent member.

DouginLA said...
She has me on all kinds of supplements and remedies, including 5000 iu/day of Vitamin D3 and something called UltraProstagen. Do I know for sure they're helping? No. But they certainly aren't hurting - and the way I see it, every little bit helps.

Don't be too certain. See my posts on the subject of Vitamin D: www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=35&m=2678993

My brother was diagnosed 9 yrs. ago with low risk, indolent level of PCa, no treatments and so far so good and seems very sane in his case for doing A.S./W.W. So, even if found with PCa you might be within the reasonableness of A.S., which is a good world to be in assuming you have known PCa.

Seems vitamin D3 is absorbed better than regular D and many articles exist on its benefits, some supplements may be of usefulness, some are pointed out by Dr. Mark Moyad as 'hot air' . So, many variables in PCa as to aggressiveness and possibly changing or morphing and other unknowns that it is beyond simplistic science. Opinions vary all over the place as you will notice.

Purgatory said...

I always advise people here, to be compliant to their doctors, so if yours wants you to take whatever supplements, it wouldn't be wise for me to advise differently
Your "history" is worrisome, but so far, you keep avoiding the bullet, that is the best outcome I could hope for you, and pray it stays this way. HW PC is a great club, but always a better place if one doesn't need to become a permanent member.

David, yes, assuming i decide to continue seeing Dr Katz, which i probably will, i have to know that it means I am buying into his philosophy. I am ok with it as long as it does not mean forgoing more traditional treatments and doing ONLY homeopathics, like Steve Jobs did, before it was too late.

BTW, what got me interested in the alternative approach was someone I know who was diagnosed 10 years ago, and was told his PCa was very aggressive and out of the capsule. He had the surgery, and that was all. And he completely changed his diet, started on supplements, and its only now that his PSA has begun to rise again. So it seemed to work for him, i figured it was worth seeing Dr Katz (this guy did it on his own, not with Dr Katz).

But i know everyone has a different experience with this beast.

@Zufus, GOP, Allen - thanks for your responses. GOP i assume that was directed at me, not Doug.

Didn't know there was a difference between Vitamin D and Vitamin D3. I have been taking D3 with Glucomsine and Chondroitin. (Bad knee). I read Dattoli's piece that recommends NOT taking Chondroitin, as it can promote cancer growth. Seems weird but i am going to stop and take plain D3 from here on, and i think i will increase the D3 to 3000 IUs, and maybe up it again after speaking w my doc. My Vitamin D level is at 32 last it was tested, about 6 months ago. Thanks for that article Allen, interesting read.

prat, not saying you need to be on Lexapro, but being on it 3 days wasn't enough time to have it start to help. I was on it years ago, way before my cancer days, only thing I hated about it - it took every single thought of sex out of my head. not my ability, just never came up in my brain, lol.

Hey Pratoman,
See my name up there?
<------ Let me take care of some of the worrying for you.
Relax and go for a walk. I've got you covered for the next two hours or so.
Jeff

gams said...
P-man,
Sounds like your doing what you can with what you know , I wouldn't rush into anything as your PSA isn't that bad but keep an eye on it as you are . The question I have is :Has their been others in your family with PC or other cancers ? In my case both my brothers had PC ,my father and mother both had cancer as well as my sister has BC ,so genetically I was a high risk and I also ended up with it , both my brothers had their PROSTATES removed as I and all are doing fine ,but I think the awareness helped me cope and lead me to the removal so I didn't worry anymore .Everyone is different and all situations are different so only you can make your next decisions with all the information you get . I would say get more than one opinion especially if it climbs or jumps ,mine went from a 2.2 to a 5.2 in 6 MONTHS ,then the dre showed my situation had gotten worse. The vitamins can't hurt where your at, but any spike I would seek other alternatives and opinions asap ,being ahead of it is the real cure . By the way you are a member no matter what your diagnosis and we welcome you here as we all learn from one another .
Good luck friend!

gams

Thanks Gams,
Yes, my dad had PC, in his late 60's, and my mom had BC, died of it when she was 54. So i knew from the getgo that i am high risk.
You are right, need to be on top of it is key. I said the the doc, that my goal in seeing him was to make sure if i was diagnosed, that i was ahead of it. So i guess i should take solace in the fact that i will likely be, considering how on top of it i am now, with a 2.8 PSA.
Thanks for your response, and acceptance as a member. Lets call it member-at-large for now.

pRATo:

I am confused as to why all the fuss. Your PSA remains very low. Yes, it is starting to increase, but hardly cause for the alarm you are expressing. Also, my understanding is that FREE PSA is only accurate for when the PSA is greater than 4 (perhaps someone else can confirm or correct me on this). If this is the case, then your poor Free PSA score is a non-issue.

Mel