new to any forum need some one to help me sort all this out gl score 9

Well, the good news is that no mets have been found. They will probably want to start you on hormone therapy to prevent spreading. You are in Indiana, so I think the best radiation oncologist for you to talk to would be Alvaro Martinez in Detroit. He offers a kind of internal radiation called high dose rate brachytherapy - it can be done in one visit. That would be coupled with about 5 weeks of external beam radiation, which you can have done locally. That combination has the best record of success in cases like yours.

- Allen

Easy Ace,

First let me say welcome to the forum and so sorry you have to be here. Next let me say calm down, take a deep breath. PCa is treatable. There are lots of folks on this forum who have dealt well with exactly what you are dealing with for a long, long time. Being told you have prostate cancer, and a more aggressive form at that, is probably the scariest thing that will ever happen to you. There are, however, lots and lots of treatment options available, and lots of success stories on this forum. Some of the smarter folks on here will be along shortly. In the mean time, read the "sticky" threads at the top.

Best wishes to you.

Donna (DH-Randy)

Easy Ace-

See if the VA will allow outside treatment - recent investigations etc. may make it easier for them to accommodate you?

If denied, a call to your congressman can help!

Bobby Mac

Hi Easy Ace and welcome from another Gleason 9. I'm sorry about your diagnosis, which ain't great...but there's still lots you can do and you'll find all sorts of inspiring stories--and gentlemen--here.

I would echo some of the comments above about trying to look beyond the VA. You have an aggressive cancer with your G9 and it makes sense to treat it aggressively. HDR brachy (internal radiation), coupled with IMRT (five weeks of external radiation) and hormone therapy is one one of the best treatment options for high-risk diagnoses. It's what I had to treat my G9 cancer (and I'm doing very well), as well as CaliJR in the post above this. (And several other guys here.) Clearly, this isn't the only option, but it's certainly a good one and I think it's unlikely they practice this combo at the VA. I hope your insurance can at least accommodate you checking it out.

Even with a high-risk diagnosis, you can beat this. But you'll want the best possible medical team on your side. Good luck to you and I hope we can help you through your journey.

There are a ton of posts from G9 members, most doing quite well

www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=35&m=2863652

This is the original thread that got so long it exceeded forum capacity. the first post has a link to the continuation.

I'm not sure how the insurance coverage works in your case..At age 66 you are eligible for Medicare, which has several forms.. Medicare would allow you to pursue the treatment path spelled out by Tall Allen. If you wish to stay with the VA, you will have to accept whatever their standard of treatment is, which may be just fine or it might not...

You are indeed in a fight for your life, there is no way to sugar-coat that..But it is by no means hopeless.. If nothing else, it would be worth your time to have a consultation with Dr. Alvaro Martinez in Detroit and just hear what he had to say..You only get one shot at this so you might as well give it everything you have and do everything possible...The brachytherapy (seeds) combined with beam radiation has been around a while, it's not brand new..So the VA might be able to perform this procedure..I agree with Allen, get started on hormone therapy right away. It will stop your cancer from spreading while the radiation treatment is being set up....Best of luck to you....

Hey Easy Ace - I like your forum name there.

Sorry to welcome you to our group, but glad you found us. You've already benefited from the collective experience here - getting questions and backup for your doctor visits. You'll be one of their most knowledgeable patients! It helped me a lot in the initial days to know other guys had been through this, learned from it, and could help me plow through the blizzard of information and choices to make.

As a fellow G9er, let me also welcome you to the G9 Crew, the least favorite chapter of the least favorite club no one would want to join! I've added you to the roster on the thread we made for the G9 folks. As G9s, we tend to have some specific concerns, and also need to see successes. Nomar gave the link to the first thread, and here's the link to the second one with the most current roster:
www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=35&m=3182035&g=3182504#m3182504

The web is full of statistics that will likely freak you out about your diagnosis. A lot of that information is old, and you need to be careful what you read and accept. Our forum's Tall Allen has about the best collection of links to current information of anyone. His links are usually quite informative.

And, I'll add my own positive status for encouragement. I was frankly rather terrified at my initial diagnosis. It got better as the plan gelled, and then began treatment. It's now 3 years later, 2 months after the end of my treatment plan, and my PSA is undetectable while my testosterone is clearly recovering. This is very exciting and gratifying, and while there is never a guarantee in this mess, it is possible to have good results with the treatments available. Hang in there, keep breathing. We're here for you!

Hi Ace. I was just diagnosed G9 (5+4) on 6/3.2016. Also wanted to say sorry you had to join our "little group". I've just started my treatment and I like PeterDisAbelard statement about the nuclear strikes. I'm going to give it all the nuclear power allowed by mankind! (well, the medical authorities), I guess there is a limit..

But seriously, seeing that we both have just recently been Dx G9 I thought I'd introduce myself and wish you well and God bless - Mark