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Radiation as my choice-now over

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Posted 12/24/2016 1:29 PM (GMT 0)
OK I`ll check in with how my treatment worked out. Gleason 7 with some 4`s...wife with dementia and no help at home , so I decided on radiation as opposed to the needed recovery time of surgery. Plus the SE`s of surgery didn`t appeal to me. I went the traditional route, in my case 6 month lupron...shrunk the gland from 42cm to 33cm..lowered the PSA from 10.2 to .04 at time of rads.Had the option of HDR`s at the 5 week mark of rads , but was too worried about SE`s of HDR`s because of my very weak stream( like Artist Mark). So, went for the 45 fractions ,81 grs....... the first 25 fractions , I was in the Tomotherapy tube for 3 1/2 minutes (radiating gland and surrounding area) and the final 20 fractions just the gland.I also had the fiduciary markers for tracking for the IGRT. The 45 fractions turned out to be basically a non- event......actually I had better bm`s during the 9 weeks ...and no worse urinary problems. I weighed in before the Lupron at 138lbs. and now 161lbs. I feel great and welcome the extra weight...I`ve never weighed more than 155 in my life , so this extra weight stretched out a lot of the face wrinkles etc LOL !......I know many of you folks are looking into Cyberknife etc....but this traditional way of dealing with the problem sure was good for me. In my case , just getting away from the house for 45 days was great. Now that my wife has gotten used to a couple ladies here on the island(staying with her on my trips to town-15 miles away) , I`m going to keep them on 2 days a week , so I can have some more time for myself. ........I am VERY HAPPY I chose radiation and Dr Brown and his team at 21st Century in Cape Coral Fl. did a fantastic job! Now ...if it only worked ??? Best wishes for all the folks here on HW that have helped me through this ordeal and for the many more to come along that have to make "the choice" PLEASE CONSIDER RADIATION.........OK surgery guys , you can pile on now ..LOL ....Merry Christmas!!!!!! David
Posted 12/24/2016 1:59 PM (GMT 0)
I also went with radiation. I'm self employed so there are no sick days. So far so good. Just had PSA tested at 0.4
Posted 12/24/2016 2:44 PM (GMT 0)

Fl Drifter said...
.... I weighed in before the Lupron at 138lbs. and now 161lbs. I feel great and welcome the extra weight...I`ve never weighed more than 155 in my life , so this extra weight stretched out a lot of the face wrinkles etc LOL !.........


Sigh, I gained about 10-15 pounds which I didn't need during radiation thanks mostly to Lupron and some stress eating. I've been a waist size of 34 for probably 45 years, now I've 'improved' to a 36. Oh well.

As far as surgery vs. radiation - usually either one is a great and effective treatment. Advantages and disadvantages for each.
Posted 12/24/2016 4:15 PM (GMT 0)
I'm glad to read that you've made it through in such good shape and spirits, David. I'm yet another outspoken "raddie" - actually a CyberKnife "Post-Toastie." When I looked into treatment options, it became evident that for many of us low and intermediate risk patients, all of the treatment modes work about equally well. We have to choose based upon the side effect profile of the treatments and how they will impact our lives.

I'll second the motion of "Definitely look into radiation." Once you understand ALL of your options, then make an informed decision for yourself and never look back.

Again, congratulations and best of luck to you, brother.
Posted 12/24/2016 4:23 PM (GMT 0)
I went the RT route too and am happy with my choice.

You're going to do fine. Glad to hear you got some help with your wife - being a caretaker is difficult enough and little help is more that justified.

Keep us updated on your PSA reports.
Andrew
Posted 12/24/2016 4:53 PM (GMT 0)
Congrats on completing treatment and glad to know it went so well! And it seems like the process has let you put in place some things to help you manage life at home, so glad to hear that as well.
Posted 12/24/2016 5:30 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome to the post-toasties. Isn't that great that it opened up new options for you.
Posted 12/24/2016 5:43 PM (GMT 0)
Fl Drifter said: ",,, So, went for the 45 fractions ,81 grs..."

That was my path (as memorialized by the "81" in my user name at left).

Just posting to note that this kind of path can work, as my signature below indicates, so far so good after four years out from RT.

May it be so for you as well!
Posted 12/24/2016 5:54 PM (GMT 0)
so I`m officially a member of the "Post Toasties`s" COOOOL !! ....THANK YOU ALL !! yes, it`s been a rewarding experience in a number of ways ....and seems to be the end to a good year..not great ...but definitely GOOD !! Looking forward to some #`s like 81`s ! I`ll be keeping you all posted ~David
Posted 12/25/2016 1:21 AM (GMT 0)

81GyGuy said...
Fl Drifter said: ",,, So, went for the 45 fractions ,81 grs..."

That was my path (as memorialized by the "81" in my user name at left).

Just posting to note that this kind of path can work, as my signature below indicates, so far so good after four years out from RT.

May it be so for you as well!

Man, 4 years out and still undetectable. (I had hoped for that, but alas it seems another path is mine. Still a good number, but there's nothing as satisfying as that undetecable number!)

Keep it going; glow little glow worm, glow!
Posted 12/25/2016 10:53 AM (GMT 0)
I also got the 80 Gy...AND the Luprolides AND the surgery. I too hoped that those would leave me with zeros...but they haven't sad. Hopefully the can has been kicked down the road, however.
Posted 12/26/2016 3:30 PM (GMT 0)
Redwing57 said: "… Man, 4 years out and sill undetectable."

Who knows, maybe I've just been lucky so far.

Yes, I am aware that with my numbers it looks like there's a good chance the RT took care of this thing, and I really can put it in the rear view mirror and walk away from it now.

But if there's one thing that's absolutely, undeniably, true about this beast, it's that it can be full of nasty little surprises, sometimes popping up rather unexpectedly.

In fact my uro has told me that he frequently sees it happen in his patients that a PSA will suddenly "jump" a little, even after being consistent for years. But he pointed out that sometimes it's just the testosterone increasing a little, or the irradiated prostate tissue regenerating a little (I was an RT guy), or even just a simple infection.

In short, he says not to let a little increase in PSA mess with your head, if it should happen. It would take a consecutive series of rises to raise the possibility that something is going on.

So, I definitely still pay attention to the annual PSA tests, but the best way to do that is to take (and think about them) one at a time.
Posted 12/26/2016 3:58 PM (GMT 0)
I don't know what Lupron is so I don't know if I had it. 25 rads and seeds over a year and psa is 0.03. Would do radiation again. Tampa Bay Radiation Oncology. Dr. John Steele.
Posted 12/26/2016 4:13 PM (GMT 0)
Drifter - Great results - Wishing you continued low PSA scores

I too selected radiation over surgery. So far, everything going well. Waiting for normal testosterone.

I might have selected proton beam therapy if there was a facility nearby. There aren't many posts about this treatment here on HW but I believe that this will be the "go to" treatment in the future.

Happy New Year

Al
Posted 12/26/2016 4:49 PM (GMT 0)
Radiation (HDR Brachytherapy and IMRT) was a no brainer for me. Three surgeons and a medical oncologist all said it would not be curative and I would need radiation in addition. Why go through the increased risks and side effects?

Six years after my initial treatment was finished I am cancer free and side effect free.

Well done Drifter. Glad we could help you with all of this.
Posted 12/26/2016 6:16 PM (GMT 0)
Yelim
Where is Tampa Bay radiation
I'm in Clearwater
Jack
Posted 12/27/2016 1:21 AM (GMT 0)
Google John R. “Jack” Steel, radiologist.

He was my first choice in my local area, before finding Dattoli in Sarasota, check both.

Dattoli treats only prostate cancer, since the 1980's. Steele is,or was a generalist.

He did treat a neighbor, they were very pleased with him.
Posted 12/27/2016 4:02 AM (GMT 0)
Good on ya Fl drifter...your mind is a head....
Posted 12/27/2016 5:36 AM (GMT 0)
Great job David. That's a long haul. I'm glad you made it to the other side!I have my first PSA test on the 4th. Also get my 3rd luprin shot. Battle on brother !

The Atistic One -Mark
Posted 12/27/2016 12:08 PM (GMT 0)
Lupron, Eligard, Firmagon and related chemicals are given to those of us with prostate cancer in order to reduce or eliminate testosterone from our bodies. This then will stop the cancer from growing or spreading, sometimes forever.

They are, as a group, referred to as "Luprolides" and they work by shutting off your pituitary gland. Several of them - including Lupron and the others I mentioned above, are given by mixing 2 chemicals and then injecting them into your muscle tissue, often the abdominal muscle tissue. This then forms an oval artificial gland-like structure that time releases the chemicals into your blood stream so they can remain active for a long time - as long as 6 months per dosage.

When prostate cancer cells are deprived of testosterone they supposedly cannot reproduce or travel to other parts of your body. If they mutate further so the Luprolides do not stop them they are called "refractory" and other methods must be employed to deal with them.
Posted 12/27/2016 4:08 PM (GMT 0)
Mark ..let us know .....Bodat...cool !-I think.....Thanks to all for the thumbs up !.....David.....
Posted 12/27/2016 4:19 PM (GMT 0)
Sun City Center Offices in Tampa, Brandon. Listed as TBRO. They have the Cyber Knife commercials on TV

Hope4all said...
Yelim
Where is Tampa Bay radiation
I'm in Clearwater
Jack

Posted 12/27/2016 4:23 PM (GMT 0)
OK I think I remember a shot in the stomach. Thanks for explanation.

trailguy said...
Lupron, Eligard, Firmagon and related chemicals are given to those of us with prostate cancer in order to reduce or eliminate testosterone from our bodies. This then will stop the cancer from growing or spreading, sometimes forever.

They are, as a group, referred to as "Luprolides" and they work by shutting off your pituitary gland. Several of them - including Lupron and the others I mentioned above, are given by mixing 2 chemicals and then injecting them into your muscle tissue, often the abdominal muscle tissue. This then forms an oval artificial gland-like structure that time releases the chemicals into your blood stream so they can remain active for a long time - as long as 6 months per dosage.

When prostate cancer cells are deprived of testosterone they supposedly cannot reproduce or travel to other parts of your body. If they mutate further so the Luprolides do not stop them they are called "refractory" and other methods must be employed to deal with them.

Posted 12/27/2016 4:56 PM (GMT 0)
Come on driftmeister...you know dat...
Posted 12/27/2016 10:06 PM (GMT 0)
"Post-Toasties"! I love it. I used to get toasted once in a while way back in the day! I guess I'm one of the group for better or worse....no regrets. Fight on brothers!

-Mark
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