Just getting started

Bohemond said...
A second issue -- Have you filed for VA disability benefits yet? As a Vietnam vet, assuming boots on ground, you would qualify for temporary 100% disability while your cancer is active, and this includes while you are under an active surveillance program.

I was Navy - in-country all of '68. I'm currently receiving partial disability for residual effects of treatment and awaiting decision on my application for return to 100% due to return of active PCa.
Jim

Bohemond, I am a Vietnam Vet, too. Can you direct me to the site where I can begin the VA application process for disability? I found an application for disability that is a prostate cancer questionnaire to be completed by the physician. VA Form 21-0960J-3. Is that the one? Many thanks, B.

I'm glad you're working on it as a team.

Here's the full text study from last month's issue of JCO on the topic you're interested in, showing no association:

ascopubs.org/doi/full/10.1200/JCO.2016.69.6203

Fortunately, with your diagnosis there's no reason to use it anyway.

Update:
Two visits to Vanderbilt and have made my decision. The Vanderbilt team is amazing and much better organized than any of my local facilities. Lesson learned: Seek second opinions when in doubt! The hardest part of this journey is determining what you should do. Involve your inner circle. Thank you my wife for helping me with my research and guiding me in making my decision. Ultimately it’s a matter of trust….trust in the professionals, the research and the people around you that have “been there, done that”! Here is what ultimately helped me determine my course of action:
1. The second opinion at Vanderbilt helped shore up what I had, with research, determined what would ultimately be my decision. I started all over after seeing my local Urologist (he advised against surgery to remove the prostate due to my problems with Peripheral Artery disease (PAD)). I trust him and wanted some “extra support” from the Urologist at Vanderbilt and he (Dr. David Penson and his Intern, Dr. Kang) supported this prognosis.
2. My second “second opinion” was from the Oncologist at Vanderbilt (Dr. Eric Shinohara). Like the rest of the areas of expertise Dr. Shinohara had an Intern that was very knowledgeable and concerned with my condition. After a 30 minute session with the intern, Dr. Shinohara came in and explained the different courses of probable and most effective action as follows:
a. 9 weeks EBR (external Beam Radiation); long but less risk of damage to other areas
b. 6 weeks EBR; less time, higher radiation, slightly higher risk of damage to other areas
c. 1 week with injection of Gel to separate the Prostate away from the rectum. Much higher radiation with slightly more risk of damage. Similar to “Cyber Knife”.
3. Since I am at the bottom end of intermediate risk I had plenty of time to research and make this decision. I took my time……I knew that I was not in any immediate danger.
Here is the decision that I have made and my reasoning behind it:
6 weeks of EBR. Vanderbilt is about a two hour drive from where I live so I took the middle Option because it seemed to be the best of both worlds and would accomplish the same end. They provide a free place to stay during treatment called the “Hope Lodge” funded by Cancer research. It is about 3 blocks from the Vandi cancer center so getting the 20-30 minutes a day for 6 weeks is much easier on the patients. Kudos to the staff at Vanderbilt…..super attitudes that make you feel like they want to treat your cancer in the most professional way.
So there it is…..I will call Monday to start the process and report out on any significant events. Let me know if any of you have any questions. I monitor this site often. I appreciate all the input and help with my research. Good luck to you all.

I'm glad you made your decision after a lot of good work on your part, and I think it's a good one.

A couple of comments in support of your decision...

2b. I have seen no evidence that there is any higher risk of damage to other areas with the shortened radiation schedule:

/pcnrv.blogspot.com/2016/09/hypofractionated-radiation-therapy.html

Does Vanderbilt offer SBRT?

2c. SpaceOAR hydrogel rectal spacer: If you want to save some money, I don't think there is a compelling reason to do it. If it's fully covered by your insurance, there is not a big reason not to.

/pcnrv.blogspot.com/2017/01/spaceoar-hydrogel-is-difference.html