Posted 2/25/2018 2:26 PM (GMT 0)
Hello Gunner 34,
We were both diagnosed about the same time when we were in our 40s. As with you, I am beginning my fifth year of survivorship. I continue to pursue treatments, in consultation with my local doctors and my doctors at Mayo Clinic.
I, like you, have had some meaningful successes with my treatments. There have also been setbacks, but my doctors have continued to find new ways to overcome these setbacks.
I pursued the "early chemo plan" shortly after I was diagnosed. I continue to be an advocate for that approach, in cases like mine. I have now been on Zytiga for over 30 months. I just returned from Mayo Clinic last week, and am planning to add a series of radiation treatments to my treatment plan.
Just as you are experiencing, I have close friends our same age who now share in our diagnosis of advanced prostate cancer, Gunner. It's sobering, isn't it? These friends who share in our same diagnosis are told, "I am sorry. You are incurable."
Those are tough words to hear for anyone. It's at that point that you have to embrace TREATMENTS, rather than the elusive thought of a cure, for advanced cases. My prayer is that fellows in the future can be told, "Don't worry. There is now a CURE for advanced cases like yours."
Ironically, I have friends from EVERY chapter of my life who now share in the diagnosis of advanced prostate. These include friends from my hometown, m college roommate, work colleagues, my church minister friend, and friends from my community.
I shouldn't know that many close friends, at our age, who are now diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer. It sounds like you have experienced the same phenomenon, Gunner. It's difficult finding out that lifelong friends share in my diagnosis. Yet, it leaves me determined to continue pursuing treatments alongside them. I have a tight bond of brotherhood with each friend of mine who now shares in this diagnosis. They are, indeed, my brothers now, in every sense of the word.
My grandfather passed away in the 1970s with advanced prostate cancer when I was growing up. There were no treatments available to help him, at that point in time. His courage continues to encourage me.
Since then, my father has also been diagnosed with prostate cancer. Dad and I now share many of the same doctors. We continue to support friends who face this diagnosis.
Meanwhile, all of us here on this website hold onto hope that each breakthrough medication and treatment brings to us. Right now, I have to be content with strides and advancements in research and hope that we are inching ever closer to a cure for cases like ours.
I know you have been an advocate for research causes, and I continue to seek ways to promote more research and to raise funds for our brothers who stand alongside us in this battle. You have also provided support and encouragement to others here on this website, Gunner, and been a loyal brother here on Healing Well.
My hope is that advancing research will consistently provide remissions that can last for decades at a time for advanced prostate cancer. I also pray that arduous treatments such as months of chemotherapy and radiation, with their inherent side effects, will not be necessary to achieve these long-term remissions in the future.
I hope that more breakthrough treatments, such as XOFIGO, ZYTIGA, and XTANDI continue to emerge. I'm thankful for each breakthrough medication, but we have brothers in this battle who desperately need more treatment options right now.
Your post captured emotions that I have experienced along the way, Gunner. Thank you for your ongoing outreach towards other brothers in the battle.
Handshake from "one brother to another brother" ---
CYCLONE - Iowa State University