85 yr. old's treatment update

Well I started out with a psa count of 7.8. A urologist at the Geisinger Danville Clinic informed me that because I had been on finasteride for several years my true psa was likely somewhere in the range of 10-15. She recommended a biopsy. A few weeks later I saw a local urologist who performed a biopsy--but the office procedure was abruptly discontinued after my blood pressure precipitously dropped. One one core was taken and this showed the presence of an aggressive G8 cancer --3+ 5--of 24%. Ct and bone scans were negative and the urologist believed the cancer was contained. This scoring was upgraded later to G9--4+ 5 by Dr. Epstein. Meanwhile I was put on firmagon which dropped my psa to 3.9. After 3 mos. on firmagon my psa count dropped to 1.8. I then switched to a 6mos. shot of Lupron and began 9 weeks of radiation at the Dunmore PA facility NROC for a total of 8100cGy. I experienced no side effects from the radiation per se but the Lupron caused night sweats, hot flashes and chills. My uro prescribed Megastrol as needed and the side effects subsided almost immediately. Today, after completing the radiation treatments my latest psa reading is 0.1. The radiation oncologist is thrilled--and so am I. I am virtually free of all side effects. My appetite has not changed and I have gained no additional weight. In short, I'm back to normal and feel great. Is my optimism warranted this early in the game or is this result largely the work of the ht? I began all this in April of '18. I'm due for another 6 mos. Lupron shot this coming April.

At the moment the drop is largely due to HT, but the RT is working. It's too early to tell how much effect RT has had. Once you're completely off HT, your PSA may rise a little.

So far sounds like you're doing just fine and that's a great PSA number!

Andrew

I am happy for you Writeblock. You will need to keep exercising resistance and some aerobic. You might end up gaining a little weight, but you can deal with that later. I wish I had tried Megastrol. I finished my 6 month on Lupron in November and still have some night sweats. Also I have to deal with losing 10 Lbs around my waist. If you have any side effects remember they will go away. I had a little fatigue after the radiation ended. It has been about a month and my stamina is slowly coming back. Best wishes!

69 yrs., 44 3D-CRT/IMRT Radiation delivered via 3D-CRT in 1.8 Gy minimum dose fractions to a total of 79.2 Gy., 10.5.18. PSA .012, 8.12.18, 1.42 June 18, 2018 (Lupron 5.21.18 & 8.15.18), 12.7 May 2018, 13.7 Jan. 2018, 2.1 May 2012. SpaceOar 9.6.18, testosterone <.7, 8.15.18, Tot Mayo 19 ng .17 testosterone Free 6.18.18, Gleason 3+4=7 involving 15% of the right apex and 15% of the right mid, 3+3=6 prostate cancer involving 5% of the left base. Pathology interpretations by John Hopkins, UNM Cancer, and SF Path 3+4=7 or 4+3=7 MD Anderson Proton Center w/o %. T3 MRI w/ contrast 1.8 lesion left side 5P, Neg. Bone Scan. Prolaris test 3.5 consistent with intermediate and a PTEN test negative. Father PC age 78 RT & ADT now 94 yrs. Neurogenic bladder due to lumbar disk disease and recurrent bladder neck contracture with urinary retention man. 20 years doing catheterizations. TURP & scaring 2003, Finasteride 5 milligrams daily since 2002.

Great to hear good news WB!