HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Next up - targeted Radiation & ProStar Trial

Support Forums
>
Prostate Cancer
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
12
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 12/26/2019 6:48 PM (GMT 0)
On December 23rd, I had a CAT and Bone Scan. Today my blood work. PSA up to 5.8, more than double in three months. Scan showed a new Met on the Left 7th rib along with the ever existent L 4 Vertebrae. So new Met and rising PSA. You would believe in the clinical trial world that this would indicate progressive disease. No you need two new mets. So currently, if I stayed on the current course PSA would rise, and would play waiting game on developing another met to become eligible for the study drug.

After a long and healthy discussion with my MO I have come to a decision.

Enough of this crap. I am going to kill cancer. Targeted radiation on the mets. Kill them, see if it drops the PSA. Stay on Xtandi and hope no new metastases. Stay in the trial, and get the study drug when another comes a knocking. They show up, I am going to kill them. It has been six years. I have had some success and some not so success. From here on the cancer dies and I live. Peace brothers,

Mike aka kmclark1
Posted 12/26/2019 6:50 PM (GMT 0)
I like that plan. good luck Mike!
Posted 12/26/2019 7:16 PM (GMT 0)
I also think it's a good plan. I also feel your frustation. I think I would feel the same way. Blasting the mets seems better than waiting for more. I hope it slows the progression.
Posted 12/26/2019 7:26 PM (GMT 0)
Mike, I applaud your decision.

The “wait for your next met” game strengthens the cancer and weakens you. The cancer likes to be in charge and get the upper hand, don’t let it. Kill, or be killed. Simple calculus.

Go for it and best wishes for your side!!

Jack
Posted 12/27/2019 1:17 AM (GMT 0)
I approve your message.
Posted 12/27/2019 4:22 PM (GMT 0)
Charge!!!
Posted 12/27/2019 5:50 PM (GMT 0)
Good luck Mike, you have a great mindset. Like your aggressive style, wishing u the best. MM
Posted 12/27/2019 8:59 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Gents. Also switched from Lupron to Eligard as the Lupron manufacturer has told Dana Farber they have shortages. Anyone else experience this?
Posted 12/27/2019 10:51 PM (GMT 0)

kmclark1 said...
Thanks Gents. Also switched from Lupron to Eligard as the Lupron manufacturer has told Dana Farber they have shortages. Anyone else experience this?

Wow. That’s interesting
Posted 12/27/2019 11:21 PM (GMT 0)
Yikes. Hope they have Lupron for my next shot. I suppose it wouldn't make much difference, but would rather stick with what I'm doing.
Posted 1/7/2020 9:33 PM (GMT 0)
Just left my initial RO consult, and mapping. THe RO had reviewed my file in detail, which was comforting, and spent an hour with me reviewing the steps. After the consult had a CAT scan and MRI so the Techs could set up the software to guide the radiation beam, Very cool technology. They set up a mold using a "bean bag" chair and vacuum so I can be placed in the same position for the treatment.

Survived the MRI. Waiting to hear if it will be three treatment s or five.
Posted 1/7/2020 9:51 PM (GMT 0)
Looks like you're set. I hope the RT knocks the mets back for a long time. I've haven't had mets visualized yet, but I figure this type of treatment is something I could be looking at some day.

Good luck!
Posted 1/8/2020 3:24 AM (GMT 0)

Hello, KMCLARK1,

I like your proactive plan --- you're the quarterback of your own medical team --- and you're taking the football and running with it.

You're taking charge and pursuing an active treatment.

We, as your comrades here, stand alongside you.

Sending you my 100% support!

My best,
Cyclone - Iowa State University
Posted 1/8/2020 12:11 PM (GMT 0)
I am in the same place.
6 month Eligard Dec 5th, just went over the paperwork with the lab for Xtandi yesterday, RO talk session with pictures 3 weeks ago. December Beaumont Hospital Radiation Oncology departmental meeting focused on my case and possible treatment of 2 hot (as per Axumin F18 PET scan) pelvic lymph nodes. RO says he can do it and has a plan, developing the 'how' right now. I will hear the details in Feb. A bit complicated as I had adjuvent radiation in 2013 and the hospital is just beginning to treat oligometastatic (new vocabulary word) cases with me.
I also hope to kill the greater part of what remains, though time will tell.
Posted 1/8/2020 9:36 PM (GMT 0)
best wishes, I still hope to avoid the path you are traveling but guys like you give me hope

medical treatment and medical technologies get better with each passing year
Posted 1/9/2020 3:22 PM (GMT 0)
“Kill or be killed”- it simplifies the choice, doesn’t it? Best of luck with the plan.
Posted 1/15/2020 8:40 PM (GMT 0)
Had my first SBRT treatment today. The Rad Techs determined that my arms were in the collusion path for the L4 vertabrae path. We had a new body mold done for the vertebrae and went through the SBRT treatment. Painless and quick. I am very pleased today. I killed some cancer today and will be back for some future appointments with more SBRT.

Kill Cancer

Mike (aka kmclark1)
Posted 1/15/2020 8:54 PM (GMT 0)
Keep on killing!
Posted 1/20/2020 12:49 PM (GMT 0)
It never stops. Friday morning had a flat tire on the way to my 0820 appointment at DFCI. You never want to change a tire on Quincy Shore Drive during rush hour. Ugh. Spare valve stem leaked, so I go towed. In the meantime called the RadOnc Office and the rescheduled my appointment for later in the day. Got the tire fixed. Made my revised appointment and killed some cancer. (Programming had not been completed for my vertebrae, so only one spot treated)

Killed Cancer

Mike
aka kmclark1
Posted 1/21/2020 5:20 PM (GMT 0)
I am new to this Mike , three months in, I am inspired and educated by so many of you.
You are a courageous man. Keep Fightin' Keep Killin'
Posted 1/21/2020 5:26 PM (GMT 0)
Keep us updated Mike. Wishing for good results with the spot radiation. I figure I might be doing it some day.
Posted 1/21/2020 8:58 PM (GMT 0)
mike -- I have three words for you 1) Uber. 2 & 3) Kill Cancer! smile
Posted 1/22/2020 3:41 PM (GMT 0)
if you do not take charge, you will end up a guinea pig for the medical practise down the road.
it is your life. do with it as you deem fit.
do not wait for spring, do it now
now means your chances are far better of survival than later.

focus treatment is showing better results than before. whatever i read, shows this type of brachy is getting better results.

go for it
best of luck.
Posted 1/22/2020 4:43 PM (GMT 0)
So round 4 today round 3 yesterday. Treatments done on rib started vertebrae this morning. Traffic not to bad. 0900 appointment and back at my desk at 1100. Pretty quick trip from Brigham's and women's to downtown Quincy. My monthly MO appoint tomorrow morning and round 5 and 6 on Friday and Monday.

Felt a little warmth on my back this morning. Rad tech said it was not unusual. No Side Effects to Date.

Tomorrow is blood work, and it will be interesting to see if the PSA went down.

Heads up, eyes on target, fire. Cancer killed today.

Mike aka kmclark1
Posted 1/28/2020 5:38 PM (GMT 0)
Just finished my sixth srbt in ten days and had two appointments in between, while working full time. Exhausted. Ro thought there is some fatigue with the Radiation. Otherwise ready to go.

My PSA in the middle of this rose to 7.4 on Jan 23, 2020. Next appointment 2/23. We will see if it has any affect.

Either way, I killed some cancer with the great Brigham & Women's ? Dana Farber RO team, and rang the gong on the way out the door. Will let you know about were this trip is taking me after the next appointment, Continue on xtandi, get the prostar drug, move to new drug. stay tunned!
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
12