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Gunther from "Friends" shares his insight

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Posted 6/21/2021 6:10 PM (GMT 0)
Interesting short video to watch
https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/james-michael-tyler-gunther-friends-stage-4-prostate-cancer-144123144.html
Posted 6/21/2021 9:12 PM (GMT 0)
So sad. Another good example highlighting the need to start checking PSA earlier rather than later.
Posted 6/21/2021 10:36 PM (GMT 0)
Very sad, there but for the grace of G go I.
Mine, though Stage 4 with mets, apparently is not nearly as aggressive as Mr. Tyler's.
Wings

Post Edited (Wings of Eagles) : 6/21/2021 7:32:26 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 6/22/2021 1:24 AM (GMT 0)
At age 57, he is diagnosed with a PSA of 654. “At first, he was treated with hormone therapy and he felt well. However, things took a turn amid the pandemic when he "missed going in for a test, which was not a good thing," His cancer mutated and he suffered fractures in his bones, and tumors up and down his spine. It led to paraplegia, or paralysis of the lower body. He's currently undergoing chemo, which is "aggressively" fighting the disease.”
Posted 6/22/2021 2:32 AM (GMT 0)

Duck2 said...
At age 57, he is diagnosed with a PSA of 654. “At first, he was treated with hormone therapy and he felt well. However, things took a turn amid the pandemic when he "missed going in for a test, which was not a good thing," His cancer mutated and he suffered fractures in his bones, and tumors up and down his spine. It led to paraplegia, or paralysis of the lower body. He's currently undergoing chemo, which is "aggressively" fighting the disease.”

"things took a turn amid the pandemic"

well, not really
Posted 6/22/2021 9:30 AM (GMT 0)
It all comes back, yet again, to men not going to the doctor for wellness checks, and doctors (with the help and collusion of insurers and uspctf) not encouraging men to have PSA checks in their 40's.

With a PSA at diagnosis in the 600's, at the age of 55, his PCa has been there for several years. There was a point where he was curable...but that ship sailed long before diagnosis. Let's not critically parse his comments in the popular press. Let's hope his words prompt at least a few men to get checked before it's too late for them.
Posted 6/22/2021 2:47 PM (GMT 0)
I wish for the best for him and I hope some of the new drugs, therapies, and clinical trials might help.

Halbert - I’ve been dealing with PC since 2009 at age 44...I can’t believe almost 12 years later that PC screening is still a topic. The below article is a good summary of where the USPTF has sent confusing mixed messages over the years.

https://www.medpagetoday.com/special-reports/apatientsjourney/89612

....” In 2012, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) -- a powerful, voluntary group that sets guidelines for primary care physicians -- came out against the mass screening of healthy men with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood tests for the early detection of prostate cancer.

... In 2018, the USPSTF and the AAFP set off another debate when they recommended that men ages 55 to 69 should engage in shared decision-making with their physician about PSA screening.

So, unless there is something newer...it looks like they are still only recommending screening for men ages 55 to 69.
Posted 6/22/2021 3:21 PM (GMT 0)
My primary care physician noted the uptick in my PSA levels a year ago and sent me on the PCA investigation (resulting in my RALP in February). This was simply due to my not skipping my annual check up because I felt fine and didn't think I had any health issues. I posted my experience on Facebook, encouraging people to get caught up on their skipped checkups, and a number of people shared their similar experiences (with various health issues that were nipped in the bud due to the annual checkup) as well as others relating friends' and relatives' unfortunate demises from not doing those preventative checkups. I keep telling my friends to "trust the process" and that an annual checkup is a small expense and inconvenience for potentially significant affect to their overall health.
Posted 6/22/2021 3:36 PM (GMT 0)
I started getting annual PSA and DRE from my PCP at age 45 (a year or two before my dad died of PC), and was finally diagnosed 11 years later.

As I said, there are two issues: Many men avoid doctors and annual checkups. And then there are the screening guidelines. Sigh.
Posted 6/22/2021 3:47 PM (GMT 0)
I have been getting annual DRE's and PSA from my PCP's as far back as my early 40's and from 2 different hospital systems. I just thought that this was standard procedure. There has always been an issue with having a standard protocol and with communication over time which has been discussed at length.
Posted 6/22/2021 8:16 PM (GMT 0)
I too saw my doctor once a year. It was to renew my med for hypertension. I don't remember when the PSA and DRE became part of that annual visit but I think it was in my later 40s. When I was 66 the DRE was suspicious and the resulting PSA test had showed a rise. Next stop was a biopsy and the rest is in my signature.

I've told my own sons to get a baseline PSA at 40 and keep up on it.
Posted 6/23/2021 2:10 AM (GMT 0)
I was just going to post about this.

Michael is a friend of mine and this is just devastating. I'm also good friends with his wife Jennifer. This is so heartbreaking, He is a really, really good guy, and this is a tough diagnosis. I was wondering why he wasn't a bigger part of the whole Friends reunion thing. They kept it very private.

In my travels as a n'er do well, hack guitar player, and somewhat better songwriter, I've been writing songs with the 2 guys that are the Rembrandts for (gulp) 40 years. Way before the Friends theme song upended everyone's lives. Anyway, it's through that connection that I became friends with Michael (James Michael Tyler).

An extra prayer or two for him would be appreciated.
Posted 6/23/2021 2:32 PM (GMT 0)
GeetarMan,

We will definitely add an extra thought and prayer for him and his family.

I’m sure he is aware but if he is not, let him know about of the recently FDA approved PSMA scanning and Lu-177 treatment. That might be an option for him.

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/06/16/novartis-prostate-cancer-drug-receives-fda-breakthrough-designation.html

Has he tried the more recent HT drugs like Xtandi, Zytiga, etc...?

Let us know how we can help...this is an awesome place for support and information...

I am also available if he needs to talk to a fellow PC guy...

Thanks,
Jerry
Posted 6/26/2021 10:24 PM (GMT 0)

Jerry L. said...
GeetarMan,

We will definitely add an extra thought and prayer for him and his family.

I’m sure he is aware but if he is not, let him know about of the recently FDA approved PSMA scanning and Lu-177 treatment. That might be an option for him.

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/06/16/novartis-prostate-cancer-drug-receives-fda-breakthrough-designation.html

Has he tried the more recent HT drugs like Xtandi, Zytiga, etc...?

Let us know how we can help...this is an awesome place for support and information...

I am also available if he needs to talk to a fellow PC guy...

Thanks,
Jerry

I will pass this along. Thank you!
Posted 6/26/2021 11:14 PM (GMT 0)
Geetar, so sad about your friend, but wonderful to see his spirit and desire to reach out to men that need his message.

I suggest you help him connect with Michael Miliken at the Prostate Cancer Foundation. Several years he was diagnosed with advanced stage and poured much of his personal fortune into research, education and outreach through founding the foundation. The website is www.pcf.org. They provided the substantial funding for the new scans that Jerry referenced and are the leading source of research money for PCa. My nephew was on the leadership team for several years and may be able to help you connect.

Also, we have two great amateur guitar players/singers on the forum that have done tons of outreach that you should meet. TonyC and Todd1963 need to make your acquaintance. Let me know if I can help you with connections as I communicate with both of them frequently.

Best wishes to you and especially Jennifer and Michael. Please let them know they are in our prayers.

Jack
Posted 6/27/2021 2:49 PM (GMT 0)

Hello, GeetarMan •••

Thankful you are there for your friend Michael, who brought the character of "Gunther" to life on the show FRIENDS.

This is surely a tough chapter in his life story ...

He's going to value your friendship and camaraderie right now ...
as you stand alongside your friend.

I definitely remember his character on FRIENDS ---- and his character's role within the "Central PERK Coffee Shop" ...

I well remember the theme song from FRIENDS, a signature song by your friends from THE REMBRANDTS.

Poignant lyrics from the theme song was "I'll be there for you ..."

Best to you, and to your friend ~~~
CYCLONE ~~~ # Iowa State University
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