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Pathology Report - Stage IV

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Posted 4/25/2023 2:44 PM (GMT 0)
Raquetman, nobody is in your shoes, and as Todd said, the decision whether to take this fight on is a very personal one. As he also said, just be informed. Have serious conversations with your doctors about how difficult, or not difficult, treatments will be.
I had the surgery and was back on the golf course in 8 weeks. Three years later i had radiation plus 6 month hormone therapy, and while i cant say it was fun, i got through it and within a short time, i was back to normal .

Maybe try just treating, see how it goes, you can always change your mind, and stop, especially if you choose radiation over surgery

Whatever you decide, I'm sure i speak for all here, we will respect your decision. If you decide to treat though, keep in mind, we are all here to help you through it, with plenty of advice and forethought based on experience.
Good luck man, and again, stick around.
Posted 4/26/2023 4:31 AM (GMT 0)
I acknowledge that these are cherry-picked replies to this video on ADT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClrbnTmJohg&t=1s nonetheless these are real reactions.

"This is an excellent presentation. While emphasizing the importance of exercise and physical activity, the doctor did not mention that, for many men, ADT removes any desire or incentive to exercise. I've been on ADT for 15 months, and just cannot bring myself to exercise. I just don't care anymore. I used to exercise regularly, and now don't do it at all. So for me, ADT has made it difficult for me to do what needs to be done to offset the negative effects of ADT."

"Let’s be clear. ADT is chemical castration in all but name and the impact of the side effects far outweighs the benefit. You may live longer but at what price to your general health and quality of life?"

"Adt side effects are pure hell, quality of life sucks! Wish I never had taken this, having heart issues now, easy to say go and exercise will make you feel better. Brochure never explained how debilitating this drug is!"

"I’ve had most of the side effects. I had one hormone shot and that’s enough. Death looks better."

"I had bicludimide, alligard and lupron and promptly became 99% woman. After puberty I experienced menopause and started male puberty again. I am now 60/40 male female freak, and no longer have any interest in women."
Posted 4/26/2023 5:02 AM (GMT 0)
Dear racquetman,

You had been through hell even before you got this PCa diagnosis. I won't try to tell you whether you should seek treatment or not, as that is a very personal choice. Still, I think it is possible that you are suffering depression, for good reason. Regardless of whether you seek treatment for your cancer, I think it would make sense for you to look into therapy and the possibility that you are depressed.

FC

Post Edited (fiddlecanoe) : 4/26/2023 2:54:35 AM (GMT-8)

Posted 4/26/2023 5:38 AM (GMT 0)
Racquetman, I just finished 18 months of ADT. Yes it had its drawbacks, but I didn’t let it hold me down. I still played golf, worked out and continued to do everything I did before I started on it. There were times I got tired in the afternoon. Sometimes I pushed right through, other times I took a short nap and was ready to go for the rest of the day. You say you played racquetball and were good at it. Just because I was on ADT doesn’t mean I couldn’t give you a good game and probably beat you a few times and I am 70 years old. Of course I have a never give up or give in attitude. You say you have no friends, well you have many here if you want information or a place to tell us to go to_______, whenever the mood hits you. In any case as you can see none of us want you to give up. I have a feeling that deep down you have more fight left in you. At least I hope and pray you do.
My best wishes,
Jack

Post Edited (Jack64) : 4/25/2023 9:42:03 PM (GMT-8)

Posted 4/28/2023 12:33 AM (GMT 0)
Racquetman,
I'm 77 years old and have been on ADT for a few years, first with Degaralix, later Lupron and now with both Lupron and Zytiga. Please don't believe only the negative reviews. People's experience with these treatments vary.

I oversee and work on town conservation land as a volunteer. Six weeks ago I and 3 other volunteers were out in the snow with our chain saws. cutting a very large - nearly 3 foot diameter fallen tree into sections and rolling those sections off a trail and ensuring the remaining tree-fall was safe. Last Saturday I and several volunteers hammered in posts, hung wire fencing, and installed a gate surrounding a thousand square foot starter pollinator meadow. This coming Saturday I'll meet a truck delivering 6 cubic yards of mulch to the conservation land and continuing work to rabbit-proof our new fence, while also training a new volunteer.

My knees tell me I'm not 19 years old any more. But I'm in no way unmotivated or unable to do physical work. I don't take naps, I read copiously, I'm upping my guitar skills from "all-three-chords" to playing jazz standards. I'm not saying some people may not get hit harder by this stuff than I have been. But my inclination has always been to believe the alleged Yogi Berra quote "ninety percent of everything is half mental" and to figure out how to do things and then do them, even when it takes an effort to get in gear.
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