New to the Forum. Looking for some positive..

JPS1, I transferred my case over to MSK in the fall of 2011, and have never looked back.That is 13+ years with a Gleason 8, and I am still there and very much alive. No miracles, but huge advantages in my view: top practitioners, one stop shopping for all treatment, seamless movements between oncology and radiation, deep bench should a doc retire, more ready access to clinical trials (did one, turned one down.) Wish you well as you run our marathon… Bill

I’m just a guy who has been very very blessed. If my life and my journey can inspire hope for others I am happy. There is hope. Cancer sucks but I just don’t worry about it much anymore. It’s easy to do. I am still doing well. I hope that should the day come when I am not responding well to treatment that I will be able to maintain that mind set.

There are very knowledgeable men and women on this site. I have met many. I have had a few as guests in my home. The most important thing we have collectively learned is that every person in the world is terminal. Are we more terminal than they are? Nope! Do we know when or how we die? Nope! Are any of us promised a tomorrow? Nope! We have today!!!! Make it amazing!! Don’t make it about cancer. Make it about life, family, love, laughter. Live it loud man. Who knows….. you may have so much fun you forget to die. That part in easy on ADT. I forget stuff! That’s what I do.

I think this is almost definitely attributed to your ADT. And I'm sure it will continue to go much lower. How often will they be monitoring your PSA and testosterone? I had monthly checks, but that was also tied to the fact that I was in my MO's office getting monthly Lupron shots and I know most folks would get the six-month long shots.

Question. As of yesterday, it’s been a month since my six month Eligard shot. The only side effects I’m having are that I feel a little weaker and that I get more emotional. No flashes yet. I’ve read that people often get hot flashes immediately. I have not. Is this odd or are they coming?

Jps, I started on Firmagon, didn’t really feel hot flashes or anything else for a month or two. Some on the forum never got the hot flashes. Let’s hope u r one of them. Even if you do start feeling them, it’s almost always easily manageable.

Update. Been on Eligard for almost two months. Zytiga for about a month. Last PSA was 1.9 on 3/13 (Down from 4.9 on 2/27) Just had another lab today. Waiting on results.

Met with RO at MSK today. He believes adding brachytherapy with external beam and ADT is the best way to go. Brachytherapy would be done in Manhattan in mid May ish along with fiducial market placement. External radiation would start about a month later.

I have some decisions to make now. Brachytherapy not offered locally and MSK has suggested that it should be done.

It seems the only downside to adding brachy is that you can't have the treatment locally. But you only get one shot at primary treatment, so if you can swing MSK logistics, I think it makes a lot of sense.

Glad to see your PSA heading down. I'd bet that the results of today's labs will be even lower.

“I love it when a plan comes together.”
Colonel John “Hannibal” Smith