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This beast is one persistent S.O.B.

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Posted 9/13/2009 12:58 AM (GMT 0)
Hello guys and gals,

Had my 9 month post-op on Thursday and my Psa was .2.  That's double from the 6 month.  I thought I was doing all the right things, with exercise, eating properly, etc.  Things were good and I felt great.  Doc said he doesn't normally see this number 9 mos. out.  He has seen it at 2 yrs. out.  So, next month I meet with the radiation oncologist.  Had a handle on ED, no continence problems, and my reaction was, "Well, S..T!"  He agreed.

My wife did not take it well, nor did the rest of the family.  So, we'll see the man next month and figure out the procedure.  I am so pissed right now that I find it hard to concentrate on other things than "will this darn pestilence just go away and leave me alone!"

Sorry to vent , but what better place.  PC has been mostly pushed to the back of my mind for quite some time and that was fine. Now it has come front and center and it's time to deal with this once again.  So what do I do?  Well, playing 18 holes with my sons and son-in-law today helped.  Knocked the dickens out of the ball today and addressed the ball as "YOU S.O.B.!"  Whew.  That helped.

One quick question,please.  I will do the research later but how many treatments am I probablly looking at, and what are the most probable side effects?  I know everyone is different.  I'm looking for a baseline.  Thanks in advance for the insight.

Have a lovely evening. 

Bob

Posted 9/13/2009 1:14 AM (GMT 0)
Bob, I know how you are feeling. I did my surgery about 2 months ahead of you, you can see I am on a similar reaccurance path as you. Monday I will be meeting with the 3rd radiation oncologist, and so far, all are reccomending salvage radiation asap, including my own surgeon/uro and the first 2 rad. oncologists. I just want to be left alone with this PC too, know what you mean.

Have no incontinence, not even my two post surgery corrective surgeries due to my blockages, and never had ED from day one, I too am worry what the radiation will mess up with me, and obviously, do I really need it ,and do I really need it now.

Talking to the radiation oncologist will be a good next step for you. Please keep us posted. I will post late Monday about the visit with the 3rd one. Running out of choices in my more limited area, and not in a position to travel far for other specialists. So I am hoping the 3rd time is the charm with this doctor.

Good luck to you, don't let it get your completely down. You got good reason to be pissed. My family was so disapointed, not mad, when they fully realized and comprehended my new situation. But they are onboard now, and ready for whatever must be.

Keep the faith, brother, and your chin up.

David in SC
Posted 9/13/2009 1:35 AM (GMT 0)
Ralph, I'm so sorry you're facing this "beast" again ... and so soon after surgery.

As the wife of a PCa guy, I know how your wife feels. Husband has his next PSA next week to see if his last reading of 0.1 has changed (hopefully it has - DOWNWARD!). All of his readings have been 0.0 so we're watching the PSA very closely. Hubbie is 17 months post op. Margins were clear but there was a single microscopic extraprostectic extension in the posterior.

Wishing you and your wife well...and keeping everyone on this board in my prayers.
Posted 9/13/2009 1:35 AM (GMT 0)
Bob, can't answer your questions as I have no experience but am glad you came here to dump your emotions. That's one of the main purposes of this place...
Posted 9/13/2009 2:01 AM (GMT 0)
Bob,
I had my robotic surgery 3 weeks after yours. SO far I've had to <.1 PSA but I'm afraid that my next one be like yours. I also work out and play golf and feel great. It seems that PCa is such a stubborn S.O.B that doesn't want to let go. Hang in there, you still have a lot of options to fight with.
Posted 9/13/2009 2:17 AM (GMT 0)
I would add some more four letter words to your reaction, but they would just get bleeped, and besides,
I'm sure that you have already used them.

Well, as we tell newcomers, take a deep breath. Just when you thought that life would go back to normal, you have this. I doubt that it is any comfort, but the nomograms don't improve your odds until three years of zeros -- which is to say your situation is not unusual even though you seem to have drawn a short straw.

I can't comment on what lies ahead -- probably a bunch of tests and then perhaps radiation. Frightening, but those who have had to walk this path before can give us hope and courage. The beast can still be beaten.

My prayers are with you and your family.
Posted 9/13/2009 3:46 AM (GMT 0)
I'm guessing probably radition will be suggested, with or without hormone treatment.
Posted 9/13/2009 5:18 AM (GMT 0)
What were your 3 and 6 month results?
Posted 9/13/2009 12:56 PM (GMT 0)
Sorry to hear your latest news. Take that Gulf club and pretend you are swinging at those cancer cells knocking the **** out of them clear out of your body.

Larry
Posted 9/13/2009 2:35 PM (GMT 0)
I'm getting my 22nd Rad on Monday, out of 36. I barely met one of four crtieria for radiation after my February RP. So, it's probably 'prophylactic' in nature, I hope. There have been no side efects to speak of yet, a bit tired after the Thurs and Friday tx's, some mild bowel irritation at times, usually also late in the week. They treat Monday-Friday, giving the weekend to recover. It's no big deal. But I'll see how I feel in three weeks when it's over!
Posted 9/13/2009 2:48 PM (GMT 0)
Ralph, Sorry to hear of your situation. As others said, your most likely next step is radiation. I am getting 40 treatments. I am three weeks into the eight week course. No significant side effects. The docs say that the salvage radiation will stop progress on continence and ED front, but usually does not reverse it. My thought about your situation is that with PSA jumping this fast, you don't want to wait a month to take action. Greg
Posted 9/13/2009 8:32 PM (GMT 0)
I am so sorry to hear about your latest PSA results. My father had a poor path report come back after his surgery and the entire family was devastated. I felt more devastated by the pathology report than I had his dx with PC. So, I completely understand where your family is coming from. The good news is that you have had time to heal from surgery and regain strength and piece of mind. I have no doubts that you will sail through radiation. My father had an easy time with radiation and did not suffer any major side effects. Granted....he had radiation immediately following his RP, so he didn't have much time for recovery on the incontinence or ED front. However, he is pad free now. He had a little diarrhea caused by the Radiation but it was controlled with Immodium and Metamucil. He also had more fatigue, but was able to work. Good luck and please keep us posted!!
Posted 9/13/2009 10:53 PM (GMT 0)
  I start radiation on 9/22.  Golf does help.  I finished playing about an hour ago.
Posted 9/13/2009 11:10 PM (GMT 0)
Greetings, Bob.  Sorry to hear your news.  You know you are always welcome to come here and vent - anytime.  Trust you will do well with your follow up treatment and whatever treatment you have will knock the cancer out of there once and for all!  David

Posted 9/14/2009 12:13 AM (GMT 0)
Bob, I wouldn't worry about it. We have been fighting this beast for eight years...Pete's PSA just came back at .9 ....well up from before Feb 2009 , AND after all of the treatments the
doctors offered...I don't kow whether Pete's Pca is virulent or a docile one, but , here we are also...What I know for sure is this: No one ( even the doctors) knows for sure what to do....Just enjoy each day....Dont try to second guess yourself and your options..Each day that you are angry or pissed is a wasted day, Please, just force yourself to smile and enjoy your life. We have been in this for eight years...We were where you were years ago, and it did not help anything. Just enjoy your life and FORGET about the Pca... My advice to you is to :Go on a vacation with your wife....Di
Posted 9/14/2009 1:17 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks, everyone. I've cooled off now and have accepted that it is what it is. The odd thing about this is that the pathology looked great. No lymph node involvement, all margins were clear, no invasion anywhere as the scans were all clear. But going from undetectable at the 3 montth to .1 to .2 was a little disconcerting, to say the least. But you're right, Di. I need to file this is in my noggin somewhere far in the back. Will start doing the research tomorrow and take what comes . Sigh.

Thanks all,

Bob
Posted 9/14/2009 1:26 AM (GMT 0)
I think Di said it all. Enjoy the day. That is great advice and it is very hard to not let fear, stress and other events take over. It still xxxxes me off when people say, oh you had prostate cancer you will be fine. If only everyone knew what this disease is capable of. One thing for sure, you are following up with doctor's and doing everything you need to be doing so take peace in the fact you are and will fight this cancer.
Posted 9/14/2009 1:27 AM (GMT 0)
Ralph, I hate what this darn illenss does to us!!!!. Hang in there know that you can always vent here. Many of us have.

Jeff T
Posted 9/14/2009 11:57 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Bob, it's a real pain when things go the wrong way, I felt bad the first week when my oncologist said that it looked like the radiation was not successful and my PSA was on the upwards trend, then I realized all I can do is go along under the care of my doctors, and hope we can keep this thing under control, and being down all the time was having a negative effect on me and my wife, so I am just now trying to live my life as normally as possible.

Best wishes to you. Mal.
Posted 9/15/2009 12:44 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the thoughts, ROb, Jeff and Mal.
You know my folks, their folks, and their folks all lived well into their eighties (Pop is still hanging in there at 83). And with all the advances in medicine and research you'd think that we all had a shot at least at 90. But, things being what they are, I guess we just take it one day at a time and try not to get hit by a bus, or shot by a jealous husband as we're hurrying out the bedroom window trying to get our pants on.

So life goes on...and as my sister in law says, "No one gets out of here alive."

My best to you all,
Bob
Posted 9/15/2009 4:33 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Bob,
You'll do fine, just stay positive. Don't let this stupid disease ruin a nice day. Di says it very well. Keep on keepin' on is the only way to move ahead...


Tony
Posted 9/15/2009 5:40 PM (GMT 0)

 ...Hang tuff Bob, keep the head held high, stay on the positive side and keep moving foward......you'll do great!

Posted 9/16/2009 12:33 PM (GMT 0)
Rob2, I agree with your statement! When my husband's August PSA came in at 0.1 (after being 0.0 since March 2008), my sister in law said to me "we have to get you to calm down...no one dies from prostate cancer." I wanted to go through the phone and throttle her!! People tend to pooh-pooh PCa because of its reputation as a slow-growing "non-threatening" cancer. My response is cancer is cancer and while there are certainly types that are more curable/manageable than others, it is still a serious illness.

I try to educate people as best I can but find that sympathy for PCa patients and what they (and their family) can go through is just not there. I have even found doctors who tell me not to worry so much ... prostate cancer is curable. Wonder what some of these guys would say if it was them going through it.

Take care everyone.
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