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PSA result in and not good

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Posted 12/18/2009 4:17 PM (GMT 0)
 

Well Guys,

I did not get the Christmas present I was looking for but I guess it could be worse.  PSA went up to 0.4 in 4 weeks.  Uriolgist recommends radiation even though my Path report was good he feels there is still a good chance it is local.  Bottom line its the only way we will know they do not have anything else.  Said he does not advise hormones at this time should try for a cure first.  He recommend the Lynn Cancer Center in Boca Raton it is brand new and they have all the latest equipment and are affilated with MD Anderson and Sloan.  Doctors are all experienced and I have a consultation on Tuesday with the radiation oncologist.  Also since MJ (my reseacher) and I had so many questions regarding whether this the right thing for me at my age and with my Path,  etc.  They are also setting up me up for a consulation with this thing called a Disciplinary Council  apparently they have a medical oncologist, radiation oncologist and uriolgist the present my case and discuss and then give their opinion of the best treatment.  Anyone ever hear of this?  At this point very confused knew it was coming but was still like a punch in the stomach when I got the news.  They are setting me up for all the scans to be sure there are no tumors and then said they would like to start treatment in 3 weeks.  Will know more next week still having my sister in Houston who works at Methodist hospital checking out the facility and doctor.  The location is convenient and the bests news they take my insurance.

Jerry1

Posted 12/18/2009 4:25 PM (GMT 0)
sad mad  Sorry Jerry. 

But I'm glad they have some reason to believe its still local.  Best wishes for a smooth and successful salvage radiation course. 

Time to kick the remaining mutinous little critters out!  Good luck.

Posted 12/18/2009 4:47 PM (GMT 0)
Jerry,

Sorry to hear the news, wish it were different for you. You and I were on similar surgery schedules. Salvage radiation at this point sounds sensible, you sure don't want that PSA a chance to rise any more.

I just completed that and will get my first post radiation PSA next week.

I wish you well on that, and please keep us posted.

David in SC
Posted 12/18/2009 4:55 PM (GMT 0)
Jerry, sorry the reading didn't drop. Seems like we being given almost identical advice. Please keep us in the loop. You've got decades of good tennis ahead of you and the Florida weather to get you out there playing.
Our best,
Jake
Posted 12/18/2009 5:34 PM (GMT 0)
Not good news but it sounds like your medical team is taking your desire for information very seriously. A tribute in part to you self education.

You mention your age as a factor and I see that you are 70, which is, of course, old. In three years when I am seventy that will be middle aged.

However by that time you will be 73 and looking back on the time when once you had PC (and got weird messages from the "kids" on the board)
Posted 12/18/2009 5:41 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Jerry,

I'm sorry to read that your PSA is on the rise again. I know first hand how discouraging that can be. RT is, of cause, your next logical step in attacking the beast. I had my SRT about a year ago and it seams to have been successful thus far with few side effects. I'm going for my 2nd 6 monthly test early in Jan.

Wishing for a successful outcome for both of us and for every other brother.

Please stay in touch.

Magaboo

Posted 12/18/2009 6:45 PM (GMT 0)
<<They are also setting up me up for a consulation with this thing called a Disciplinary Council  apparently they have a medical oncologist, radiation oncologist and uriolgist the present my case and discuss and then give their opinion of the best treatment.  Anyone ever hear of this?>>

 

 

These are not uncommon, partciularly at academic medical centers (teaching hospitals), and in my view are an excellent idea.   It helps to avoid a situation where the patient hears opposing views from different specialists -- all of which seem to make sense -- and then has no idea what to do.   The term "Disciplinary Council" is unusual -- makes it sound like someone did something wrong.  Maybe "multidisciplinary council."  But the name does not matter.  The approach is a good one.  

Posted 12/18/2009 6:45 PM (GMT 0)
Jerry, So very sorry about the PSA. Sounds like you have a good Dr that has a good plan of action to knock this PC out for good. Do keep us informed.


Jeff T
Cajun Country
Posted 12/18/2009 6:51 PM (GMT 0)

Jerry,

Just wanted to add that we are all pulling for you.  This is one of those things where we are basically bystanders, watching a bunch of folks in white coats work on us.

Best of luck, and be sure and keep us in the loop, even if all you want to do is scream.  We're listening.

Goodlife

Posted 12/18/2009 6:56 PM (GMT 0)
 

Thank you all for your comments it is great to be able to talk to people who know what you are going through and can tell it like it is.  Not sure the doctors are always completely honest about side effects.  I am being told that since I currently have no incontinence problems that should be the case after surgery and that the side effects are mild more frequency and some rectal bleeding from what you all have experience is this the case?

David, good luck on the PSA next week I will be thinking of you.

Jakester, you are right we are getting the same advice good luck on your treatments.

Magaboo, Thanks for the information and encouraging words on the treatments and side effects.

geezer99, I hope you are right I would love to look back in 3 years and have a good laugh with the kid.

Rolerbe, I definitely will try to take on this monster.

Jerry1

Posted 12/18/2009 7:28 PM (GMT 0)
Jerry1,

Remember what Dr. Peter Scardino said in his recent presentation to the New York Section of the American Urological Association (discussed earlier this week in another thread on this board) - in patients with locally advanced prostate cancer, the combination of first-line surgery followed by second-line radiation is associated with good prostate cancer-specific survival rates and in particular carries with it a much lower risk for prostate cancer-specific mortality than the reverse (radiation-surgery) combination.

You may feel like you are walking a tightrope, but it sounds like you have already gone a long way and you haven't put a foot wrong yet!

Zen9  

 

Posted 12/18/2009 7:55 PM (GMT 0)
Zen that was a very good post. I'm in the same boat Jerry so it's good to have this cheering section rooting for us.

Michael

Posted 12/18/2009 9:20 PM (GMT 0)
 

Thank you all again for your support I do not know what I would do without this board.  Things are moving fast I am scheduled for a bone scan on Monday morning and the council conference on Jan 8th.  I will let you know after I meet with the radiation oncologist on

Tuesday how it went.

Thanks again to all of you for comments and great information.

Jerry1

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