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Very high PSA 1440, Prostate cancer spread to bones confirmed - Now What?

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Posted 8/15/2011 11:23 AM (GMT 0)
Radad:

Spectacular news!!!! What a scary time to go through! Let us know what else develops.

HOuseboy
Posted 8/17/2011 1:19 PM (GMT 0)
Bud, just reading along and it is good to hear the news about your treatment!  Enjoy those special walks with your wife and I wish you the very best on this journey.  This Healing Well forum was so valuable to my husband and I.  There are some terrific people here, as you have already discovered.  Good luck and prayers are coming your way!

Best wishes,

Aimzee

Posted 8/17/2011 9:14 PM (GMT 0)
Aimzee

I understand what you mean about Healing Well being so valuable. It is here where I learned so much and felt welcomed by everyone.

While the last weeks have been very difficult, I shudder to think how much more difficult they would have been without all the great people here.

Thanks!

Best Wishes to you and Ron - I just noticed me and Ron are the same age. Both of use retired and entering our second childhood!

Live Long and Prosper!

Bud
Posted 8/18/2011 7:46 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you so much, Bud!  We take care of our young Grandchildren while my daughter and son-in-law work.  Literally, we are enjoying some of the joys of childhood such as playing hide and seek, going to the park, having tea parties, playing with Hot Wheels & Matchbox cars, and watching Sesame Street!   turn

Knowing the cancer is gone and we will have many more years together is such a relief!

May things continue to go well for you!

Best wishes,

Aimzee

Posted 9/3/2011 2:17 PM (GMT 0)
I tried to do a New Topic and for some reason Healing Well would not take it - Topic is Smoking and PCa - I also need to update all on my most recent Oncology visit (all positive)

In a recent JAMA (journal of the american medical assn) article - JAMA, June 22/29, 2011—Vol 305, No. 24 - they state the following;

Current vs never smokers had a 61% increased risk of prostate cancer death.

Current smokers had a 61% increased risk of prostate cancer recurrence (measured by PSA).

Current smokers had a 213% increased risk of cardiovascular death.

Greater number of pack-years was associated with increased risk of prostate cancer death.

Current smokers of 40 or more pack-years vs never smokers had an 82%increased risk of prostate cancer death.

Current smokers of 40 or more pack-years vs never smokers had an 48%increased risk of prostate cancer recurrence (measured by PSA).

Compared with current smokers, those who had quit smoking for 10 or more years or who have quit for less than 10 years but smoked less than 20 pack-years had prostate cancer death risks similar to never smokers.

Right I read the JAMA for light reading, Sure right! SO ok my Doctor SOn-in-law sent it to me. Heck I do not even understand half the article! Laughs!

Still - if you smoke - more reason to stop. Thats one of the lifestyle changes I embraced shortly after being diagnosed with PCa.

Live Long and Prosper!

Bud
Posted 9/3/2011 2:52 PM (GMT 0)
Now to the update, on tuesday 29 August myself and my son-in-law (Doctor who is invaluable!) went and meet with my Oncologist. The appointment was scheduled by my Oncologist as during the first appointment I had so many questions.

I had prepared three typewritten pages, page 1 was my current treatment plan and questions, page 2 was what I am doing, third page was the timeline to date - I've shared that with y'all here.

After we all sat down, exchanged general greetings - the basic question from the Doc (do you have any pain - my response no), how about side effects - my response well I have been having some issues sleeping - wonder if it could be the Casodex that I take right before bed time (I keep the Casodex on my night table along with my glaucoma eye drops) - Doc said Casodex would not affect sleeping but to try taking in the morning. Ok that works for me. Than he went on and said normally they TELL patiants to stop taking Casodex after they have been on the Zoladex - BUT since I am so engaged and have been doing so much 'homework' - If I felt the Casodex was helping I could continue - BUT they prefer to stop it as soon as they can and than use it further in the treatment if it is needed. We had a long discussion and decided I'd stop the Casodex now and continue the Zoladex, Zometa and Calcium 500 MG / Vitamin D 200 .

We talked about supplements, the Doctors (the 2 Oncology Doc's and my son-in-law) all said it is best to get the supplements (like Lyopene) from your daily diet. I have read that other places, also supplements generally have no firm medical foundation. Was a good discussion. On the Pomegranate - he said sure if you liek it go ahead and drink it - how much good will it do you? Well how much good do you think it will do?

We talked about diet, yup a healthy diet is better for you - sure you can have a steak once in a while, and yes you can have a scotch once in awhile also (grins - during the first visit I had told him I really enjoy a good scotch / whiskey). Still eat healthy - however you can.

I asked what should I be asking that I'm not also told him my plan is to live one day longer than my wife and I will do whatever I can to help the medical team achieve that
The Doctor laughed and told us how the medical team had meet the thursday before and talked about how I was coming in fully prepared with lists and everything and my own doctor (son-in-law). The team said I am more prepared and involved than 95% of the patiants!

Next treatment - next tuesday being Zometa, than in early November a PSA test and my next Zoladex shot. The team fully expects my PSA to drop.

In closing he said I was NOT to worry, thats what the team is doing. I should go enjoy life and take the cruise (I had told him during the first visit I had a cruise scheduled in Sept and had cancelled it and asked when I could go on a cruise). Cruise is now scheduled for week of 9 October!

All in all a great appointment, we were with the Doctor for close to a hour and he took time to explain and discuss things with us.

I could not have been more pleased! Oh yeah I mentioned Healing Well a few times:)

Folks - THANK YOU! Without everyones help here I would never have been as prepared as I was (am).

Today -daughter who just recently returned from CA and daughter and son-in-law are coming over for lunch. We are having salmon, brown rice, a mango-pineapple salsa, some korean style veggies (healthy diet!) some white wine (well kinda healthy). After lunch we are all going crib shopping - Imay not have mentioned I am going to be a Grandfather in January! A little baby girl! Eldest daughter is with child! Gads our baby is having a baby! I am going to be a GrandDad!! Life is good!

Live Long and Prosper!

Bud
Posted 9/3/2011 3:54 PM (GMT 0)
Bud,

What a great update and report, and before I forget, congratulations on your upcoming Grandfather time. I have 2 grandchildren right now, so I know the feeling.

Sounds like you got a great oncologist there, that is treating you as a person, unique to your case, that is exactly what you want.

I was please to read the attitude about supplements and diets. That's an excellent and balanced view. There are no extremes in there, just sensible thinking. It matches exactly what I have been told by all my doctors, and 3 different oncology dieticians. All of them were opposed to severe dietary changes. And they all teach moderations in the things that we love, in your case, the occasional steak and your love of scotch. In my case, its my love of chocolates and sweets. I am still learning to control some of my intake. Even trivial things like these, contribute to a good quality of life while battling our cancers.

Your doctor's statement on the dreaded POM word was in line with every doctor I have talked to it about. If you like it, drink it.

I think you are doing all the right things, and wish you god-speed as you move forward.

David in SC
Posted 9/3/2011 8:52 PM (GMT 0)
Bud,

I enjoyed chatting with you last Thursday night. You have a perfect attitude and great medical team. I think you should have a scotch or two (or three or four?) on that cruise. wink Enjoy life!! And, congratulations on your soon-to-be granddad status.

SC

Posted 9/4/2011 7:43 AM (GMT 0)
Bud,

Thank you so much for sharing your journey with us.

You certainly have a way with words, which allow me (for a moment) to think that prostate cancer may not be so bad at all. :)

I love your attitude and your sense of humor.

Keep on, keeping on... it is totally within you to kick this in the buttocks!

Congrats on the new bundle of joy arriving in January! My 4th grandbaby (BOY) also arrives in January!

You want to outlive your wife by one day....well, I want to have a "cutest" baby poll in January! turn

Be blessed...

Angelle

Posted 9/5/2011 8:56 PM (GMT 0)
Purgatory / David
So much of what I talk to my medical team is what I heard here. On the entire thing about Diet - the Dietician told me there is no such thing as a cancer diet - but there is a healthy living diet. She also recognized and voiced Quality of Life, step outside the healthy living diet occasionally - not frequently (she said as she stared at me <grins>) Yup healthy living diet makes a lot of sense, consuming a entire box of Girl Scout Thin Mints in one sitting (which I have been known to do) even to me does not qualify as healthy eating.
I am really pleased with my medical team they are taking the time to explain things to me and not just dictating.


Southern Comfort - I enjoyed last weeks chat also, the call I had to step away for (and never got back from) was from daughter#1 (the one with child) who than passed the phone to daughter#2 who was visiting them. Such Dad - Daughter talks seem to take awhile. Yeah ok I'm boasting as the calls really do make my day.

On the scotch, I had one the night after the appointment!

MsWorryWart / Angelle
Number 4 GrandChild, GrandSon on the way! Congrats! Do you have granddaughter (s)?

On your comment "You certainly have a way with words, which allow me (for a moment) to think that prostate cancer may not be so bad at all. :)" - Us members of the club can either give up or keep on keeping on -keeping on is a lot easier with a loving woman at your side. Mr. MsWorryWart is a lucky guy to have you at his side.

On the cutest baby - Good idea we will get a impartial judge - like my wife -- Laughs!

Live Long and Prosper, May each of your days be filled with joy.

Bud
Posted 9/6/2011 12:52 AM (GMT 0)
Rad,

For what its worth, I agree with info you got from your dietician. Good advice.
Posted 11/12/2011 7:25 PM (GMT 0)
I had posted in
[url]https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=35&m=2249078[url]

about how my PSA went from 1447 to 46.4

I thought it maybe good to include that news with this thread to close this thread out.

No need for any comments - now everyone go enjoy the weekend!
Posted 11/13/2011 3:57 PM (GMT 0)
Bud, I didn't come back to see your stats on cigarette smoking.  Ron never smoked, but our son has smoked for 20 years.  What you wrote is frightening!  He has tried to cut down without much success.

Good luck with heading downward towards the Zero Club!

Hugs,

Aimzee

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