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Posted 8/29/2012 7:03 PM (GMT 0)
In another thread greetingz posted for the first time, saying in part:

Hello, first time poster. ...................... I have found out in late June I have stage 4 prostate cancer with all the dire trimmings, and to top it off have heart disease on the side. .......................................

Welcome, sorry you have to be here, that's a heavy burden you bear. I hope you can find strength and support here with us. How about posting the details of your journey, so we can better understand it, and get to know you?
Posted 8/29/2012 7:21 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you. Being tested and treated at Topeka Va hospital. I honestly dont know all the numbers yet as I see them under most of you alls posts, but I have a Gleason of 9, poorly differentiated type. Bones, lymph nodes, and lungs are affected. Not feeling any pain to speak of yet, with about 45 days of hormone therapy so far. PSA was 4.1 in Feb, then 44.0 in June, dropping to 3.9 Mid July after initial Hormones. Intend to get much more detailed info on next visit. Have been in shock for a few weeks. 61 years old Midwesterner. Any heart surgery is off the list with this prognosis. Possible stints but told they will be "very tricky".

One week into drastic lifestyle diet change which has jolted my system some with ill feelings, but they are subsiding. Born again Christian and learning the REAL meaning of faith and character development. Married to a wonderful wife for 39 years and she is a rock. I guess I am now a member of the "reluctant brotherhood" and thank you for making me feel at ease here.

Post Edited (greetingz) : 8/29/2012 1:25:25 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 8/29/2012 8:26 PM (GMT 0)
Greetings greetingz
I too am stage 4 and have been since diagnosed 6 years ago. I too have bone lymph and lung mets....as I have for 6 years. I am now 48 years old. At diagnosis my psa was 3216.14. Give or take a decimal. I urge you to open the book to psalms 103 verse 2-3 N.I.V. Read it and claim it as your own. It is the rock that I stand on. It is my mustard seed.

All is not lost. Your gleason score is higber than mine....I am a 7. My Psa is currently 6.53 but h.t. took it to zero for 4 years. Too many people hear the word cancer and start digging a hole in the ground. My bone scan is clean. I had one lettle nodule on my right lung the last c.t. As my good friend Bud says...We will beat this crap.
Posted 8/29/2012 10:38 PM (GMT 0)
greetingz

Greetings, welcome to our family.

I'm being treated by the VA in DC and have really been impressed with the overall care - both personal and professional.

What helps me is the song in James C signature, which you may notice I also have in my signature.

When you next go to see your Doc's - bring a list of questions and hand the list to them. Also bring someone with you - You will miss things. Your wife would be excellent to have at your side.
In my case my son-in-law is a doctor so he goes with me to the 'hard' appointments.
Also - the doctors may talk in language that you have no idea what they are saying - My approach - after the Doc's tell me something - I'll say "Ok this is what I think you told me - and tell them in my words"

Hang in there brother - one step at a time. Come back let us know how you are doing - my email is in my profile (just click on my name).

Hugs!

Bud

We will beat this crap!
Posted 8/30/2012 12:17 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you so much! I am encouraged this evening by all of your posts. It has all been somewhat of an emotional roller coaster. Just listened to the song and love it! Looking up Psalms again; have been reading it anyway, but not quite at that chapter yet. Its amazing how coincidental these little things are.

Will report more when I get more useful info. Thanks again.
Posted 8/30/2012 12:39 AM (GMT 0)
Greetingz,

The light is always on here, and we welcome all the "newbies". We all have been there.

A suggestion - ask for a printed copy of literally every report in your PCa journey. Eventually you will learn the questions you wanted to ask but didn't know about, and those copies are helpful. I'm up to a 3 inch binder -

A pocket recorder is also very useful. I discovered that my new phone has one. Ask the doc if it is ok, but trust me - what was said, what you heard, and what you remember are three very different things.

Shock is normal. That is why we suggest that everyone who comes here get second and third opinions, and rethink it all after a few discussions. It wears off, with time.

Posted 8/30/2012 11:06 AM (GMT 0)
Welcome Greetingz,
Sorry you had to find us but very glad that you did.
Emotional rollercoaster indeed, both for you and your dear wife.
Hang on in there and keep up the good work with your new lifestyle diet change.
Sending you all good wishes from ‘over the pond’.
Susan
x
Posted 8/31/2012 6:05 AM (GMT 0)
a new guy here. first post. 2005 had prostate removed. 2007 radiation (37) treatments. 2009 started hormone therapy and casadex. 2011 went for provenge treatment.it did not work for me. now psa is 750. 2012 started taxotere and prednisone. after 10 treatments i was taken off to let body rest. psa 456. waiting 6 weeks and c t scan and bone scan to check on tumors in my back,hip and my lymph nodes. doc says we may be looking at starting zytiga next.
any thoughts.
Posted 8/31/2012 11:50 AM (GMT 0)
Welcome topbox. Glad you found us, as you can already see, there are others that are taking the same journey as you. I am going to start you a new thread of your own by using the "Post New Topic" button.
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