Disappointing meeting with Dr. H late yesterday

He was originally a Gleason 9. After years of being on HT his PSA went up so he did chemo, which he complained about. The chemo failed. He had another biopsy done and he was a Gleason 10. He did radiation at that point, although it was controversial. The first radiation oncologist refused to do it. He found a radiation oncologist who agreed to do it but it failed. His disease was considered metastatic. He went back on HT and his PSA went way down. I think the spike in his PSA was around 2000 to 2003. His PSA has been down for many years. He considers himself in remission, but they are afraid to take him off of HT.

Post Edited (bluebird123) : 1/18/2013 5:55:21 PM (GMT-7)

Mel,

I was hoping as I got to page three, that you would have a report on your conference with Lam.

Having said such, I can say that we also initially experienced the whole "never heard of him" when we informed MDA we were getting a second opinion. However, in his notes he mentioned we were seeking an opinion from his colleagues on the West Coast. Well, we never said where this unknown specialist was located. :)

Anyway, MDA and Scholz now work extremely well together for us. Scholz wants monthly PSA test faxed to him and even thought MDA thinks every three months would be fine... they do agree that monthly is better and also wants a copy faxed to them. These PSA test are done by the local urologist and neither seem to mind. MDA has even suggested that we could get the Lupron shot locally, but he would like to have blood work drawn before the shot and view the results prior to the administering of the shot. Perhaps he is looking for something in the numbers that tell him something that the urologist may not catch.

Anyway, it it not easy coordinating with three doctors but we manage to get it done and obviously something is working.

To quote Bud's quote : "there are even some cases where hormonal therapy alone has been very successful in pushing prostate cancer into remission."

Well, I think that might be my husband! His prognosis at presentation was grim. Now we have hope floating all around us.

As for the side effects, please don't be swayed by the ones I told you my husband has. He was on HT for almost a year with no real side effect except for the obvious loss of libido. Having HT then chemo immediately followed by radiation seemed to be the combination that hit him hard. He is 6 months post radiation and the red highs and lows are scattered ALL over his blood work. Hence the severe fatigue.

Follow your gut and remember if someone makes you uncomfortable. Chances are, you'll keep that in the back of your mind and you'll possibly always feel the same way. You have another superb oncologist who will work with your local urologist, so you have something solid that works. Something that works is the best we can ask for. :)

I suspect you'll do fine on HT and will have excellent results. :)

I just saw it!

Good plan! :)

Amz and others:

Sorry, this thread was long enough and it was about Dr. H.

So, I did a new thread regarding Dr. L.

But you are correct that if one feels uncomfortable with a certain doctor, it probably won't change. I am not closing the door on her, as she is in Michigan, but for me Drs. Scholz/Lam seems to be a better fit!

Mel

Gunfighter:

I've made a decision on the hip:

YOURS!

Mel