HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Made the Big Decision

Support Forums
>
Prostate Cancer
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
12
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 6/20/2013 10:57 AM (GMT 0)
Well, it's been a long road since I was Dx'd in March with a few forks here and there with other health related issues, but I have finally come to my decision on a course of treatment for my PSa.  I will begin SBRT in early August.  I haven't set up my appointment to have the markers placed yet, but that should happen this week and I'll be wanting to start in early august.  I only chose August because I have an awesome fishing trip planned for July and don't want anything to mess that up.

I will start a journal as the time draws closer and share my experiences with all of you.  I did a lot of research and had a lot of help from members on this site before I made this decision.  I feel good about it.  As a G6, I had so many options it made my head spin, which is good and bad.  Now that I know which road I'm starting out on, I feel like a huge weight has been lifted off me.  Wish me luck!

Mike

Posted 6/20/2013 11:06 AM (GMT 0)
There's peace once you've decided on your treatment plan. It's terribly complicated, without a lot of clear data. Every decision it seems has multiple pros and cons, and you end up weighing all of them to come to a decision. Add the stakes involved, and it's pretty wrenching to do!

Congratulations, and I hope everything works out great for you.
Posted 6/20/2013 11:54 AM (GMT 0)
One of the major steps in this journey is "The Decision". Once you make it, a lot of the anxiety goes away. Don't look back, go forward and feel confident you made the right decision for YOU!

I am still keeping a journal, 1 year later. I started upon DX and went back to the days my PSA showed high. Good for you. Be sure to also keep ALL your medical records. I keep mine in a binder with sheet protectors to keep them fresh.

Good luck in the coming months

Bill from Florida cool
Posted 6/20/2013 12:13 PM (GMT 0)
Congrats Mike, you did good! It's refreshing to see a "newbie" take the amount of time and due diligence that you went through in order to come to YOUR decision, so now that you've got that elephant off your back don't ever give it a 2nd thought.

Enjoy your fishing trip, sounds awesome and of course if you'll be braggin' we'll want pictures!

Glad to hear that you're committed to a journal and sharing your journey out here - again, the path you took and will take will be another viewpoint for the newbies that will follow to consider!

Best to you Mike.
Posted 6/20/2013 12:26 PM (GMT 0)
You invested lots of mental energy in coming to your decision. Once you begin SBRT, you'll invest lots of mental energy in focusing on your treatments.

So, from today until your treatments begin, try not to think about anything other than fun, friends, family and fishing! Enjoy!

-Gedman
Posted 6/20/2013 1:18 PM (GMT 0)
That combined treatment modality (SBRT + fishing) sounds like a great decision. Best wishes, Medved
Posted 6/20/2013 1:48 PM (GMT 0)
Great post!
I'm kind of in the same situation. I haven't yet made my decision, though I must do it soon. I already had the gold seed implanted and today I'll do the simulation and next week I'm supposed to start IMRT.
However, I had never heard of SBRT, so yesterday I began furiously to research the subject and even contacted UCLA to ask about doing it there.
The problem I have is that some specialists I contacted warned me that there's no long term comparison studies to know what the side effects could be. That's because SBRT is still a new thing and therefore there's no reliable data on side effects.
Certainly a 5 day course of Rx sounds so good vs 49 days of it,doesn' it?
Thank you for hearing me out...:-)
Locolindo
Posted 6/20/2013 2:00 PM (GMT 0)
I think you have chosen slowly and wisely for yourself, congratulations.

Hope it all goes as planned for you.

Enjoy your fishing trip.

david
Posted 6/20/2013 2:02 PM (GMT 0)
I understand what you're saying locolindo. In the end, we must all do what we believe is right for us. There is very good 5 and 6 year data on SBRT that looks very promising. There is not the data that surgery or other forms of radiation have, that's true. I don't have 20 years to wait on more SBRT data, but I like what I see, and I'm very comfortable with the experience and skill of the urology and radiation team that's been assembled for me.
I wish you the very best on your IMRT journey. I'll let everyone know how SBRT works out for me.

Mike
Posted 6/20/2013 2:18 PM (GMT 0)
UNTIL AUGUST .................  

think -

SBRT ... is ... Smallmouth Bass Real Tasty!

All kidding aside, have fun next month and try having peace of mind the following months!

Posted 6/20/2013 3:02 PM (GMT 0)
Glad you've made your decision. There's a lot of relief in getting that done.

You'll do just fine.

Do keep us updated on your progress.
Andrew
Posted 6/20/2013 4:03 PM (GMT 0)
Good luck!
Posted 6/20/2013 4:26 PM (GMT 0)
Best of luck with your treatment Mike.  Relax, breath, fish - enjoy life!  Whatever comes down the road next will be just that "down the road".  You've done what you needed to for now, so take it easy and enjoy.  And remember, you have lots of folks here that are supporting you.

Pat

 

Posted 6/20/2013 4:49 PM (GMT 0)
Locolindo,

SBRT (CyberKnife) was first used for prostate cancer in 2003. This was only a couple of years after DaVinci was first used for robotic RP, yet that is now the most popular form of RP. Why hasn't SBRT superseded IMRT yet? The answer may have something to do with the profit motive. The average IMRT 40-treatment is priced at roughly twice as much as the average SBRT 5-treatment. The investment cost in new SBRT equipment is in the millions (because of the increased precision required when delivering radiation at that intensity, special delivery and tracking systems are necessary). An RO in private practice who depends on a steady flow of prostate cancer patients doesn't want his income cut in half.

As Mike said, and I agree, SBRT is a better idea. When IMRT replaced 3DCRT as the dominant radiation delivery platform, it didn't require 10-20 years to prove itself -- it was just a better idea. Once it was established by the success of HDR brachy in the late 1990s that high intensity radiation has a better cancer cell kill rate and preserves healthy tissue better than the slow, steady rate that has been traditional, and the equipment was developed that could do this safely, I think it was clear that this was a better idea. The pooled 5-year results on 1,100 men at 8 institutions was reported at the November ASTRO meeting and it was subsequently endorsed by ASTRO. You can read a detailed 6-year report from one practitioner at the link below. He reports no PSA progression in 97% of low risk men, low urinary and rectal toxicity, and 75% potency preservation in previously potent men.

SBRT for localized prostate cancer: disease control and quality of life at 6 years

- Allen
Posted 6/20/2013 7:23 PM (GMT 0)
Tall Allen:
Thanx for the info.
Mike: good luck!!!!
Locolindo
Posted 6/20/2013 7:58 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for all the great feedback and good wishes guys!
Posted 6/20/2013 10:46 PM (GMT 0)
congrats to all on the cyberknife and to all who made their treatment decision. Hoping when the next major break thru in cancer, generally speaking ,happens, it is naturally expensive. I don't want one of these bobbing heads around a big table, with a saccharine face, needing to make one of his/her "hard" decisions. But, then again, I worry what we will do when we are able to create safe power from fusion. Me I"d chance em with cyberknife. I mean isn't simpler usually always the better way. Data, don't need no stinken data . tee hee.
Posted 6/21/2013 12:26 AM (GMT 0)
Mike, wish you the very best.
So, is the fishing trip salt or fresh?
Posted 6/21/2013 11:00 AM (GMT 0)
Both GOP. Going to Maine. Will spend two days fly fishing for trout, two days chasing stripers and blues off the coast and one day 30 miles out in the ocean, shark fishing. Doing all this with some old and dear friends from when I lived up there. Pretty abitious trip and I hope the weather cooperates. If it doesn't, the beer, bourbon and friendship will!
Posted 6/21/2013 11:08 AM (GMT 0)
Give a man a fish and he eats for the day. Teach a man to fish and he sits in a boat and drinks beer all day! :)
Posted 6/21/2013 11:16 AM (GMT 0)
MikeM hope you get through SBRT with flying colors.

I'm shooting for SBRT myself. Many insurance companies don't cover this relatively new procedure for PC though they may have it covered for other parts of the body. I'm waiting for the verdict on my coverage.
Posted 6/21/2013 1:17 PM (GMT 0)
gardenz, I have UnitedHealthCare and they approved it. ASTRO approved SBRT for prostate cancer just last month, so many more insurance companies should be approving it soon. Good luck, I hope they approve you!
Mike
Posted 6/21/2013 2:35 PM (GMT 0)
Good luck to you Mike. I can sure understand the feeling of head-spinning from trying to decide.

I pray for a full cure for you.
Posted 7/4/2014 2:22 PM (GMT 0)
Mike - I am basically one year behind you with my gold fiducials to be placed at UCLA Westwood campus by Dr Chris King on August 8, 2014 whereas this thread says you we going for August, 2013.

So how is it going after 1 year? I will send you an email in case you are no longer active on Healing well.

LupronJim
Posted 7/4/2014 3:10 PM (GMT 0)
Mike: Next to God, family, and coaching comes a very close fly fishing for trout. I am headed to Alberta Sunday morning for 5 days of fly fishing. Upon return I will be off to Seattle for brachy therapy.

Making your decision was one of the most difficult and important things in your life. Sounds like you have an excellent plan with "confidence" in your treatment team. Best of luck and keep us posted on both journeys.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
12