ADT and SRT Journey Part 3

Given that threads get funky after 9-10 pages, I'm locking the old thread on the subject and continuing here with a Part 3. Here is the link to the old thread /www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=35&m=3980340&p=10

Jim

Good Morning Gang whoever would have guessed that this thread I started on Dec 9 to kinda follow a few of us guys dealing with SRT and ADT would now be going into part 3. Thanks for all the participation it has been great to follow everybody's experiences. For all the new guys you will see that sometimes the decision on SRT and ADT is harder than the original treatment. For the guys that are in treatment right now they are waiting to ring the bell. And for us guys that have been thru it we are waiting for the next PSA checkup. Wow always seems likes I'm waiting for something hey? Remember when we were in our teens and couldn't wait for Friday and Saturday nite and chasing the girls? LOL I will have to say that was a lot more fun than waiting for Psa check!!! Anyway guys have a great week going for my exciting PSA check on Wednesday well not really just another day about like having birthdays now you would kinda like to forget them!

Larry

Good luck with your PSA's Noggin and Larry. I've already had two since completing ART with spectacular results (0.00) ... of course, these are probably suppressed to some extent by the ongoing HT. My next PSA will be July and it probably won't be truly accurate until after the Lupron has worn off sometime next year (2019).

People who have never been on HT have NO IDEA what it's like. The ladies scoff that it's just like their menopause. And men don't realize just how much their lives are actually controlled by their endless supply of testosterone.

Now I'm wondering what life will be like after Lupron, as I've learned how to deal with the hot flashes, become somewhat accustomed to the brain fog and even seeing some advantages of having no body hair. Also realizing that ultimately I am likely to be stuck somewhere between a eunuch and a low-T kind of guy. Scary.

We don't see much written here about radiation side effects, or it may seem that the SE's are trivial. My most recent diagnosis is proof that yes there can be significant side effects to RT, even using modern equipment and a highly qualified RO. All though I've been told that the colitis will get better with time, I believed the same thing about urinary incontinence for the first eight months post-RP. Coincidentally, eight months ago is around when the colitis started and has persisted ever since.

The thing is, no one ever tells you about these things in advance. I spoke with my RO many times before starting ART one year post-RP and I don't remember hearing or reading anything about colitis. When I brought it up to him during my second week of RT he just said "some bowel disruption is to be expected". Really?

Just goes to show you, it's always something.

Thank you for starting this thread, Larry. It's been a big help.

Rob, wish I had something useful to tell you. Here's hoping you get relief soon.

At the SRT simulation, the nurse went over all sorts of SEs that could occur and gave me written materials, but for each SE she would say, "I have to warn you about that one, but in fact we almost never see it in prostate cancer patients." My RO tells me he can't remember the last time he prescribed medication to relieve SEs from PCa SRT. Indeed my bowel & pee SEs have been minor and I haven't felt a need to do anything about them, but still, when I hear such rosy proclamations from doctors and nurses I can't help wondering if they're paying attention.

Congrats on your nuptials Zzarth! ... And one year old's are cute, fascinated with everything, playful, sleep a lot and have not yet learned to say "NO!"

Regarding antioxidants during treatment, this topic has been discussed pro and con both here and in numerous other forums. My wife continued to take her high potency packets throughout her chemo and her recovery from NHL was spectacular. I stopped taking all antioxidant supplements (CoQ10, Vit E, beta carotene, selenium etc) as well as high potency OTC multivit's (Twinlab) before and during ART, and took only a fairly good quality generic seniors' multivitamin throughout treatment and afterwards.

Following the conclusion of RT I attempted to return to my usual high potency regimen and it made me feel strange. It's difficult to describe, but it was just feeling odd, unusual. Since I have fared okay on the Walmart brand generics I've continued to take them and don't know if and when I might return to the strong stuff.

Good luck to you with your PSA and with your new bride, and with your growing family!

Sorry for your loss, Larry. Ain't fair. Healthy living isn't even close to a guarantee, so many things can go wrong as we age that we can't foresee or prevent. Best we can do is maximize our chances with smart choices, checkups, etc.

Thanks guys makes us remember how precious life is n how fast it can be gone. Zzarth congratulations your our example of the circle of life with your young daughter n upcoming marriage. Let's keep those numbers undetectable today!!!!

Indeed Larry, here today, gone tomorrow. An Army buddy who was my 2nd best friend died in a MC accident in 2010, which kicked off a series of losses for me. I was reluctant to reply to your post for fear it might be too depressing. But I did want to add my condolences to those from the rest of the group.

Sorry for all the losses. My 96 year old aunt passed away on Saturday. I can't go to her funeral due to my radiation treatments and the side effects that would make flying and long drives UGLY.

Hoping we can now get back to positive stuff regarding the thread topic: ADT and SRT Journey.

Zzarth n I are going to start the good news TODAY!!!


Larry

Didn't get home till midnite last nite But I started the good news! Undetectable! Got my favorite shot and now don't have to go back for 6 months!!! Hope Zzarth followed with the same good news! Crazyick Ring the bell hard today you deserve it!!! Talked with the RO about some minor continence and bm issue's he said pretty normal for guys that get 70gy or more and that it will probably take up to 6 months to get it all worked out of your system but on the whole it was a great day even had a pretty nurse for the shot!


Larry

Wonderful, Larry....may the zeros keep coming!

How much longer are you staying on Lupron?

Glad you got good news, Larry!