"I had made a conscious decision to not pop in here as much....live for the day and not think about PCa. Seems like a great idea until I have any sort of a hiccup." I too have been stepping back...
Bridgewater here - checking back in after cyberknife for treating lymph gland node, etc. Have been off meds for almost a year and docs have been monitoring situation - the initial reviews did...
Thanks Allen - you have provided me with some new info and I will certainly review it all carefully and discuss with my care giver team at BIDMC. I have no problem considering collaborating with the...
Well, my long anticipated follow-up has been postponed until 3-22-13 and today I found out my my psa is back up to 0.2......
Thanks BOOGEE and Water Guy, Just back from BIDMC-Needham here in Massachusetts. This used to be "Glover Memorial", a small suburban hospital, which like many others, has been absorbed as a 'clinic'...
UPDATE 3-9-13 Heading in to have yet another psa blood test at BIDMC-Needham, (MA) in about an hour, this in advance of my scheduled ct-scan and related exam/tests coming up this week in Boston....
Terry? The treatment I have received is considered 'groundbreaking' by BIDMC, (Beth Israel Deaconess), in Boston and I believe I am only one of a few cases where they are applying the cyberknife for...
Interesting discussion here. Anyone who buys into any form of treatment strictly based on advertising is certainly foolish. ALL should do their due diligence across all treatment options then...
My long time family doctor a true GP discovered my aggressive and non-symptomatic pc back in 2009 - and my psa was a mere 2.9 - he most likely saved me (at the very least) from an initial diagnosis...
You have many excellent choices here in Boston. And they are all among the top hospitals in the country...(and mind you I am referring to those that are "in Boston" not those just outside). I am...
UPDATE: Had consult with oncology group at BIDMC Boston on 1/15 as I am now in my post-cyberknife stage with an additional positive take. PSA drawn showing same reading @ 0.1 (after post treatment...
"He stated we need to stick to one test only either traditional or ultrasensitive!" I am with your doc and Andrew 100% here. This past Spring when I was diagnosed with 'treatable-not curable;...
UPDATE: Had yet another ctscan before my post-cyberknife consult with the BIDMC Boston radiation-oncologist yesterday with a preliminary positive take. There will be another ctscan and consult with...
Post-prostatectomy I was doing very well; dry as they say and pad free (about 95% back) and mind you prior to my dre/diagnosis I had no symptoms. Year later, rising psa required IGRT adjuvant...
Suppose the easy answer is to fire the doctor...I did that with the pompous practitioner I initially encountered - a highly regarded local urologist on a referral from my GP. He was/is the top...
Funny... The "Urologist's Handshake", eh?...
Along with my continuing adventures of caring treatment/constant testing, something that remains ongoing from my radiation treatments is an annoying case of what the doc's describe as 'mild...
"The only thing consistent about PC is that it is so inconsistent." Very true, IMHO... Post-prostatectomy I was happy and actually 'dry' with a low psa for quite some time...rising psa led to...
JAVGuzzi, Welcome and thank you for posting up valuable information regarding the ck. It is a treatment modality that has been around and has taken hold and represents another option in approaching...
Follow-up as I promised some posters here on Healingwell... * Yesterday I completed 5 straight days of Accuray cyberknife zapping of a metastatic tumor in my lymph gland (see profile below). Each day...
One week before cyberknife treatment to begin at BIDMC in Boston; stopping daily 500mg pomegranate extract today - must also stop/reduce smoking. Treatment will be for 1 hour + every day for 5...
UPDATE: Still taking 50 mg of casodex (generic) and 500 mg of pomegranate extract daily. I had two gold seeds implanted in the small tumor in my lymph gland on 10/13 in a procedure that lasted over...
Yesterday in Boston I underwent a surgical procedure guided by ctscan to place gold fiducial markers in my pelvis. These will serve as triangulation devices for my upcoming cyberknife treatment of my...
Hi Boogee, I have been on 50 mg of generic casodex daily (Bicalutamide) since about the end of July (I was delayed in getting the med started because of a stupid and incompetent mail order script...
Hi Oceanwave, Yes it would be very helpful to post up you profile here. See mine below...as I too have been experiencing rising psa post surgery and post radiation. Now do understand everyone's...
Thanks to all for the well thought out and well stated feedback here. As this was just discussed last Thursday, I am sure there will be more preliminary testing and time for Q&A's, etc. I will...
Jitters99, I am very sorry to hear what you report regarding your husband's battle with this nasty disease. Hopefully they can treat the lumbar region successfully and then consider additional...
There are a lot of very good comments here covering a wide range of personal decisions/disclosure/reactions as I do think this is a helpful and important topic for discussion. Cancer as a...
Thanks Special Lady, Here is my understanding regarding the mets stage - the reactive change to the medical oncology treatment was in the lymph gland - nothing else changed from scan to scan. This...
Thank you for bringing this up as it is an issue I think merits discussion. Sorry you are having the harsh reactions like you are reporting but yes, I must say people do react to me differently - and...
Hey Southern Comfort, I agree even if the use of the cyberknife to treat recurrent pc in a lymph node is apparently questionable by some. As it is with me, after two back to back and very recent...
As my profile below indicates I am post prostatectomy & post IMRT radiation with rising psa - currently treating aggressive metastatic situation with casodex and pomegranate extract. Have had very...
Aotearoa, I had surgery and adjuvant radiation (see below) yet my psa continued to rise so I am now involved with medical oncology treatment. Ironically, I have been treated with casodex for a short...
Since I posted (above), I got a call from the Boston Hospital where I am being treated and now I am meeting with the radiation doctor this coming Thursday. This after I had been told last Spring that...
My understanding is that casodex can also cause increased liver damage with even moderate use - not heavy slamming either; more like meaning a couple of pops every day. I am on it right now and have...
I would agree - get the test done BEFORE you get on that dirt bike. From what I understand, there are many things that can affect a reading and pounding you ass and groin is probably going to shake...
FoxRun? There was no specific differentiation today - just a review of the current good test results, discussion of any side effects and my exercise regimen + general health, etc. I did have a liver...
Hey foxrun, Just back with really encouraging results - psa dropped from 2.0 to 0.2; ctscan showed significant improvement in the lymph gland - so I will continue same treatment regimen for next 90...
Been taking 50 mg of bicalutamide + 500mg of pomegranate extract daily, for just under 8 weeks now. Some here strongly questioned the "why" of my oncologists prescription - guess meaning "why only" -...
Yes, I have had similar of late and thanks for the heads up as the emails from "friends" linking to spam all with a different return address. Now that I think about it, this only stated for me after...
One of the first things my medical oncologist discussed with me when I started my current treatment phase (see below) was the value and necessity of establishing a baseline psa track using the same...
Just to follow up, I finally got the shingles vaccination a few days ago - it was painless - unlike the flu shot can be at times - and I have had no side effects whatsoever Here is a link to what the...
Garza I fully get your fears/concerns and this Forum can be a very good place to vent, express and share them while also getting a perspective on your situation. Everyone here has been affected by PC...
Thanks for the responses - for people over 60 it is something that is strongly recommended and I will re-confirm advisability at this time with my doc's based on my individual situation with current...
I have been advised by many to have the Shingles vaccine - especially since where I work, two individuals have come down with the Shingles...(one several months ago; one at present out 6-7 weeks now...
Post prostatectomy, almost three years ago, I was doing very well; a year after surgery I was proscribed and received a full course of RT. It was quite an experience as I 'felt' and 'sensed'...
Interesting thread. Biker's original posting was to me fascinating even if it seemed to be a bit "all over the place" yet still some good stuff was tossed out there for everyone to chew on here. I...
[i]"I refer them to the note attached to my file, which probably says something like [u]"unless you want to waste your afternoon and get chewed a new one, leave this one alone" ." Good one Mr. Mod....
I had quite an experience this past week dealing with my "Preferred PPO" insurance company on obtaining a prescription for 50 mg. Casodex (now generic Bicalutamide). Find it ironic after 2 3/4 years...
Hey Bill. You are so right - RP recovery is a journey not a race. Had my RP almost three years ago and recovered steadily and well over time (3-4 weeks) - biggest annoyance for me was the catheter,...