Hi Djin, Just wanted to say hello and let you know that I'm thinking about you and sending positive thoughts. You have always been so knowledgeable, helpful and supportive to all of us on this forum....
Thanks for that info, Steve and Mumbo. I keep getting the feeling that insurance companies are ruling the world these days. Not a comforting thought....
Because of a recent melanoma (in site, Stage 0 luckily), I have to go for a skin screening every three months for a little while. I'm not on Medicare yet but am wondering how these three month...
Sr Sailor, Just know that it's pretty new, and that not every dermatologist's office uses DermTech--yet. My current dermatologist doesn't use DermTech, so I went to another doctor for it. I was so...
Alephnull, This organization may be able to point you to a good support forum; https://www.aimatmelanoma.org/ M...
For those of you with moles suspected to be melanoma, you might want to look into a new test called DermTech. It is a new technology where an adhesive patch is used to harvest skin cells that are...
Best wishes for all of you with COVID and those who are waiting to see if the other shoe will drop. I'm in that latter position right now as my husband tested positive on Friday night. It's really...
Hi again, Can't find my notes but did a quick search online. I'm pretty sure that this is one of the blood tests that might help detect neuroendocrine cancer: chromogranin A (CgA) Good luck, and I do...
Rbrk99, I totally get where you're coming from. I truly do. When my husband was first diagnosed, and even subsequently, I was worried sick that my husband had small cell or some other form of...
Hi John, Others have noted that you have a lot of info to digest and I hesitate to pile on. Let me ask a couple questions instead: --which Kaiser facility is your urologist from? --is he a urologist...
Such an amazing post, Todd. I think I need to print it and tape it to my mirror so that I see it every day and remember your wise words. Congratulations on both anniversaries and here's to many more...
That's all terrific: the undetectable PSA, the song lyrics and even the interest again in short skirts! Continued good health!...
Also for those who are interested in this topic, Djin started a thread about a study that looked at the length of ADT with radiation treatment, and best outcomes. But note that the men in this study...
Hi Michael60, My husband's PSA has been undetectable while he's been on Lupron. Our hope, of course, is that it stays that way once he goes off Lupron and his testosterone recovers (assuming it...
Thank you all for this information. I'm not sure why I hadn't replied earlier. (That may have been when I had to shift my attention to my father and his rising PSA.) Here's the update: My husband is...
I am so sorry for your loss. Hopefully all those happy memories will sustain you and help you with the pain of losing him. Thank you very much for sharing your father's story, and for being such an...
Thanks Djin. I will take a look at those. M...
This is a great post about listening to one's body, being an advocate and being informed. Motown, my husband has done a few genetic tests. Even though there is a strong family history of PCa, the...
Thank you so much, Mattam and Prato. I really appreciate your thoughtfulness and responses. Yes, my dad is a tough dude and also a stubborn one. I can think of a few occasions when my dad decided...
Wonderful news!...
Another quick update: My father's doctor phoned with the PSMA/Pet scan results: no evidence of metastatic disease which is amazing given his PSA is over 27. So apparently there's nothing outside the...
Hi Djin, Hopefully it's just a blip and your PSA will stay low. We're fortunate to have so many diagnostic tools available, and your plan sounds solid. Take care, M...
Wanted to give a quick update. Although the first CT showed sclerotic lesions throughout the pelvic area "concerning for metastatic disease," the bone scan showed nothing significant--except in his...
Thank you, JNF! That is very helpful. The wheels seem to be moving very slowly, but I think they're going forward! Thank you!...
Thank you for all this good information! Djin: I hadn't realized the increased risk for vertebral fractures. I will make sure to mention it to my dad--and to my husband, too. (My dad has been a bit...
Thanks for all this info! I'm not sure how it would work (with Kaiser and/or Medicare) but I'm getting names in the hope that I can convince my father to see someone other than the Kaiser urologist...
I'm looking for a medical oncologist who is experienced in treating PCa. This is for my 88-year old father who lives in southern California. My parents go to Kaiser but I would also like to hear of...
I wanted to have the scan results before posting an update about my 88-year old father. The good news (we thought) was that, according to my parents, the physical exam and DRE were normal. (What...
Dear Bianca, I am so very sorry for your loss. I hope that you can find some comfort in your many happy memories, and in knowing that you were a devoted and supportive daughter. Wishing peace to you...
Quick update: We spoke via telephone with a urologist today. At first he was only discussing my dad's urinary issues. My dad finally interrupted him and said that he's more concerned about the blood...
Thank you all again for your info and for your kind words and support. My parents are at Kaiser in LA, so probably no PSMA-PET there. I believe UCLA has it though. I think I need to talk with my...
Thank you all for your replies and all the good info. My father had been pretty fit (for his age anyway), but the last few years have taken their toll on him physically and a bit health-wise. He's...
That's a great point, Steve. The prevalence of PCa in older men (much of it very slow-growing) is something that I mentioned to my parents. FYI my dad's urinary issues have been going on for several...
My father is 88 and we just learned that his PSA is 25.3. (His last PSA test was 11years ago.) He has a phone appointment with a urologist this week, and I'd like to be a little more prepared. What...
Thank you for all the info and questions, Djin. You are amazing! I'm going to try to reply in the next day or two....
It looks like your plan is moving forward quickly which always provides some comfort. Sending good wishes that all goes well for you....
Thank you for posting this, Djin. This is exactly the question we are grappling with--but in the salvage radiation setting. Am I right in assuming that this study above is more about men who are...
Hi again, Here's a link to RandyD's post about his PCa journey, and how he probably had both adenocarcinoma and small cell (also called neuroendocrine, I believe) at the time of his original...
Hi Island Boy, I wanted to express my concern for your situation and say, frankly, that your situation stinks. I'd also like to reiterate what those above have said about being your own best advocate...
My husband's doctor has mentioned that there isn't a lot of research in this area--not yet anyway. Specifically, how long should someone be on Lupron in conjunction with salvage radiation where lymph...
For what it's worth--and this, again, is more for those trying to time salvage radiation after RP--the PSMA scans are showing things even when the PSA is below 0.2. In my husband's case, his PSA was...
Hi Teddydog, I’m sorry. I jumped on the 0.2 number somehow forgetting that your boyfriend had already had radiation. My concerns above were more for those who are trying to time salvage radiation—so...
This is a delicate area and I'm hesitant to add my two cents--but I'd also hate to remain silent on something that is potentially so important. I get that your boyfriend wants to kick the can down...
Hi Teddydog, My husband's RP was in 2014; his PSA first became detectable in 2020. In 2022, his PSA hit 0.10 and then 0.15. He had a PSMA scan that showed an involved pelvic lymph node. When we...
Thanks Denis. I appreciate your starting this support group. It sounds very worthwhile. I'll share this info with my husband....
My husband is not generally a fan of support groups, but he thinks he might give one a try. Denis: can you please tell me more about this Zoom group? Any additional info would be great. For example,...
Hi Dave, My husband and I have had similar thoughts. He finished his salvage radiation in March. He's on Lupron now and will be on it for 12 to 18 months total, depending on how he tolerates it. At a...
Dave, My husband's situation is a little different because he had 5+ years between his surgery and when his PSA became detectable. But the issue is the same: when to pull the trigger and, when you do...
Thank you for sharing this, Stephen. I sincerely hope that it is nothing serious. Or that, if it is something, that it is something that is more treatable. My husband is awaiting testing because of...
Sr. Sailor said: "One can never absolutely say that a prostate doesn't have a small amount of cancer. One would need to examine a prostate in its entirety (as is done after a prostatectomy)." This...