Prostate Cancer

[DavidC]

If you were diagnosed with cancer I understand there are 4 options if it has not spread. I would like your opinion/view on which you would choose.
1. Removal of the prostate which can give life long effects and effect a favorite past time.
2. Radiation Therapy which has it's life long effects and can damage surrounding items. This is 40 treatments given 1 per day.
3. Radiation seeding.
4. The last is chemo if Radiation does not work.

So I understand and have seen cancer in other organs of people that once it spreads there is no chance of curing (can't put the genie back in the bottle). The Radiation and seeding take 2 years to show if either is effective. The seeding is a 1 time thing where they place radioactive seeds where the cancer is found. Prostate Cancer is the number 1 Cancer killer of males but I never saw a football player with blue shoes or wrist bands.

Dave

 

[Mark31]

I have a friend who had prostate cancer 7 or so years ago and there is not room to tell his story. He, by the grace of God, got connected to a group in Myrtle Beach, SC, who is at the forefront of what is going on in men's health. He now goes around speaking to men's groups. There are treatments far beyond what you have mentioned, and the knowledge is expanding VERY rapidly. One is very selective laser surgery and it is nothing to get over. If you would like, I can ask my friend to ask his group for a place in your area that is up to date. Mark

 

[DavidC]

I have a friend who had prostate cancer 7 or so years ago and there is not room to tell his story. He, by the grace of God, got connected to a group in Myrtle Beach, SC, who is at the forefront of what is going on in men's health. He now goes around speaking to men's groups. There are treatments far beyond what you have mentioned, and the knowledge is expanding VERY rapidly. One is very selective laser surgery and it is nothing to get over. If you would like, I can ask my friend to ask his group for a place in your area that is up to date. Mark

Any help is appreciated.

Dave

 

[fest3er]

IIRC, Dad's PSA had climbed to somewhere in the 7-10 range. He had the seeds implanted and had the chemical castration drug at about 80 y.o. (Made for an interesting drive from VA to Vegas for the Nationals, to San Fran to relive memories, then to Houston for the Nationals, then home: we may have passed every other rest area.) After that, his PSA dropped to 0.0 and stayed there until his death of old age some 10 years later. If he had any additional specific radiation treatments (linear accelerator, maybe), there was only a handful of them.

 

[DavidC]

Neal, my PSA is 16.9. The Doc did say that removal may cause the frequent potty urges, I do not remember that symptom with the seeds. There was no mention of a chemical castration drug ?. All of this diagnosis and treatment is occuring at the Phoenix VA.

 

[Mark31]

"Chemical castration" would come under the "hormone therapy" umbrella of treatments without having to be as crude.

 

[jgillott]

David,

First of all, I am truly sorry that you are dealing with this situation. My father-in-law had removal surgery 2 years ago January. He, thankfully is 100% cancer free at this point and has not had to go through additional Chemo or Radiation.

He is a pathologist and spent his career dealing with cancers in various forms in the lab. He chose removal since in his opinion as a MD, that it gave the best shot at keeping that cancer from reappearing or spreading in the coming years. Now with that said, there are some negatives about his surgery. He did have to use a catheter for the first while after surgery. He also has some leakage issues and continues to wear adult diapers when he is in public to prevent accidents.

Each cancer is different and may respond better to one treatment or the other. I will give him a call this evening and see if there is anything specific he would like me to mention to you. Also if you have any questions, please let me know and I will be happy to pass them along to him or maybe even set up a call for you with him.

 

[DavidC]

Thanks for the replies. I do remember the Doc mentioning hormone therapy and to make sure before receiving it that the VA approved it as it is very expensive. I have given a lot of thought on the removal or seeds and as you state removal is pretty much a sure thing. I will consider all ideas from anyone who has gone thru this in any way. As my years increase I have given thought of how I would go but prostate cancer was never one of them.

Dave

 

[Wayne M.]

Dave, you’re on my prayer list.
This is something that is happening all around me, and often. I’m just getting to the age to have to start worrying about it too. One of the AM talk radio stations I listen to runs this guy’s commercials often, and for a long time. I think he has his own show himself.
http://www.rsny.org/
If anything, maybe you can do some homework on that site.

 

[Killer223]

number one. take it out and hope it's gone, else live life to the fullest, i've watched to many people go down the chemo and radiation road and watched them go from healthy humans to not.
it's not something i would ever consider. remove it, and move on till your time on this planet is done.

 

[DavidC]

number one. take it out and hope it's gone, else live life to the fullest, i've watched to many people go down the chemo and radiation road and watched them go from healthy humans to not.
it's not something i would ever consider. remove it, and move on till your time on this planet is done.

After sleeping on it that is the way I am leaning as long as it has not spread. On top of all this I just received an email I have gallstones and am being referred to a surgeon for removal. Maybe they can do a twosome and remove both at the same time. :-laf.
Thanks Wayne. I guess if anything with the VA they always send me to the lab for blood tests when I am there, that is how they caught this. When I had private insurance my blood was rarely ever drawn.

Dave

 

[Wayne M.]

I doubt there could be a doubleheader. The way I see it, that's like changing injectors and rod bearings at the same time. The gall bladder/ stones should be laparoscopic in the side. My wife had it done, and that's a routine thing. I guess depending on your situation, and if it hasn't spread, yanking it in one piece is the way to go.

 

[Deleted member 995608]

Best wishes Dave. Glad you're staying on top of this!

 

[fest3er]

Last quip I heard from a doc around here is that lot more men die *with* prostate cancer than *of* it.

 

[DavidC]

Wayne, was that for removal of the gallbladder ?. When it comes time if the cancer is contained I would think the prostate removal first then the gallbladder removal. It will probably take a little getting use to if I wind up with the drips and a diaper/depends, I never owned a Chevy or Harley so drips are not in my nature :-laf. Just for the record for us aging guys I am 63 be 64 next Month and I would recommend frequent blood tests for PSA levels.

Dave

 

[Wayne M.]

I was referring to the twosome.

 

[DavidC]

I The gall bladder/ stones should be laparoscopic in the side. My wife had it done, and that's a routine thing.

This is what I was referring to. Was this for stone removal or gallbladder removal ? or am I just confused.

Dave

 

[DavidC]

Wayne, never mind. Found my answer on line.

Dave

 

[DavidC]

Wayne, never mind. Found my answer on line.

Dave

 

[Wayne M.]

This is what I was referring to. Was this for stone removal or gallbladder removal ? or am I just confused.

Dave

Both. She had stones, and something going on with the bile duct, so out it came. She’s fine nowadays.