PSA would go up a couple of points then down a point or so over the years. Eventually hit 7.8. Then since my two older brothers have PCa.
My Urologist did a biopsy. 12 cores taken. Of the 12, 4 of 6 on the right side were positive. Gleason 8, Stage T2a N0 M0. He spent over an hour with my wife and I explaining the diagnosis and reviewing the various treatment choices. Because of my age, Gleason score, and co-morbidities he recommended IMRT with ADT. (AGe 71, Gleason 8, Open-Heart Surgery in 2006 for an Anomalous Right Coronary Artery, and current mild-moderate Emphysema)
Did a Bone Scan and an MRI. Based on those, he said there was no apparent bone involvement and the cancer appeared to be confined to the right side of the prostate and was still within the Prostate itself. Consulted with a Urologist/Surgeon at Tufts Medical Center in Boston to get a second opinion. He recommended against surgery as well.
Received 1st 6-month shot of Eligard on 2/29/12. Started IMRT, receiving 1st of 42 treatments on 3/21/12. Currently having little or no symptoms from either the Eligard or IMRT. Expect that will change somewhat as I get further into treatment. Have instituted regular Meditation and hope to increase my exercise activities beyond my current weekly Pilates class. Still working 25 hours a week in Boston at the Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston.
Finished Radiation in May. First post-radiation PSA was 0.3 and will have another done on 9/14. Will also get my 2nd 6-month Eligard injection (Hormone Therapy). Some hot flashes from that but all-in-all I have had minimal side-effects.
Had 2nd (last) Eligard (6-month) injection on 9/14/2012. PSA now at 0.1
I have no sub-treatment.
Have had two PSA tests since end of treatment and PSA remains at 0.2 which my Urologist says is excellent. I have no lingering side effects save ED but I was having issues with that prior to treatment. I have recently discovered that ED is a co-morbidity associated with COPD/Emphysema which I have suffered from since at least 2006.
PSA continues to be 0.23 at the VA and 0.3 at civilian lab. My Urologist says I'm doing great.
Developed some Radiation Proctitus towards end of 2014, little over 2 years out from treatment. Bloody streaks on stool was the indication. GI doc did colonoscopy to check. Confirmed it and did a cauterization right then. No problems since, now almost a year later. Both Urologist and Radiation Oncologist are pleased with my progress. ED continues.
Continuing to do well over 4 years out from treatment. ED is the only lingering side-effect. Have tried Viagra, Cialis, and Vacuum Pump. The pump didn't give results worth the effort. Then tried the Muse (Penile Suppository) but that gave maybe 60-70% results. Am now trying the Alprotadil Injections. It shows promise and we may get that to work. PSA went slowly from 0.1 and has been holding at 0.4 for a while now. Looks like that is where it wants to stay. I would still advise External Radiation w/ADT (Lupron) as treatment. I've had two friends try surgery and both ended up getting radiation afterward due to residual cancer cells.
PSA continues at 0.4
Almost 7 yrs out from External Radiation with 2 6 month Lupron injections
PSA STAYING STEADY AT 0.4
I am now 8 years out from External Beam Radiation with 2 6-month Lupron injections. Continue to be symptom or side effect free except for ED. PSA steady at 0.4 Sm still confident that I chose the right treatment modality for me.
Steve's e-mail address is: slyons63 AT gmail.com (replace "AT" with "@")
