As my father died from an aggressive form of prostate cancer in December 2004, I was having regular PSA tests, in June 2019 my PSA tripled in 2 years to 8.1, GP put me on antibiotics to see if I had proctitas, retested in 3 months and PSA was 7.8. I was given a referral to see a Urologist, he wanted a MRI had that in March 2020. My grading was 4 so he organised a biopsy the Biopsy confirmed I had prostate cancer graded at 4 again, sent for a PSMA scan to check how far the cancer had spread PSMA scan indicated no spread outside prostate. I was given the option having a RALP in Brisbane a 2 hour drive the following week as I just wanted the tumour gone I jumped at the opportunity to have a top surgeon remove it. After the Biopsy on 5th May 2020 I could feel my prostate when I sat down and had increased frequency of urination, also had considerable swelling in my right leg which I put down to my sore knee. After the RALP, my pathology report gave me a Gleason score of 9, seminal invasion and 9 metastatic lymph nodes. Certainly not what I was expecting, surgeon wanted me to start ADT in 6 weeks followed by 33 sessions of radiation in October. Commenced 3 month shot of Lucrin on 11th July 2020, by August I was an absolute mess extreme hot flushes, My incontinence was not improving despite my kegel exercises and work in the gym and I was unable to sleep more than 30 minutes without waking from hot flushes and an overactive bladder. Spoke to MO about my situation and we decided to try 1 month shots of Zoladex and she referred me to a psychologist, it was thought I should try medication to improve my depression and lack of energy which I refused, I didn't believe it was depression just more about feeling exhausted from lack of sleep. Urologist put me on Betimga to resolve the overactive bladder which certainly helped. 1st October 2020 I resigned from a high pressure job to take stress out of my life and returned to our farm. Commenced radiation 14th October 2020, I found this difficult as my bladder was still overactive but managed the 33 sessions. On the 26th May 2021 finally had a full knee replacement which is now great. In August 2021 I met with my GP to discuss coming off ADT, I had enough couldn't sleep and felt exhausted, he convinced me to try a anti depressants with the thought they would reduce hot flushes and allow me to sleep. Amazing turnaround within 3 days hot flushes significantly reduced and was only waking twice a night to go to bathroom. Now focussing on diet and exercise to allow my body to eradicate the cancer and all seems to be going well, still undetectable.

Just want to say how valuable I have found this site and reading others situations.

Thanks Greg M

Greg's e-mail address is: quambygreg AT gmail.com (replace "AT" with "@")