We fortunately stumbled across your site after watching a T V Doco in February. We have been given very little info on treatments, what happens next etc and unfortunately have not been able to see Urologist to ask questions due to him being busy with emergency during a follow up visit.
Jim is a very active 69 year old who has set up a double glazing company in N Z using European uPVC profiles and he is still running this. For the last 15 years he has been treated for high blood pressure and for the last 10 years has had regular 6 monthly checks up by his G P preceded by blood test (unfortunately never PSA).
Over the last 2 years Jim has had recurring back pains and this has been treated with anti-inflammatory drugs and sometimes medication. In the middle of last year the back pains became more persistent and regular so more anti-inflammatory drugs etc. In September Jim asked his G P about Prostate and was advised that an exam would be done on the next visit.
During the Christmas period the pain became severe and Jim went to Doctors again and was sent to more Physiotherapy. At the same time a DRE (Digital Rectal Examination) was performed and announced clear and a blood test ordered.
The next day the alarm bells started to ring as the PSA reading was off the scale at over 1,000. This was a Friday and on the Monday following a Urologist was seen and a ultra sound and biopsy took place which confirmed that cancer was on the outside of the prostate and had gone to the bones. A Bone scan later that week confirmed that it was present throughout the spine, ribs, skull, pelvis and to lesser extent in the hips and thighs. The urologist commented that he wished he had seen Jim 6 or 7 years before.
Since then Jim has had two injections for ADT and after the first the PSA level dropped to 347 and after the second it is now at 68 which is certainly a positive response. Next injection is due in May so we hope the response continues.
Following my last report the regular three monthly injections continued to reduce the PSA and by September 2010 it had dropped to 10, unfortunately the levels then reversed and increased, almost doubling to 56 by December 2010.
No one seemed terribly concerned at this apart from Alison and I and a bit of jumping up and down with Doctor resulted in an appointment with the Urologist in February together with a bone scan. The bone Scan showed very little change from 12 months ago but there is significant spread leading to the possibility of spinal collapse.
Urologist has started an immediate course of Cyproterone which will be followed shortly by an Orchiectomy which we hope will stop the flow of testosterone carrying the cancer. This procedure has been delayed slightly due to a pre-booked holiday. Also a consultation with a Oncologist will take place next week to arrange for some radiation to relieve hot spots. The effect of all this in quite a short space of time has been quite life changing. Because of the risk of further spinal damage I have now stopped work completely and also given up Golf, Cycling and my hobby of woodworking. The last rocking horse I finished before Xmas for the grandkids and my workshop is now up for sale.
I still walk a lot and taking up some lighter hobbies like modelmaking. The outlook now is to make life as comfortable as possible unless there is a major medical breakthrough soon.
Will update this in a couple of weeks once the surgery is done and radiation commenced. Meantime we stay positive.
Regards, Jim
[Jim's partner, Alison mails to say:]
It is with sadness that I inform you that Jim passed away due to his Prostate Cancer, yesterday Sunday 24 July. I thank you all for your support to Jim over the last 18 months. He passed away very peacefully in his sleep. Kind regards to you all.
