Dec 15/08. See primary MD for left hip pain. X-ray and labs obtained. Was told "there is something in your hip and it is not arthritis. I'm sending you for an immediate CT scan of the abdomen. We are looking for tumors...do not leave the clinic until you hear from me". A few enlarged lymph nodes seen, referred to oncologist. Later call with PSA level 1,500.

Dec 17. Meet with oncologist and radiation oncologist. Labs drawn. Meet with urologist.

Dec 18. Prostate biopsy by urologist. 12 punctures.

Dec 19. Bone scan and later call from urologist. Confirmation of PCa. Casodex 50 mg daily started for two weeks to avoid testosterone flare.

Dec 22. Meet with oncologist. Confirmation of PCa. First of 14 rounds of radiation to L hip and upper femur started, along with Zometa. It was recommended that I receive monthly Zometa injections.

Dec 31. First Lupron injection.

Jan 13/09. Last day of radiation to L hip and upper femur. It took about 4-6 weeks to recover from the draining effects of the treatments.

Jan 14/09. Second opinion program started at Froedert/Medical College of Wisconsin, Cancer Care Center. There were no new recommendations other than it was not necessary to get monthly Zometa. Studies show (including John Hopkins) that monthly Zometa is not proven necessary until one has become hormone refractory, and the effects of the one Zometa treatment would be in effect for 12 months.

We went to the Medical College due to the teaching facility potential of being offered a clinical trial, which we were, but did not qualify due to low platelet counts (14 rounds of radiation). We started weekly lab draws.

Feb 2. Second Lupron injection.

Feb 23/09. Platelet counts are normal. PSA 17.33 All labs essentially normal. Alk Phos within normal limits. Huge grin. Slight anemia. Screening tests for trial begun. Repeat CT and bone scan. This trial consisted of two arms. Arm one, Lupron only. Arm two, Lupron plus Taxotere.

Feb 24 & 26. To Chicago to Block Medical Center for third opinion. Two day trip, 7-8 hrs each day meeting with various doctors and disciplines. Essentially was told they could give us Taxotere if we wanted, no trial necessary, but also agreed that there are only so many bullets for PCa, and that I was responding well to Lupron.

March 2/09. Back to the Medical college of Wisconsin. CT shows all lymph nodes in abdomen have returned to within normal limits size! Happy news. This would be the day we are randomized into an arm of the trial. We were randomized into Lupron only. 3 month Lupron injection received.

March/09 We could have gone back to the Block Center for Taxotere, but have decided to save it for later use, since it is a major bullet.

May 28/09. PSA 15.66 All other labs within normal limits. Looking forward to some sun and warm weather. Next apt with oncologist August 31.

June/09. Uneventful clinically.

July 31/09. Back to oncologist for labs and x-ray of L hip due to some weight loss and increased hip pain. PSA has risen to 28.23. What a let down.

Aug 5/09. Repeat labs. PSA 28.25 Testosterone 14. Casodex 50 mg daily started.

Best wishes!

Sept 22, 09: MRI of lumbar spine shows tumor growing into epidural space. 10 radiation treatments to lumbar region.

PSA down from 36.9 to 33.4 on 6 weeks of Casodex. Taxotere will be started Oct. 5., one dose every three weeks for total of 10 treatments. Zometa started as well.

Mary mailed me to say:

Mike died on January 19, 2011. His body succumbed to kidney failure, after a long battle with chemotherapy.