New Member

pamhint · New User Joined: 10 Jan 2008 Posts: 4

Hi my name is Pam and I am new to this site.

Been dealing wih Prostate Cancer since Feb 2007. My 60 year old husband was diagnosed with Advanced Prostate Cancer. Fortunately he is in great health and we are fighting this with all we've got. We have been through the ringer and I still am sometime confused by the whole diagnosis. So I am always looking for information.

Thanks. Pam

brainman · Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2008 10:40 am Post subject: Re: New Member

Pam, I am very sorry about your husband's cancer. In order to best help you we need some more information about his diagnosis. What was its stage when they did the biopsy? What was is Gleason Score? With these two pieces of additional information it will be much easier for us to understand and in turn offer support and information to you.

You and your husband are in my thoughts and prayers.
_________________
Jim
Site Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendoglioma grade 3, same location.
My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
My Story Part 2: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8029
Blog http://jimhawkinsport.blogspot.com/

In · Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2008 3:17 pm Post subject: Re: New Member

Pam- welcome to the thread- i wish under better circumstances, but you will find great information and help here. Like a little Family.

Feel free to post a little about you and your husband in the prostate thread- you'll receie some suggestions and advice there, and get better replys.
_________________
Thinking of you Inica

*Administrator*

~Nose Cancer~
~Car Accident- Broken Back, Ribs, Spleen
Sternum~
~Continous Cervical Cancer~

My Story-
http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=6731

Smile

9 Lives and still kicking Smile

pamhint · New User Joined: 10 Jan 2008 Posts: 4

OK so here my hubbys backround & info

PSA Nov 2003 was 6.9 (was unknow to us that his PSA had jumped up as we were not advised by the heart doctor treating him at the time)
So then we proceed forward with 3 years of his life with the unknown knowledge that cancer was growing inside.
Started to have some urinary problems in 2006 so had PSA tested in Oct 2006.
Came back at 21.0 Urologist thought it was Enlarge Prostate so tried treating him for 2 1/2 months. Then finally had a Ultrasound performed and determined he had problem. So ordered Biopsy.
Feb 1st- Biopsy showed positive and advised local prostate cancer possibly Stage T2 or T3
Gleason score 4+5=9
All MRI, CT Bone scan tests show nothing definative that it has spread to bones or elsewhere.
Spent 1 month researching, visiting hospitals, doctors, specialist more tests and finally decided.

So elected to have Robotic Radical Prostatectomy- done on April 4, 2007 and have everything removed if needed (which we were already prepared for this) Surgeon proceeded forward and removed Prostate, Lymph nodes, Seminal Vessels, & all nerve bundles and he felt he did his best possible to clear/clean out all visiable signs of cancer. Surgery went great. No complications or problems. Recovery was amazing. We both were glad to have the visable signs of cancer cut out. But what is left behind is to be seen.

Final Pathology from surgery results:
Stage IV Cancer pT4 pN1 MX.
Lymph node involvement in both left & right.
Carcinoma present in both right and left lobes and 80% of the gland.
Perineural invasion present and cancer extens into extraprostatatic soft tissue to bladder neck.

So now move on to the next leg of our Fight against this cancer
Immediately went on Hormone therapy. Lupron & Casadex Lupron shot monthly, Casadex daily. Monitored monthly with Blood counts/PSA counts.
Went through Chemo- 5 sessions- 3hour drip every 3 weeks.
Got through that OK considering it was Chemo.
Next went through Pelvic Radiation treatments. 38 sessions 5 days a week. Just finished this.

So now again we wait. He continues to get Hormone shots monthly with/labs and his PSA has consistantly been undetectable. YEAH! ! ! !
So far we have been told he will possibly be on hormone treatment for quite some time years & years with Intermittent breaks inbetween yearly treatments. I am assuming so that he does not go into a hormone refractive state. So at this point all we do is watch and wait. I guess it could be a lot worse. He could have been sent home and said you have 6 months get your things in order. We have good insurance for the time being so we have been able to go after the cancer with everything that we felt was available to us. So that is why we took the treatment path we did. He was pretty health before all this. So we try to focus on all the positives that has come from this. Some days its a nightmare but the majority of the time we have to smile and be happy for what we have been given in life. We take advantage of the good and try to set our sights on that part. So enough of my blundering. I hope this gives a good explaination and look forward to communicating with everyone and hearing there impute or suggestions. PH

In · Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2008 5:41 pm Post subject: Re: New Member

Hi Pam- i have copied and moved this to prostate thread- so you'll have more replys, and some people here in the same circumstances can help you.

You have both been through so much. I'm happy at this time there is no cancer detected. yaay!!!! and you are both so positive in mind.- It's great to see, and i think makes a massive part in your fight against any Cancer.

please take some time "out" for both of you. A little rest against the fight. Wink

Feel free to rant and blunder all you want. Very Happy

_________________
Thinking of you Inica

*Administrator*

~Nose Cancer~
~Car Accident- Broken Back, Ribs, Spleen
Sternum~
~Continous Cervical Cancer~

My Story-
http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=6731

Smile

9 Lives and still kicking Smile

brainman · Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2008 9:10 pm Post subject: Re: New Member

Hi Pam, your husband's Prostate Cancer is a very high stage cancer and has very aggressive features. The good news is that it sounds like his medical team has taken aggressive steps to get the upper hand. The odds are still high that it will recur within 4 years. Having said that, if my original prognosis had been correct, I would have died at least 5 years ago. I am interested in my prognosis but only to help me set my priorities... my "bucket list" Wink

. After that, I tend to just live one day at a time working on the goals I still what to achieve.
_________________
Jim
Site Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendoglioma grade 3, same location.
My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
My Story Part 2: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8029
Blog http://jimhawkinsport.blogspot.com/

acedave3 · Regular Joined: 03 Sep 2007 Posts: 21

Hi Pam,

I wish you and your husband the very best in your future.
I am presently battling this prostate cancer curse having taken hormone replacement and now I am in the middle of radiation therapy. It would appear my cancer is contained within the prostate and my PSA has dropped from a high of 15 to 1.5 so that is encouraging.(for now).
My wife had stage 4 colon cancer and a different cancer in her breast all detected within one year. She had radiation and chemo treatments but through out it all she remained strong and positive. That was 10 years ago so as you can imagine, I dont have to look far for inspiration in dealing with my problems, A positive attitude and a little talking to the big guy upstairs, certainly doesnt hurt.
It is amazing how many people have had this type of cancer or at least know of someone that has had it. In many examples they have beaten or at least contained the spread of the disease. It is wonderful what they can do now to treat, or arrest the problem and give us a few more years of living. I am thankful for this.
Again all the best to you both. God Bless! Dave

Replicant · Moderator Joined: 01 Nov 2006 Posts: 178

Hi Pam. You two have been dealt a tough deck of cards, haven't you?

I thought I would add some notes of encouragement.

Situation 1: A friend of my father's has pain in his leg. He goes in and gets diagnosed with advanced, metastatic prostate cancer. The pain is from bone metastasis. He gets an orchiectomy (castration) NOTE: you can accomplish the same thing with meds--he just didn't want to go that route. His pain goes away. His PSA drops into the basement. He goes back to enjoying his outdoor activities like fishing and enjoying his life. That was 8 years ago. He's starting to have some trouble now, but he had EIGHT YEARS without much trouble with PCa--and that was AFTER it was in his bones!

Situation 2: I know another guy who went on hormone treatment after surgery revealed PCa was spreading into his rectum and beyond. His PSA became undetectable and has stayed there 13 years. He's a very active, happy man.

Now those guys may be statistical outliers. There certainly are plenty of examples that go the other way. But there is good reason to hope that your husband's cancer can be halted for a long time. And if it becomes hormone refractory, there are chemo treatments that didn't exist a few years ago and more are in the pipeline. Work on immune-based therapies (GVAX, Provenge) continues. Stall the cancer long enough, and who knows what silver bullets will be available..

Best wishes.
_________________
Replicant

Dx Feb 2006, PSA 9 @age 43
RRP Apr 2006 - Gleason 3+4, T3a, N0M0, pos margins
PSA 5/06 <0.1, 8/06 0.2, 12/06 0.6, 1/07 0.7.
Salvage radiation (IMRT) total dose 70.2 Gy, Jan-Mar 2007@ age 44
PSA 6/07 0.1, 9/07 <0.1, 12/07 <0.1, 4/08 <0.1
http://pcabefore50.blogspot.com

pthree02 · New User Joined: 05 Jan 2008 Posts: 4 Location: Western KY

Hey Pam,

I'm awaiting my first post op PSA and though my odds are very good there are no promises. What I've found is that there is an initial period of (in my case) fear and terror followed by pushing forward, learning, and accepting that there is always hope and that is what you have to lean on.

Your situation is more serious than mine, but my brother Fred had it to the bone and then lived 15 years before it came back at an age when he had led a full and happy life. The point is that Fred's experience will not be everyone's, but it does show that some odds can be beat. Hang in and love each other as hard as you can while getting the best and most informed treatment that you can. Replicant's blog has many great links regarding new developments.

All Love Sent Your Way
Paul P.

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