11 Things to Know About Prostate Cancer
Reader Comments
I've got it, now what?
I was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer in 1995. My PSA was over 17 the Gleason was 8. In other words, it was aggressive. I was 69 at the time. My father had lived to the age of 100. Watchful waiting was not an option. So, I had the damn thing removed, The PSA went to zero. Then about two years later the PSA began to rise. My urologist arranged for the Beam Radiation. I think that was in 1998. The PSA went back to zero.
The PSA has been slowly rising and is now .07. I am 82 years old and impotent which isn't fun but better than the alternative. 13 years of survival. Only part of me is dead. I am not incontinent which is a blessing.
I suspect that each victom must decide on his own solution. To each his own.
Prostrate Cancer
Age 64 - Prostrate removed by Robotic Surgery 3 years ago
At times some minor leakage - so I always wear a pad.
For ED - Pills, shots (tri-mix) were not effective: However,
the Soma Therapy Vacuum Pump has been very good.
PSA has remainded - 0/less than 1
Preventing Prostate Cancer
Can prostate cancer be prevented? The standard suggestions are that exercise and diet can help but do they prevent prostate cancer depends on other factors.
There are specialized food items and drinks that some men consume that are supposed to help ward off prostate cancer. Some of these are supported by reputable doctors and may even have some preliminary research to support their claims. More of this type of health promotion is needed as long as there is some degree of credibility to the claims that these diet supplements can help prevent prostate cancer. As long as they are not harmful they should be tried.
I eating nutrition bar that is supposed to help reduce the chances of getting prostate cancer. I also exercise a lot (six days a week). Maybe most people don't think they can do this but the alternative is not to do it and take your chances with the increased possibility of getting prostate cancer. At least I feel that I have some degree of control over my health and prostate health in particular. So far I've been doing this for several years and I'm approaching the age when men start to show signs of getting prostate problems.
We Need to Know what Causes Prostate Cancer
Until we really understand what causes prostate cancer we won't know how to treat it effectively. The only thing I've read that makes any sense at all is Dr. John Lee's booklet Hormone Balance for Men -- you can find it here: http://www.virginiahopkinstestkits.com/menarticles.html and there are also some good articles about men's hormones on the site. Dr. Lee doesn't have all the answers, but he has a lot of them.
to Karen Blagg of NM
I had a radical prostectomy 4 and a half years ago, and found out 3 months later the cancer had spread.
My doctor put me on Lupron, which kept my PSA near zero for four years. Now, I have started chemo, with minimal side effects.
HF of PA
Prostate Cancer Choices
After having had definite information that I was a stage one cancer patient, my Urologist suggested that I not ignor the cancer and "hope" that the illness would go away. My age, 67 and excellent health dictated that something had to be done. My PSA of 5 and Gleason score of 7 indicated that this was not a false alarm. My Urologist suggested that I speak to some experts in the field and check the internet to see what the best treatment choice would be. Each doctor had his own opinion, watchful waiting, hormonal drug therapy, radiation, cryotherapy, etc. It came down to my doing my own research on the internet and speaking to people with experience in the field. Since I am a recently retired computer person I actually enjoyed searching the internet and collecting all the information about the cancer. To make a long story short I chose to have a Robotic laparoscopic Prostatecomy using the Da Vinci Machine. The new technology was very compelling especially after watching the procedure on the internet. My next decision was where to get the surgery done and by which Dr. It had to be on the west coast because of travel considerations from my home in Hawaii. Here again the internet proved to be a very good source of information. The City of Hope Hospital was the best choice for me. They have a place for out of town families to stay during the hospital stay, and their Doctors had a very good experience record.
A week after the surgery I was able to travel back home, and am now after one year fully recovered. Even the scars are just about gone. Since this my first surgery, I cannot compare this with any other experience. However after all is said and done the experience was not that bad after all.
Prostate Cancer
My husband was diaganosd at age 54 with PC from a PSA of 10 F/B biopsy. He had a RP and we learned at follow up the cancer had spread outside the prostste wall. What should we do now?? Our surgeon says watch PSA's for a year. I just want to scream and do something. I just can't wait for this beast to re-appear. Does anyone have simailar experiences? What would you do? Should he be on Hormone Therapy already?
Prostate CA Treatment Choices
My husband's brother died last mo. of prostate CA. at the age of 75. My husband just went for a PSA and it came back 58! Biopsy shows gleason score of 7.
The Urologist and Oncologist are saying surgery is not a good choice and are suggesting IMRT.
A very successful surgeon in this field is suggesting surgery, with possible f/u with radiation. My husband started hormone treatment last month. Also, CT and Bone Scans are negative. But the Drs suggest the numbers indicate spreading anyway.
Do any of you have any suggestions? Right now, I just want it all taken out!
I had the radical at 57 after early diagnosis. If you have a family history of prostate cancer then my opinion is to have the radical and be done with it. I would opt for the robot surgery as it is more precise and you have a better chance of nerve sparing which means less of a chance of ED. I didn't know about it at the time but I wish I had. If you go with the radiation options then you could be fooling with it from now on. Tough choices no doubt. I'd get it out if it's in your genes!
