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Jack Drum's Journey  
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Posted 2/6/2009 4:53 PM (GMT -6)
I am a 75 YO who had radical prostectomy in June of 1990.

I also had salvage radiation in 2005 for rising PSA. Before radiation my psa was 0.6 and after the radiation dropped to 0.1.

In July 2008 it was back to 0.3, and now, (6 months) it is up to 0.8. Any suggestions on what treatment would be available, or advisable.

Also, being a 19 year post prostectomy, I am wondering what is the average life expectancy for a person. I think I may of already done much better than most. I still feel good, and no sign of any big problem except the psa.

I am going to have a bone scan, and PET scan next week.

Thanks for any input.

Jack

Moderator Edit ~ Added Subject line only.
~ TC-LasVegas

Post Edited By Moderator (TC-LasVegas) : 2/6/2009 3:23:34 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 2/6/2009 5:00 PM (GMT -6)
Hello and welcome here Jack, glad you found us. I like your story already, you are already 19 years post surgery, some of us younger men wonder about long term prognosis, so your post is encouraging already. It also took you 15 years to need the salvage radiation. Hopefully your scans will come back clean, which will be a good sign for you. I am sure others here that have had treatments beyond surgery/radiation can give you some advice.

David in SC
Age 56, 56 at DX, PSA 7/7 5.8, 7/8 12.3
3rd Biopsy 9/8 Positive 7 of 7 cores pos, 40-90%, Gleason 7
Open RP surgery 11/14/8, Non-nerve sparing, 4 days hospital, staples out 11/24/8, 5th cath out on 1/19/9
Post-surgery Pathlogy Report:Gleason 3+4=7, pT2c, 42 grm, tumor 20%, Contained in capsular, clear margins, clear lymph nodes 
First PSA Post Surgery   2/9/9
 
 

Posted 2/6/2009 5:42 PM (GMT -6)

Thanks David for your reply.  

maybe I can set a new record for life after RP. 

Jack

Posted 2/6/2009 5:59 PM (GMT -6)

Jack,

Welcome to Healing Well. I hope you set that record for RP survival. You still have a lot of tools to work with. I suspect Hormone Therapy will be the next weapon in your battle. I've had radical surgery, radiation and hormone therapy over the past 9 months of my battle. I am extremely optimistic for both of us.

Keep us posted on what your doctor decides and how the scans turn out.

Bill in San Diego

Age 60 (59 when Dx) PSA 4.4
Biopsy 5/15/08 Gleason (3+3=6)
Bone scan and pelvic CT: clear
HT - 2 mo Casodex, 3 mo Trelstar
RRP Surgery 9/15/08 La Mesa California
Geason 3+4=7, Stage pT2c pN0 MX
Seminal vesicals, perineural margin, 18 lymph nodes, bladder neck: all carcinoma free
Perineural invasion & Distal Margin: Carcinoma present
IMRT adjuvant radiation (35 Treatments) End 1/27/09
PSA (10/13/08): <0.1
 

Posted 2/6/2009 6:02 PM (GMT -6)
Jack, looks like you were about my age when you had surgery, around 56? If so, that is even more encouraging. You don't happen to remember any of your original stats when you diagnosed, for example your PSA, tumor grade, or gleason score. I would be thrilled right now to think that I too could make it 75 or beyond. How's the rest of your general health, if I may ask?

David in SC
Age 56, 56 at DX, PSA 7/7 5.8, 7/8 12.3
3rd Biopsy 9/8 Positive 7 of 7 cores pos, 40-90%, Gleason 7
Open RP surgery 11/14/8, Non-nerve sparing, 4 days hospital, staples out 11/24/8, 5th cath out on 1/19/9
Post-surgery Pathlogy Report:Gleason 3+4=7, pT2c, 42 grm, tumor 20%, Contained in capsular, clear margins, clear lymph nodes 
First PSA Post Surgery   2/9/9
 
 

Posted 2/6/2009 6:10 PM (GMT -6)
Thanks everyone. 
i will post in about 10 days the results of my scans.   Hope they will be good. 
The rest of my health is really good.   I have had other issues, with atrial fibrillation and gall bladder, but they are now resolved.
I am very active, if shooting pool is considered active. 
I do walk a lot and I shoot pool in 2 different leagues, and practice at the pool hall about 3 other days a week. 
Life has really been pretty good. 
Jack
Posted 2/6/2009 6:17 PM (GMT -6)
Jack, glad you have something that you like doing, i.e. the pool shooting. And walking is always a good thing .
Age 56, 56 at DX, PSA 7/7 5.8, 7/8 12.3
3rd Biopsy 9/8 Positive 7 of 7 cores pos, 40-90%, Gleason 7
Open RP surgery 11/14/8, Non-nerve sparing, 4 days hospital, staples out 11/24/8, 5th cath out on 1/19/9
Post-surgery Pathlogy Report:Gleason 3+4=7, pT2c, 42 grm, tumor 20%, Contained in capsular, clear margins, clear lymph nodes 
First PSA Post Surgery   2/9/9
 
 

Posted 2/6/2009 6:33 PM (GMT -6)
Jack, You sound like you are a cool guy doing quite well...!! Your psa is very low still...Do you have an oncologist that is following you now that you like and trust? Let us know what your results are...There are many guys here that can give really good advice and know so much....Keep coming ....Diane
Husband Pete
dx Jan 2001 gleason 4 + 3 PSA 16.5
Seed implant and conformal radiation and Lupron from Jan 2001 to Jan2002
2005 Dec PSA began to rise from .5 to 8 within 6 months
Salvage surgery at MSK 9/06 Dr. Eastham
Fistula operation 2/07 MSK Dr. Wong
Many cystoscopies and ER visits with strictures
Catheter for one year....Catheter taken out Sept 07..
Total Incontinence since then....
PSA .52 3/08
AUS Operation at MSK Sept 8 2008 Dr. Sandhu
Activated Oct 28th Dr. Sandhu..MSK
Some difficulty with AUS arising Nov 10 2008
Meeting with Dr. Sandhu to discuss AUS problems and new PSA test Dec 11, 2008
PSA .6 12/08
AUS improving..only 2 pads a day and one at night
Complete hip replacement surgery Dr. Waters Gainesville, FL 1/9/09
Forging ahead to health!

Posted 2/6/2009 6:53 PM (GMT -6)
Hi Jack...
Welcome to HealingWell. You already know quite a bit having played the game as long as you have. Your original pathology would interest some. In 1990, what did you know about your disease. Did you have the PSA, Gleason, and stage information You sound headed to hormonal therapy, but you have time mull over it. What does you doctor suggest?

Again Welcome. We're glad to have you Jack!

Tony
Age 46 (44 when Dx)
Pre-op PSA was 19.8 : Surgery at The City of Hope on February 15, 2007
Geason 4+3=7, Stage pT3b, N0, Mx
Positive Margins (PM), Extra Prostatic Extension (EPE) : Bilateral Seminal vesicle invasion (SVI)
HT began in May, '07 with Lupron and Casodex 50mg (2 Year ADT)
IMRT radiation for 38 Treatments ending August 3, '07
Current PSA (January 13, 2009): <0.1
 
My Journal is at Tony's Blog  
 
STAY POSITIVE!

Posted 2/6/2009 7:11 PM (GMT -6)
1990 Wow! I am glad to hear about that. Thanks for posting Jack. Your story is truely inspiring to us new comers to the pc brotherhood.  Godspeed.
Age now 44 (43 when dx)
 
Pre-op PSA:  0.9
Biopsy: 3/12 cores pos  20% 30% 50%
Gleason 3+3=6
Robotic RP:   Aug 08 1 day hospital stay, cath out on 8th day.
Post Surgery Pathology Report: Gleason 6, pT2c, tumor 10% contained in prostate gland, all margins negative. Negative lymph nodes
Post Op PSA: Dec 08 <0.1

Posted 2/6/2009 7:15 PM (GMT -6)
Welcome to the forum Jack and thanks for your encouraging story. Like Tony said I would like to know more about your original diagnosis, gleason score, PSA, etc.
Hang around and join in the fun. This place is a wealth of information.

peace and love
Dale
My PSA at diagnosis was 16.3
age 46 (current)
My gleason score from prostate was 4+5=9 and from the lymph nodes was 4+4=8
I had 44 IMRT's
Casodex
Currently on Lupron
I go to The Cancer Treatment Center of America
Married with two kids
latest PSA 5-27-08 0.11
PSA July 24th, 2008 is 0.04
PSA Dec 16th, 2008 is .06
Testosterone keeps rising, the current number is 156, up from 57 in May
cancer in 4 of 6 cores
92%
80%
37%
28%
 

Posted 2/6/2009 9:17 PM (GMT -6)
Thanks Everyone.
In 1990 they had a little different rating of the cancer.   I don't remember exactly what it was, but next week I will find out what I can and post it. 
I would like to hear from someone in my similar situation, but I don't really know how many of us our out there.  
I lived 11 years after the surgery, with a undetectable PSA thinking I was cured, but found out that if you live long enough, it will come back.  
Jack in Peoria,  Illinois
Posted 2/6/2009 10:10 PM (GMT -6)
I went back through my papers at the time of my salvage radiation. I had asked my original urologist about my cancer rating, and he said in 1990 the rating were different from today's ratings.
My rating was Gleason 5, 2+3=5 with extensive perineural invasion. also listed stage C, T3
Hope this helps some.
This is all the information I will be able to get on this.
Jack
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