Tudpock18 said...
Dear realziggy:
Well, I finally got around to watching the video and it's fascinating! Best of all, it also makes a lot of common sense, i.e. just kill the cancer not the whole prostate. I really hope this becomes a widespread option for those who are eligible. I have often said I would have chosen active surveillance if I had been a candidate. I think I'll revise that...I would prefer TFT which seems to be the best of both worlds, i.e. treat the cancer but avoid most of the sides.
Assuming your PSA stays relatively low, I gather biopsies are a thing of the past for you. However, if I understood the video correctly, if your PSA rises and if you have a recurrance, there is a possibility that the procedure could be repeated, i.e. just treating the cancer and not the whole gland. Is that correct?
Finally, I hope you will post that link for newbies who come here looking for advice. Even if they don't choose TFT as a therapy, they need to know the universe of possibilities before making a choice.
Thanks,
Tudpock
If the PCa was to return I would have all treatment options once again available including additional TFT. Although to me a worse case scenario wouldn't have it coming back for a number of years and by then I would likely wouldn't do anything. It's not like I expect to live into my nineties.
Now that I am just about
at the end of a successful clinical trial I reflect back to when I signed up for it. There were some here who thought I was taking a huge chance and that I was a pioneer. I never thought that in fact I couldn't see why someone with my lower risk PCa wouldn't opt for it. Then again I always admitted to giving more weight to life changing side effects over just possible longevity. That said I fully expect TFT to become the major treatment soon for the 66% who don't have advanced PCa cited in the video. I'll turn 60 this August and if you would've told me back in Nov 2007 I would be at this point I would never ever had thought it possible.
Diagnosed 11/08/07 - Age: 58 - 3 of 12 @5%
Psa: 2.3 - 3+3=6 - Size: 34g -T-2-A
2/22/08 - 3D Mapping Saturation Biopsy - 1 of 45 @2% - Psa:2.1 - 3+3=6 - 28g after taking Avodart - Catheter for 1 day -Good Candidate for TFT(Targeted Focal Therapy) Cryosurgery(Ice Balls) - Clinical Research Study
4/22/08 - TFT performed at University of Colorado Medical Center - Catheter for 4 days - Slight soreness for 2 weeks but afterward life returns as normal
7/30/08 - Psa: .32
11/10/08 - Psa.62 - Not unexpected bounce after the 80% drop the quarter earlier. Along with urine flow readings, an acceptable amount left in bladder measured by sonic. Results warrant skipping third quarter tests, and to return April, 2009 for final biopsy scheduled to
complete clinical research study
Post Edited (realziggy) : 4/8/2009 6:23:10 PM (GMT-6)