What questions should we be asking?

Hello everybody

It's worth reading information from Dr Charles Myers online or from his book "Beating Prostate Casncer: Hormonal Therapy & Diet".

He suggests testing of hormone levels Testosterone & Dihydrotestosterone to see that the treatment is doing what it's supposed to.

Hey ~ Julia,

Hi Missyj,
I probably can't offer anything new...my husband is still on Lupron - just had blood taken today and will get results next week. Every time we go back to get those all important numbers we say "Now, let's be sure to ask every question we have...no matter how insignificant it may seem." So, that's where you start...paper & pen in hand, sit down with your husband and write ANY questions you have, even if you asked them before! It's okay to do that. It's okay to say, "Doc, we're not as educated about this disease as we'd like, so please walk us through this...the treatment, why this particular treatment and what is your plan for future treatment?" That should get a dialog going. Bring someone if that would be better...have them take notes.

I wanted to get this back to the top so the other members would see it and hopefully help you out.

I'll be thinking of you both and hoping for the best, please let us know how the appointment goes.
Susan

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Husband Diagnosed 11/17/05 Age: 63 No Symptoms
PSA: 7.96, Positive DRE
Biopsy Right: 6 of 6 Cores Positive Biopsy Left: 1 of 6 Cores Positive
Gleason: 4+3 = 7 Stage: T2B N0 MX
3 mo. PSA Post LRP Surgery: 11.8, 12.9, 13.9 Bone scan, CT scan, Endorectal MRI, Chest XR - neg.
09/06/06: 6 mo. PSA: 18.8 Distant lymph node involvement Start HT Lupron 3 mo. shots
12/06/06: PSA 0.8
03/07/07: PSA 0.3
06/06/07: PSA 0.1
09/05/07: PSA 0.1

My dear friend Julia,

Susan is so right. Start now with the paper and pen. No question is to trivial. Ask about options. Hormones, surgery, radiation, everything. Every doctor (oncologist) is different. I changed oncologist last week. My old doc wanted to start chemo. New doc says no, not yet, it's our ace in the hole and we don't want to play it now. Old doc did not want to do any radiation for pain. New doc says sure let's see what we can do. It's all about knowledge and trust. We like this new guy. He is a 10 year survivior of cancer. He has been there and knows what we are going through.

Get your questions lined up and don't let them rush you. Write down everything and don't let the nurse leave until you are satisfied with the answers. Then it's up to you and your husband on what to do next. I hope the care in the UK will let you do this. It's just the right thing to do.

You are in our prayers (and may more).

Love and a BIG War Eagle.