My HDR brachy experience regarding anesthesia was the same as JNF's. In fact, during my first session I woke up in the middle. The spinal block is crazy--no feeling whatsoever from the waist down. I...
Not a comment on the clinical trial, but I was not aware of the IMRT + brachy combo being used for G7 guys, even ones with the 4+3 split, which is not your case. I think that's something I'd want to...
As you know, I'm not an expert on PSA trends. But the differences strike me as a pretty ordinary fluctuation over time. If you were to map this in Excel, I'd guess that that any trend line would be...
Wow, I didn't see that one coming, but it sounds like you didn't either. Interesting. I echo Halbert's comment about checking out more than one radiation specialist. Considering starting with someone...
Regarding your question about triple play side effects, I had zero issues with my rectum (and did not use the SpaceOAR) and very mild urinary issues--my stream has been decreased, but I only need to...
Is it still a triple play in the sense that you're having Cyberknife (SBRT) combined with the low dose external beam (IMRT)? As well, as the ADT, of course. I'm not familiar with an SBRT-IMRT combo,...
I'm not sure if my decision tree is relevant for you, but based on staging done as a high-risk G9, there's was a decent chance that I would fail surgery and need radiation as a back-up. Rather than...
Congrats on making a decision. I found that gave me the ability to focus on beating the PCa, as opposed to wondering what the heck I was gong to do. Since you've made a treatment decision, I don't...
That was exactly what I was going through as well. Every second of every day. I'm not sure how long that period lasted, but I do know that once I chose a treatment option that gave me something new...
Well, it's not surprising to me that a place called the Maryland Proton Center would recommend...protons. And that's not to say that's not a great treatment option for you--it really could be and...
Logo...we are thinking of the same version of Our Town from the 1950s. Frank Sinatra played the stage manager (I'd forgotten that until you mentioned him), while Paul Newman and Eva Marie Saint...
I must have been off line during the most recent updates since I had a lot of catching up to do. But so glad to see today's update and read the positive news. Hoping there's more good news to come!...
Logo...when you mention the 1950s TV version of Our Town, I presume you're referring to the one with Paul Newman and Eva Marie Saint? We saw a screening of that at UCLA a few years ago and I had the...
Cyclone--very inspiring story about your dad. My hat is off to him and I hope he doesn't need to ever add any additional survivor categories. I've had my second shot of Pfizer, but I'm not at full...
David, thank you so much for checking in with us. I'm sorry to hear about everything you're dealing with, but I'm so encouraged by how you're handling this....
Ynabal, you've already received some excellent advice--not much that I can add other to let you know you have every chance to come out of this in good shape. I think the time frames mentioned above...
Avalanche...just reading about your story and sorry you're joining our community. For what it means, I think your reaction to being diagnosed is pretty typical. I was depressed and more or less just...
I've never figured out the time on this website, but I have an unrelated comment to make about terminology: No one is posting at EST or CST since we are in daylight savings time. Instead, you should...
Hello GardenWeld and welcome to our corner of the internet. You're asking some good questions. Keeping in mind that I'm not a doctor, nor anyone here, here goes... It's pretty typical to order a bone...
We stopped there on a driving vacation in the southwest when I was a kid. As I recall, we saw a sign saying that there was a turnoff to Four Corners and my three brothers and myself (all nerds)...
Welcome to our corner of the internet and I hope we can be helpful to you as you move through all of this. You've already gotten some great advice upthread and I was glad folks weighed in on...
I also had a difficult time reconciling one core of G6 with a 16% chance of escaping the capsule. I know you're in a difficult period with the change to a new doc, but if you're going to continue on...
Epstein only takes a few days to get back to you, so I'd guess that would make sense to go to first. Also, a mild word of defense for Scholz. I've been a patient at Prostate Oncology Specialists for...
Welcome Joe. I hope we can be as help as you navigate this. Regarding the biopsy slides, I can't think of a downside to sending that to Epstein. And a lot of time insurance pays for it--mine did. I...
This are two great scores. Congrats!...
Hi Steve, welcome to our world from another G9 guy. Sorry you have to be here, but hope we can help. The bad news is that G9 is considered a high-risk diagnosis. The good news is that even high-risk...
There's nothing I can really add to the discussion about treatment choices. But I will say this...I agonized over my treatment choice. It was one of the most difficult decisions I've ever had. But...
Congrats on making a decision. I felt such relief when I did--I finally felt like instead of wondering what was next, I was not focused on playing offense and beating this thing. Lots of guys here...
I had the Triple Play as a G9 guy...it's a fairly common treatment for high-risk guys and there are a lot of success stories here with guys that have had it. My thinking in choosing it was that I was...
Unless I'm missing something, this looks pretty good to me. You finished ADT last year and your PSA would be expected to rise at that point, which it did. But at 0.2, it's still really low--my doc...
Geeterman, this can be a tough call and I don't blame you for wanting to avoid ADT. (Although as Prat said, it is doable, it's just a slog.) I think the question is: are you going to need ADT anyway...
Nicely done! Hope you can keep your AS membership card forever....
So glad to hear this, but...I'm not surprised. Yours is actually a fairly common story around here. In fact, just a few weeks ago the same thing happened to another poster here. The only thing I...
I get a DRE every year, although since I had radiation I still have a prostate. I presume that's typical for radiation patients, but not sure. I was surprised that as a surgery patient that you had...
No, not too soon. You have a lot going on that can be affecting your PSA, but if the uro felt something, well that's probably means the biopsy is in order. That doesn't necessarily mean you'll become...
I cannot imagine the pain of losing a child, but you're correct in that time heals that, even if things never return to the way that they were. Glad you're here and I hope this community helps you...
Still waiting in California...need to be over 65, an essential worker or have a high-risk condition. While cancer is on the high-risk list, I would really have to fudge my situation to fit the...
mattam, I don't have a Kindle, but do read on my iPad Mini. I know what you mean about having a book in your hands. But in my case, I do a fairly high percentage of reading in bed and using a device...
Halbert, I've also been reading the Obama memoirs, but there's a lot of material there! After I got about 2/3 of the way through I gave myself a month breather on it and picked it up again last week....
Halbert summed up the no surgery after radiation question very well. While the statement is technically correct, it also implies that with surgery you get two bites at the apple, while with radiation...
I'm sorry about your husband's diagnosis--and such an early age to boot. You've already been given great advice upthread. I also heard the recommendation for surgery due to my age--I was 51 at the...
Congratulations! And I'm actually not completely surprised--I have seen a lot of guys here with suspicious MRIs that have negative biopsies. Keep in mind all it shows is suspicion, which is why you...
Congrats from another HDR brachy guy!...
Oooh, sorry about your diagnosis--sure is a change from your 2014 scores. FWIW, it probably doesn't matter, but I would still consider getting a second opinion on your biopsy slides. First, it's free...
Welcome Goldwax and no, it's not too early to begin posting. That said, it's probably too early to worry about all the things you've brought up, although I can't say I blame you in the least as it's...
Still waiting here in California as a 60-year-old. Currently, they're vaccinating age 65+ and essential workers/teachers. On Monday, they're opening it up <65 with high-risk health conditions. On...
Sorry to hear you got a positive diagnosis, but there's more good than bad here--at least to the extent that any cancer diagnosis can be characterized that way. Yes, there's a lot you don't know from...
Wow, I missed this post over the weekend and it was a joy to find now. Very inspirational. So good to see you taking this by the horns and living your life!...
I always say that about my only side effect is that I don' pee as well as I used to. It's more a weak stream as opposed to being hot, although now that you mention it, I might describe it like that...
I am so saddened to read this and can only imagine the pain you're experiencing. My heart goes out to you....