I can't believe it. I'm DONE !!.
No more daily trips to London, Ontario !
Ask me if I'm happy. Yes, go ahead and ask.
This week went well. Only a bit of bowel problems, some fatigue but not enough to stop me from driving myself.
Speaking of driving, the hospital is 220 km. round trip. Total trips were 35, as in, 33 for radiation, 1 for the initual consult with the rad guy and then the one for the tattooing marks.
Out of the 35 trips, 31 were in my car, 2 on the motorcycle and two in a friends car because it needed servicing in the same city. My car shows 6940 additional kilometers since the start of the radiation.
Debbie went with me every Thursday, including the last day today. Went for a nice lunch and she has champayne on ice for this evening. Her support has been so vital during this last year and now hopefully we can start relaxing a bit more.
My next appointment with the surgery fellow is Mid-August and with the rad oncologist in Mid-February. Both will have a PSA done a week prior.
For my last 5 pictures of the seven week journey, go here: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=382971347712
. . . . and click on Photos. . . . . . . . . and Yes, 60Michael, I did get one in the rad room, just for you.
Jerry from Canada.
.
Age, only 71.
July 2009, PSA 9.1, free ratio 0.16
September GLEASON 4+4=8, T2A
Prostate 44cc.
Calcium: 2.46 (range: 2.20 - 2.65 mmol/L)
25 Hydroxy Vitamin D: 102 (range: sufficiency:
76 - 250 nmol/L)
Bone Scan: Negative
CT Scan scheduled for Dec. 1st. Negative.
Started Casodex 50mg. on Nov. 6, first pill of 30.
Got Lupron 22.5mg ( 90 day ) on November 19.
No real side effects as of Dec. 15 except dry skin and hair but getting quite 'porky' in the belt area even though now I go to the gym, three times a week. Also I dont have a need to shave anymore so now I can save my 'shaving' allowance and direct it to my stash of Depends !
Christmas Day got my first hot flashes. Thanks Santa!
Open surgery done on Jan. 20th. by Dr. J. Chin at London's University Hospital.
Cath removel scheduled for Feb. 8th. Yes, I know,
that will be 19 days. Dr. is out of country until then.
====================================
Pathology Report:
Gleason Score: cannot be determined due to hormone therapy effects. ???????
Extraprostatic Extension:
present, left radial, multifocal
present, left basal, multifocal
Resection Margins:
Apical: involved by invasive carcinoma, multifocal
Bladder Neck: involved by invasive carcinoma, unifocal on left side.Other: non-tumoural prostatic present at resection margin.
Perineural Invasion: present.
Seminal Vesicle Invasion: absent
Lymphovascular Invasion: absent
Lymph Node Status: no malignancy in regional lymph nodes
Additional path. findings:
high grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia
Pathology Stage: yp T3a NO MX
==================================
Radialogist appointment was on Friday Feb. 26 with Dr. Glenn Bauman in London.
Got another Lupron 90 day shot today and he wants to start IMRT soon. CT Scan plus measure scheduled in about 3 weeks. ( march 15)
First PSA test since surgery on March 18th.
with the results of <0.03 !!!
Started a Facebook page for bikers with prostate issues at:
IMRT to started on May 10. Going to get 33 units.
.
Post Edited (JB71) : 6/24/2010 1:38:46 PM (GMT-6)
Now that is one good looking machine, especially now that I am not near the thing. Why isnt that one woman smiling like the other? She sad cause your leaving? Glad it went so well Jerry and sounds like you had some great support. I might get up that way in the next year or two so stay in touch.
Michael
Dx with PCA 12/08 2 out of 12 cores positive 4.5 psa
Michael
Dx with PCA 12/08 2 out of 12 cores positive 4.5 psa
59 yo when diagnosed, 61 yo 2010
Robotic surgery 5/09 Atlanta, Ga
Catheter out after 10 days
Gleason upgraded to 3+5, volume less than 10%
2 pads per day, 1 depends but getting better,
started ED tx 7/17, slow go
Post op dx of neuropathy
T2C left lateral and left posterior margins involved
3 months psa.01, 6 month psa.4, 6 1/2 month psa.5 on 11/28/10
Starting IMRT on 1/18/10, Completed 39 tx at 70 gys on 3/12/10
6 week Post IMRT PSA .44 a drop from .5 but maybe more
Great family and friends
Michael
Hi JB71,
Congratulations on the completion of your radiation treatment. Hopefully it killed off the last remaining bad cells. I've had the same amount of Gys (66) about 18 month ago in Vancouver. The side effects took about 4-6 weeks before they started to improve. 3 month later they have all but disappeared.
Wishing you all the best.
Magaboo
Born Sept 1936
PSA 7.9
-ve DRE
Gleason's Score 3+4=7, 2 of 8 positive
Open RP 28 Nov 06 (nerve sparing), Post op staging T3a
Gleasons still 3+4=7
Seminal vesicles and lymph nodes clear
Catheter out 15 Dec 06, Dry since 11 Feb 07
All PSA tests in 2007 (4) <.04
PSA tests in 2008: Mar.=.04; Jun.=.05; Sept.=.08; 3 days before Rad Start=0.1
Salvage RT completed (33 sessions - 66 Grays) on the 19th Dec., 08.
PSA in Jan., 09=0.05; July 09=<0.04; JAN 10=<0.04
Congratulations on the completion of your radiation treatment. Hopefully it killed off the last remaining bad cells. I've had the same amount of Gys (66) about 18 month ago in Vancouver. The side effects took about 4-6 weeks before they started to improve. 3 month later they have all but disappeared.
Wishing you all the best.
Magaboo
Born Sept 1936
PSA 7.9
-ve DRE
Gleason's Score 3+4=7, 2 of 8 positive
Open RP 28 Nov 06 (nerve sparing), Post op staging T3a
Gleasons still 3+4=7
Seminal vesicles and lymph nodes clear
Catheter out 15 Dec 06, Dry since 11 Feb 07
All PSA tests in 2007 (4) <.04
PSA tests in 2008: Mar.=.04; Jun.=.05; Sept.=.08; 3 days before Rad Start=0.1
Salvage RT completed (33 sessions - 66 Grays) on the 19th Dec., 08.
PSA in Jan., 09=0.05; July 09=<0.04; JAN 10=<0.04
Post Edited (Magaboo) : 6/25/2010 10:35:39 PM (GMT-6)
Jerry, I am so please for you. Now you don't have to make that long daily trip. Don't be surprised by lingering side effects and fatigue, that radiation is still cooking away inside you, so listen to your body closely over the next few weeks. Let's hope all that rad kills off any PC cells lingering about..
David in SC
Age: 57, 56 dx, PSA: 7/07 5.8, 7/08 12.3, 9/08 14.5, 10/08 16.3
3rd Biopsy: 9/08 - 7/7 Positive, 40-90% Cancer, Gleason 4+3
Open RP: 11/08, Rht nerves saved, 4 days in hospt, on catheters for 63 days, 5th one out 1/09
Path Rpt: Gleason 3+4, pT2c, 42g, 20% cancer, 1 pos margin
David in SC
Age: 57, 56 dx, PSA: 7/07 5.8, 7/08 12.3, 9/08 14.5, 10/08 16.3
3rd Biopsy: 9/08 - 7/7 Positive, 40-90% Cancer, Gleason 4+3
Open RP: 11/08, Rht nerves saved, 4 days in hospt, on catheters for 63 days, 5th one out 1/09
Path Rpt: Gleason 3+4, pT2c, 42g, 20% cancer, 1 pos margin
Incontinence: 1 Month ED: Non issue at any point post surgery, no problem post SRT
Post Surgery PSA: 2/09 .05,5/09 .1, 6/09 .11. 8/09 .16
Post Surgery PSA: 2/09 .05,5/09 .1, 6/09 .11. 8/09 .16
Post SRT PSA: 1/10 .12, 4/8 .04, next one: July
Latest: 7/9 met 2 rad. oncl, 7/9 cath #6 - blockage, 8/9 2nd corr surgery, 8/9 cath #7 out 38 days, 9/9 - met 3rd rad. oncl., mapped 9/9, 10/1 - 3rd corr. surgery - SP cath/hard dialation, 10/5 - 11/27 IMRT SRT 39 sess/72 gys ,cath #8 33 days, Cath #9 35 days, 12/7 - Cath #10 43 days, 1/19 - Corr Surgery #4, Caths #11 and #12 same time, 2/8-Cath #11 out - 21 days, 3/2- Cath #12 out - 41 days, 3/2- Corr Surgery #5, 3/6 Cath #13 out - 4 days, Cath #14- 27 days, Cath #15 - 26 days, Cath #16 - 31 days, 5/24 put in Cath #17
Latest: 7/9 met 2 rad. oncl, 7/9 cath #6 - blockage, 8/9 2nd corr surgery, 8/9 cath #7 out 38 days, 9/9 - met 3rd rad. oncl., mapped 9/9, 10/1 - 3rd corr. surgery - SP cath/hard dialation, 10/5 - 11/27 IMRT SRT 39 sess/72 gys ,cath #8 33 days, Cath #9 35 days, 12/7 - Cath #10 43 days, 1/19 - Corr Surgery #4, Caths #11 and #12 same time, 2/8-Cath #11 out - 21 days, 3/2- Cath #12 out - 41 days, 3/2- Corr Surgery #5, 3/6 Cath #13 out - 4 days, Cath #14- 27 days, Cath #15 - 26 days, Cath #16 - 31 days, 5/24 put in Cath #17
Jerry congrats of finishing your treatment, now take time to heal and to enjoy the summer...
James C. Age 63
Gonna Make Myself A Better Man www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6cX61oNsRQ&feature=channel
4/07: PSA 7.6, Recheck after 4 weeks Cipro-6.7
7/07 Biopsy: 3 of 16 PCa, 5% invloved, left lobe, GS3+3=6
9/07: Nerve Sparing open RRP, 110gms, Path Report- Stg. pT2c, 110 gms., margins clear
3 Years: PSA's .04 each test since surgery, ED continues: Bimix- .3ml PRN, Trimix- .15ml PRN
James C. Age 63
Gonna Make Myself A Better Man www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6cX61oNsRQ&feature=channel
4/07: PSA 7.6, Recheck after 4 weeks Cipro-6.7
7/07 Biopsy: 3 of 16 PCa, 5% invloved, left lobe, GS3+3=6
9/07: Nerve Sparing open RRP, 110gms, Path Report- Stg. pT2c, 110 gms., margins clear
3 Years: PSA's .04 each test since surgery, ED continues: Bimix- .3ml PRN, Trimix- .15ml PRN
Jerry,
Glad you are done with the radiation. As David mentioned, I've noticed in this "week after" that my side effects are getting a tad more pronounced, but I guess that is expected.
Except for the drive, I almost miss the daily "visit". Leaves me with nothing to do but work!
Glad you are done with the radiation. As David mentioned, I've noticed in this "week after" that my side effects are getting a tad more pronounced, but I guess that is expected.
Except for the drive, I almost miss the daily "visit". Leaves me with nothing to do but work!
Congrats Jerry!
my number 36 and LAST zap should be this afternoon, and i'm trying not to jinx myself by thinking too much about it....but i'm definitely ready...
hoping they got all the Nasty Stuff outa you. enjoy the weekend!
now all you have to do is WAIT
bob
Age@dx: 55
5/05 PSA test 1.8 --12/19/07 PSA test 3.7 --7/25/08 PSA test: 4.7
8/26/08 1st Prostate Biopsy: 3 samples out of 6 have irregular cells
11/25/08 PSA test: 6.5
12/11/08 2nd Prostate Biopsy : of 12 samples, 3 are cancer, and all other 9 are irregular. original NJ lab sent samples to Johns Hopkins for special reading. Gleason 3+3=6. now:read book, and think about options: radiation, surgery, etc
1/22/09 Radical Retropubic Prostatectomy. main issue was use of BOTH pre-donated units of blood during surgery, and then required 2 additional units in recovery, before going to room
1/25/09 Released from hospital. No drive, no lift >5 lb
1/28/09 Pathology results from removed tissue: Cancer was seen on 10% of gland, lymph nodes & SV were benign, nothing seen outside of the prostate. One area of cancer extended right up to edge, but not beyond. Gleason was re-typed as 3+4=7, staged T2c
2/13/09 PSA=0.1
3/6/09 6week appt, start back to work Monday, 3/9. script for Cialis
6/8/09 PSA=0.1
10/9/09 PSA=0.1
2/10/10 PSA=0.3 discussed possibility of radiotherapy and/or hormone.
4/7/10 PSA= 0.4 Recurrence of the cancer is probable. Referred me to RO
5/4/10 First RT. RO is recommending 37 treatments x 1.8Gy=66.6 Gy
Congrats. I'll be halfway there next week. It actually seems to go pretty fast. Squid.
*Age 63, PSA July 2009 5.66
*Diagnosed July 2009, Biopsy: 2 of 12 cores positive, Gleason 3 + 5 = 8
*MRI and Bone Scan Negative.
*open Surgery October 22, 2009
*Prostate, both nerve bundles, seminal vessels, and lymph nodes removed during surgery.
*Post surgery Biopsy, Gleason 4 + 3; 2 positive margins
*Still slightly incontinant after 3 months - 1 pad per day (light). Dry at night. 1-2 trips to toilet.
*ED - Yes (will start Levitra possibly in January)
*30 day PSA (ultra-sensitive) .07
*90 day PSA (standard) <0.15
*01/10 - bladder neck stricture. opened during cysto exam. Cath #2 in for 5 days.
*03/01 - bladder neck stricture. Dilated during cysto exam. Cath #3 in place.
*03/11 - Bladder neck surgery. Cath #4 in place.
*03/15 - Cath #4 out. Great urine stream. Unfortunately, incontinence back to post surgery level.
*04/14 - Six month PSA - .21.
*05/15 - Incontinence basically under control. 99% dry. Wear pad daily at work "just in case".
*Age 63, PSA July 2009 5.66
*Diagnosed July 2009, Biopsy: 2 of 12 cores positive, Gleason 3 + 5 = 8
*MRI and Bone Scan Negative.
*open Surgery October 22, 2009
*Prostate, both nerve bundles, seminal vessels, and lymph nodes removed during surgery.
*Post surgery Biopsy, Gleason 4 + 3; 2 positive margins
*Still slightly incontinant after 3 months - 1 pad per day (light). Dry at night. 1-2 trips to toilet.
*ED - Yes (will start Levitra possibly in January)
*30 day PSA (ultra-sensitive) .07
*90 day PSA (standard) <0.15
*01/10 - bladder neck stricture. opened during cysto exam. Cath #2 in for 5 days.
*03/01 - bladder neck stricture. Dilated during cysto exam. Cath #3 in place.
*03/11 - Bladder neck surgery. Cath #4 in place.
*03/15 - Cath #4 out. Great urine stream. Unfortunately, incontinence back to post surgery level.
*04/14 - Six month PSA - .21.
*05/15 - Incontinence basically under control. 99% dry. Wear pad daily at work "just in case".
*06/10 - Started IGRT. 39 treatments scheduled.