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Stage 4 Metatasized to Bones- Anyone at 10 years?
Prostate Cancer | Last Active: Feb 8 7:45am | Replies (60)Comment receiving replies
The oncologists that I now see don't give estimates as all cases, to some extent at least, are individual. The first one I saw, who practices at a major medical center, gave me five years max. I decided to seek help at another major medical center for a second opinion. I am also getting consultations at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York. (I have seen the studies that show that patients getting treatment at NIH-recognized cancer centers tend to have better outcomes.)
If I make it to August, and I believe I will, I will have five years since diagnoses of advanced prostate cancer. My two latest PSMA PET scans, including one this month, are not able to detect the cancer cells in spite of a rising PSA, likely because they are still too small. Hopefully when they become detectable, they will be treatable. This brings home the importance of aggressive monitoring of your condition.
BTW, I had my prostate removed, had salvage radiation and was on ADT for two years. My PSA went from 54 to undetectable until this time last year, when it started rising. I am 71 years old.
Warm regards,
Daniel
State of Washington
Replies to "The oncologists that I now see don't give estimates as all cases, to some extent at..."
Good for you! Love to hear that story. Johns Hopkins individualizes treatment and is on the cutting edge. I had vey limited metastatic disease and had Chemo, radiation to T8 and pelvis, Darolutamide and ADT for one year. PSA undetectable. MY JH MO plans to follow PSA and when (if!) gets to 0.1, image with PSMA PET and radiate any detectable mets +/- 3 months of ADT. Sounds like a plan. At initial consult he said I should only consider MO/Medical Centers that individualize treatment.
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Koji. Thanks for your post. You are a fighter and an inspiration. Many guys, me included, are in the same situation as you. I think that the doctors are intentionally very conservative when giving life expectancy opinions. They urge guys to put their affairs in order, financially and family wise. Also, when we exceed the doctors projections then no one complains, but if we don’t make it to the projections, then family members ( and sometimes the patient ) will complain. Best of luck to you and all of us here!