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11 anniversaries since diagnosis of stage 4 prostate cancer
Prostate Cancer | Last Active: 2 days ago | Replies (83)Comment receiving replies
I had terrible pain in my back when I was initially diagnosed 2 years ago. I received radiation to my spin and ribs and the pain disappeared. I used to be slightly over 6"0 and I am now a solid 5"11. I am concerned about my spin in the future. If you do not mind, what was your PSA at diagnosis. Am I to assume you are do novo stage 4 Prostate Cancer? I also am de novo stage 4 bone only.
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The pain in my back wasn't horrible, but the balance problems were really getting me.
The cancer was oligometastatic (stage 4b) to my thoracic spine — just one metastasis, thankfully — and my PSA was 67 at diagnosis. I had emergency debulking surgery (over 10 hours on the operating table), radiation to my spine after the surgery healed, then radiation to my prostate 6 months later. I've also been on ADT (first Firmagon, then Orgovyx) and ARSI (Erleada) continually since diagnosis, and I get tested every three months.
The news has stayed good (PSA < 0.01) since my onco team "threw the kitchen sink at it" (their words). I did suffer some permanent radiation damage to the bottom of my bladder and my rectum, but it's not all that serious, and if even I knew I'd have these complications I'd still make the decision to fricassee that prostate to give me a chance of living many more years.