What is the average age of the gentlemen on here?

Technically, those of us with advanced-stage cancer can't be on a curative path, even if we're getting curative-strength treatments (rather than milder palliative-strength ones), but I still feel/hope that I am on one.

For now, my goal is to stick around long enough for new treatments to become available.

Dealing with anxiety can be difficult and suck much of the joy out of life. After reading your post from today, I went back to your bio and read through two of your previous threads on your (and our) struggles with anxiety over recurrance. The collective experiences and coping strategies in the 39 replies is truly amazing! You might try rereading each reply and write down the key idea(s) shared. Afterwards, pick a handful from the list to try and implement in you life on a daily basis. If you are not currently participating in a PCa support group that meets weekly, virtually or in person, that might also prove helpful. Several of the MCC community can share which groups they have joined and found helpful. I hope you will soon find the path to a reasonable amount of freedom from recurrance anxiety and a focus on the joy in each day of living. Please continue to share your journey with us so we are able to learn from and, hopefully, support you. Best wishes.
Bill

Yeah, it’s a struggle, that’s for sure. I’ll go weeks not even thinking about…”it”…but then I’ll read a post on the forum about some side effect from radiation occurring years later and I’ll be sick over it!
It does pass quickly - getting better on that front, at least; but I have always been a worrier, always will be so I take all my hysterics with a grain of salt. KNOW THYSELF is the best remedy for me. Best
Phil

@bluegill
Now if we could just get it to reverse over time!

Was 65 when diagnosed with an aggressive cancer...now 70 post radical prostatectomy

@iagk1966, have you discussed treatment options with your team yet? How are you doing?

@ppettis, do you know more about the stage of your prostate cancer? What treatment options are you considering?

Hi, thank you for reaching out. I’ve been told my cancer is an ‘intermediate’ stage, Gleason 3+4, confirmed with an MRI-guided biopsy. My PSA has steadily risen over the last 8 years from around 5 to 14.5 most recently, with the velocity increasing.
I’ve been offered surgery, observation, and radiation as viable options. I am curious about other options like TULSA Pro, etc.,and have an appointment to discuss everything with my doctor in early June. I like the observation option for all the obvious reasons, but I don’t want to die from metastatic cancer. I honestly don’t know what to do. It’s a big decision, life changing, and I am alone with no one to help with the decision.

@ppettis
You not knowing what to do have you considered getting a medical professional second opinion? If you don't have someone to help with your decision a second opinion may help.

You can reserach your options and get medical professionals answering your questions and concerns. Mayo, Cleveland Clinic, John Hopkins, etc. all have excellent web sites to research your diagnosis, treatments, etc.

I had an excellent PCP who recommended to me to get a second opinion. I did and got the same diagnosis and treatment plan from both. I and my PCP then discussed and we chose the type radiation (proton versus photon) that we felt was best for me.

Observation as you mentioned is an option. For many that is what they chose and that is their choice. Doing that option comes with knowledge you have prostate cancer and some like want to treat it even though I was 76 when I was diagnosed. Many like me chose raditaion based on my age, health conditions, Decipher test results, etc. Many chose RP and have their personal reason also. The key here is to make your decision yours. For me I needed the other tests done and the second opinion to make that decision.

I may have missed it in prior posts by you but have you had the PSMA? It will help determine if cancer is still confined to prostate. Have you had the Decipher test? It will give a more precise diagnosis of the risk level of your cancer and help your urologist and/or R/O determine best treatment options based on that risk level.

The Decipher can most of the time use the same biopsies already taken. Medicare covers this but if your insurance does not Decipher offfers reduced cost plans and paying over time.

PSMA is a radilogical test that determines if cancer is still confined to prostate. All these can help you decide your options as well as your medical providers. There a lot of new type test out there but not being a medical professional cannot comment on them as I did not have them where I did have the Decipher and PSMA.

jc76 thank you for the feedback. It’s much appreciated. 🙂