Connect
← Return to A users guide to PCa treatment side effects
Discussion
A users guide to PCa treatment side effects
Prostate Cancer | Last Active: Apr 8 10:35am | Replies (10)Comment receiving replies
My father was diagnosed with prostate cancer when he was 70 years old (this was 1989). I have no idea about his Gleason score, and I doubt that they were doing genetic testing back then. By that point in his life, he had had three heart attacks and had undergone quintuple bypass surgery. They did active surveillance (I think they called it "watchful waiting" at the time) and he died of congestive heart failure at the age of 80 - the way active surveillance is supposed to work.
I'm 68 years old. Diagnosed at age 66 with localized, not especially aggressive prostate cancer. We did active surveillance for about a year and then some test results led me to pursue treatment (I don't have any have any other health problems that are likely to kill me in the next 10 years). Six months of ADT (Orgovyx) wrapped around 28 sessions of EBRT. Side effects have been annoying, but not awful. Don't really know yet about efficacy of the treatment regimen - blood work coming up soon.
During the time I've been dealing with prostate cancer, my wife, who has glaucoma, Type-2 diabetes, some sort of chronic problem with her esophagus, and a degenerative bone problem in her cervical vertebrae, was diagnosed with A-fib, which left her with basically no energy for the past year. She had a surgical procedure on Friday which we hope will solve that problem. Puts my prostate cancer situation in a little different light.
I'm more fortunate than many folks on this forum, in that my cancer is less-aggressive (we think) and has not metastasized (we think). I've appreciated the information and insights (as well as the support) I've picked up since joining a few months ago.
Prostate cancer is serious business, and we all need to educate ourselves and advocate for ourselves. But I also worry that sometimes, there's too much "doom and gloom" here and too much antipathy toward the medical community we're dealing with. If you read through 1,000 posts on this forum, you'll find 1,000 different experiences - in terms of symptoms, diagnostic procedures, reactions to diagnoses, treatment choices, treatment side effects, efficacy of treatment, etc. Medicine is nowhere near an exact science, so we need to be actively involved in our treatment. So, while I ask questions and sometimes challenge/push back against my medical team, I'm generally convinced that they're doing their best for me.
Just my two cents.
Replies to "My father was diagnosed with prostate cancer when he was 70 years old (this was 1989)...."
Gary, LOVE your post and excellent perspective. Even though I am a pessimist - and you, an optimist - our conclusions are basically the same.
In your 28 sessions of EBRT, I am sure you met many men who were a lot worse off than you. In the changing rooms there are a variety of cancers being treated and after seeing some of them, I was happy to have what I have!
Phil
Connect
the ever-optimistic realist—a rare and curious species on these forums, often spotted gingerly suggesting that perhaps the sky isn't entirely falling, just leaning a bit.
You're quite right, of course. The sheer variety of experiences here reads like a choose-your-own-adventure book written by Kafka and edited by a pharmacist. One man’s harmless PSA bump is another’s descent into radiological purgatory. And let’s not forget the joy of side effects—truly the buffet table of modern medicine, where you never quite know whether you’ll get hot flashes, erectile dysfunction, or the sudden urge to weep into a cup of green tea.
It’s refreshing to hear someone suggest that doctors, on balance, might not be part of a vast conspiracy to ruin our weekends. They may not always get it right, bless them, but they are usually trying, which is more than can be said for my DIY attempts at anything.
As for the doom and gloom—it’s a prostate cancer forum. Hope is permitted, but only if accompanied by a sarcastic cough and a disclaimer that you’re not getting too carried away. Still, keep up the sensible balance of skepticism and optimism.