Preparing myself for upcoming fork in the road

Preparing and thank you

I am getting a PSMA PET scan next week. I was diagnosed this week with high grade PC after a few years of active surveillance. It’s been quite a kick in the teeth (something I unpleasantly experienced playing rugby) and have felt lost, frightened, and alone. Luckily have a great partner. Really struggling with the upcoming scan and wide variety of possible results and where that takes us, with the team here in Northern Colorado and an appointment at Mayo for potential treatment there.

Thanks to people who responded to my first post, and other posts I’ve read in this forum, I’m getting a lot smarter about what I’ve got and where things can go. Thank you for suggesting Dr. Patrick Walsh’s Guide to Surviving Prostate Cancer. Excellent. Really helpful understanding my enemy PC, its allies in treatment side effects, and preparing me for the battle.

I am so grateful for this forum.

Joe

Walsh’s book was my guide back in 2014-2015 when I did my first round with PCa and it is where I turned to first when I was diagnosed with a local recurrence this summer. Helped me to make best decisions and was also comforting as well, knowing that I wasn’t just lost in the wilderness.

A bit of a ray of hope for all of us is that therapies and technologies keep improving. Ten years ago, PSMA PET scans weren't around. Radiation therapy has gotten so good that it seems no to be an equal “gold standard” to RARP. ADT keeps evolving, and new therapies are in the pipeline. Living with PCa, even if some compromises must be made, is more and more becoming the norm.

So glad to hear you have a supportive partner. Makes a huge difference. Just this morning my wife said to me that I’ve been a calmer, kinder person since starting radiation therapy for my recurrence. Well, if this is a side effect, then I’ll take it and try to hold on to it.

Btw, I’m in the Denver metro and receiving treatment here.

All the best to you.

M

Praying for you!! There is a lot of support on this site to help you and you will be ok

Sorry to welcome you to our Club. You will always have support here.
Stay Strong Brother, We Got This.

Preparing and thank you

I am getting a PSMA PET scan next week. I was diagnosed this week with high grade PC after a few years of active surveillance. It’s been quite a kick in the teeth (something I unpleasantly experienced playing rugby) and have felt lost, frightened, and alone. Luckily have a great partner. Really struggling with the upcoming scan and wide variety of possible results and where that takes us, with the team here in Northern Colorado and an appointment at Mayo for potential treatment there.

Thanks to people who responded to my first post, and other posts I’ve read in this forum, I’m getting a lot smarter about what I’ve got and where things can go. Thank you for suggesting Dr. Patrick Walsh’s Guide to Surviving Prostate Cancer. Excellent. Really helpful understanding my enemy PC, its allies in treatment side effects, and preparing me for the battle.

I am so grateful for this forum.

Joe

Preparing and thank you

I am getting a PSMA PET scan next week. I was diagnosed this week with high grade PC after a few years of active surveillance. It’s been quite a kick in the teeth (something I unpleasantly experienced playing rugby) and have felt lost, frightened, and alone. Luckily have a great partner. Really struggling with the upcoming scan and wide variety of possible results and where that takes us, with the team here in Northern Colorado and an appointment at Mayo for potential treatment there.

Thanks to people who responded to my first post, and other posts I’ve read in this forum, I’m getting a lot smarter about what I’ve got and where things can go. Thank you for suggesting Dr. Patrick Walsh’s Guide to Surviving Prostate Cancer. Excellent. Really helpful understanding my enemy PC, its allies in treatment side effects, and preparing me for the battle.

I am so grateful for this forum.

Joe

Preparing and thank you

I am getting a PSMA PET scan next week. I was diagnosed this week with high grade PC after a few years of active surveillance. It’s been quite a kick in the teeth (something I unpleasantly experienced playing rugby) and have felt lost, frightened, and alone. Luckily have a great partner. Really struggling with the upcoming scan and wide variety of possible results and where that takes us, with the team here in Northern Colorado and an appointment at Mayo for potential treatment there.

Thanks to people who responded to my first post, and other posts I’ve read in this forum, I’m getting a lot smarter about what I’ve got and where things can go. Thank you for suggesting Dr. Patrick Walsh’s Guide to Surviving Prostate Cancer. Excellent. Really helpful understanding my enemy PC, its allies in treatment side effects, and preparing me for the battle.

I am so grateful for this forum.

Joe

Preparing and thank you

I am getting a PSMA PET scan next week. I was diagnosed this week with high grade PC after a few years of active surveillance. It’s been quite a kick in the teeth (something I unpleasantly experienced playing rugby) and have felt lost, frightened, and alone. Luckily have a great partner. Really struggling with the upcoming scan and wide variety of possible results and where that takes us, with the team here in Northern Colorado and an appointment at Mayo for potential treatment there.

Thanks to people who responded to my first post, and other posts I’ve read in this forum, I’m getting a lot smarter about what I’ve got and where things can go. Thank you for suggesting Dr. Patrick Walsh’s Guide to Surviving Prostate Cancer. Excellent. Really helpful understanding my enemy PC, its allies in treatment side effects, and preparing me for the battle.

I am so grateful for this forum.

Joe

Preparing and thank you

I am getting a PSMA PET scan next week. I was diagnosed this week with high grade PC after a few years of active surveillance. It’s been quite a kick in the teeth (something I unpleasantly experienced playing rugby) and have felt lost, frightened, and alone. Luckily have a great partner. Really struggling with the upcoming scan and wide variety of possible results and where that takes us, with the team here in Northern Colorado and an appointment at Mayo for potential treatment there.

Thanks to people who responded to my first post, and other posts I’ve read in this forum, I’m getting a lot smarter about what I’ve got and where things can go. Thank you for suggesting Dr. Patrick Walsh’s Guide to Surviving Prostate Cancer. Excellent. Really helpful understanding my enemy PC, its allies in treatment side effects, and preparing me for the battle.

I am so grateful for this forum.

Joe

I believe that you will find a way forward.
Gleason 9 with EPE post RP in Aug 2022 at age 72.
PSA a disappointing .19 90 days after.
Salvage Radiation Treatment w/ short term ADT Feb - June 2023.
Treatment not fun; period.
However, by Fall 2023, substantially returned to normal activities and life. PSA has been undetectable at < .02 for 2 years. I consider myself very fortunate and I am grateful.
And except for my quarterly PSA tests, at 75, I really do not think about my cancer on any regular basis.
This is intended as encouragement that there is life after treatment for many of us and positivity is allowed.
Best wishes.