Any hopeful stage 4 storries

Posted by christinadiersen50 @christinadiersen50, Jul 28 6:32pm

My husband was diagnosed in June. His P.S.A was 4.6. His gleason 3+4. So we thought his disease would be localized. But Pet Scan showed bone spread. We are terrified. Any encouraging word would be appreciated

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Profile picture for beaquilter @beaquilter

I wanted to start a thread about stage 4 pc.
How long have you had stage 4? And did you start off with that diagnosis or did it get to that later?
(My husband was diagnosed early 2025 with stage 4 and back then stats said 30% make it 5 years)
Just reply with how long you've had stage 4.
Thanks

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Diagnosed in July of 2022 at age 73. Stage 4 with mets to lymph nodes and pelvic bone. ADT started, then IMRT with SBRT to the pelvic bone lesion. Degarelix and Abiraterone w/ prednisone for 2.5 years (stopped May 2025). PSA remains undetectable. PSMA-Pet and MRI last month showed all clear. I was sorely depressed by the statistics I read when diagnosed (30% at 5 years) but my Mayo Urologist assured me that those statistics are based on historical data and new treatments will significantly improve those numbers when newer studies are completed. 🙂

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Profile picture for northoftheborder @northoftheborder

@lag 15 years living with stage 4B and going strong? That's very encouraging to hear as I approach my 5-year cancer-versary in October.

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@northoftheborder I am always happy to be able to tell people that prostate cancer patients can live for many years in Stage 4. Lots of people think they are doomed to die soon when told they are Stage 4, and it is good to give them a counter example. Doctors and their staffs need to be trained and reminded to update their speeches to take into account the current treatments and realities. You have overcome so much--sending good thoughts that the five-year anniversary passes uneventfully. Hang in there.

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Profile picture for beaquilter @beaquilter

I wanted to start a thread about stage 4 pc.
How long have you had stage 4? And did you start off with that diagnosis or did it get to that later?
(My husband was diagnosed early 2025 with stage 4 and back then stats said 30% make it 5 years)
Just reply with how long you've had stage 4.
Thanks

Jump to this post

Quick background for context. Prostate cancer diagnosis, Gleason 4+3, early 2020. Radical prostatectomy in June 2020. It was delayed several months due to COVID. Confirmed 4+3 with 80% grade 4. Pathology: perineural invasion and spread to the bladder neck. Positive margins. PSA post-RP undetectable after 2 months. September 2024, PSMA-PET scan after PSA rose to .42. Diagnosed then with Stage 4, distant lymph nodes, right pelvic wall. PSA rose to .78. Had 6 months of Lupron (two 3-month injections). Voluntary off Lupron and no treatment beginning March 2025. Last PSA and T-level checked May 2026 - PSA at .09 and T level rebounded to the mid-300s. I feel pretty good. I do have numbness in the right thigh. The lateral femoral cutaneous nerve is 'dead", due to tumors.

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Profile picture for Read & learn & live! @readandlearn

I was diagnosed with stage 4 in Nov 2021.

I was then put on hormone therapy. Side effects are mild. In 2023 I moved to another state (I had a moving company move the big stuff).

Despite being warned not to buy a two-story house at my age, I go up & down the stairs so many times a day that I don't count.

I'm living a normal healthy life five years later at 81. I mow my own lawn & walk 1.5 miles a day when the weather permits.

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Wow you are doing great at 81 I'm happy for you..Keep moving what somebody told me once

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Profile picture for lsk1000 @lsk1000

@jeffmarc thanks for that. I’m a former runner who only walks now. It’s too bad that article didn’t specify the duration and intensity of exercise that produced those findings.

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@lsk1000 Having trouble posting the link, but they tested at distances of 5K and 10K.
The results were the same, as far as spheroids were concerned, so shorter distances DO work!
They made no mention of the speed or intensity; but if you are a runner you would probably run at a pace to make you really work in the last kilometer or so.
@handera is a treasure trove of information on this topic and a great example of its efficacy IN VIVO.
I would definitely contact him for the best info.
Phil

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I don't know if this is of any help. 12 years ago I was diagnosed with an incurable lymphoma but am in excellent remission. A year ago I was diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer. The PSA was knocked down from a bit over 2000 to 0.19 in six months. The lymphoma remission taught me not to worry about minor things. The PSA knockdown strengthened that to where my concern about the outcome of the prostate cancer is not forefront in my thoughts. My point - management of concern is possible. My attitude is best expressed by the Doris Day song:
Que sera, sera
Whatever will be, will be
The future's not ours to see
Que sera, sera
What will be, will be
I wish that all with incurable prostate cancer can manage anxiety very well.

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Profile picture for tjs911 @tjs911

Diagnosed in July of 2022 at age 73. Stage 4 with mets to lymph nodes and pelvic bone. ADT started, then IMRT with SBRT to the pelvic bone lesion. Degarelix and Abiraterone w/ prednisone for 2.5 years (stopped May 2025). PSA remains undetectable. PSMA-Pet and MRI last month showed all clear. I was sorely depressed by the statistics I read when diagnosed (30% at 5 years) but my Mayo Urologist assured me that those statistics are based on historical data and new treatments will significantly improve those numbers when newer studies are completed. 🙂

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Are you still on a shot every 3 months and a pills everyday

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Profile picture for asolidrock @asolidrock

Are you still on a shot every 3 months and a pills everyday

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@asolidrock I was on the ADT regimen (pills and shot) for about 2 /1/2 years. Last injection in May of '25 and stopped the pills in June, '25. So it has been over a year with no PCa meds. I feel better but not really even close to normal . Testosterone was only up to 28 last month but PSA remains undetectable.

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Profile picture for beaquilter @beaquilter

I wanted to start a thread about stage 4 pc.
How long have you had stage 4? And did you start off with that diagnosis or did it get to that later?
(My husband was diagnosed early 2025 with stage 4 and back then stats said 30% make it 5 years)
Just reply with how long you've had stage 4.
Thanks

Jump to this post

@beaquilter
It seems like the longest is 8 years at stage 4
(Of the ones who replied)

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