Connect← Return to Gleason 8, PSMA PET scan not good: It's decision time
Discussion
Gleason 8, PSMA PET scan not good: It's decision time
Prostate Cancer | Last Active: 1 hour ago | Replies (30)Comment receiving replies
Whether your diagnosed at 57 as I was or 71 as you say, it still scares the crap out of you and questions of one's demise are on all our minds initially.
As you travel your particular treatment journey, likely you will find that with today's and future treatments yet unknown, you will live another 10-15 years or more unless a co-morbidity gets you. That or some idiot runs a red light...
I was diagnosed 23 January 2014, a day that still "lives in infamy in my mind. Those haunting words of my urologist, "that's a pretty aggressive prostate cancer...!"
Yet, 12+ years later, high risk, GS8, HG 4, rapid PSADT, PSAV,,here I am. Time on treatment, three years; time off 9+.
Currently on a 30-month treatment break, next labs in six months.
I've done a lot of living in those 12+ years, you can too.
Yes, the treatments have come with their side effects. Yet, even that didn't interfere with living.
Why, who knows, but, the mind is a powerful tool in this, attitude also. Like the story of the little engine, "I think I can...!"
So, as you seem to have already, buckle up, educate yourself, learn the language, stay abreast of ongoing research, have discussions with your medical team on treatments.
Shared decision making is essential, you are the 51% shareholder in your treatment decision. But, that requires you to be informed.
There is no black and white in treatment decisions, no absolutes. There are good choices, using the science such as NCCN, AUA guidelines, your own clinical data, preferences...
Wife and I just got back from a two week trip, Badlands, Custer State Park, Devil's Tower, Yellowstone, Grand Tetons!
Live...
Kevin
Replies to "Whether your diagnosed at 57 as I was or 71 as you say, it still scares..."
Connect
@kujhawk1978
Once the diagnosis comes, the range of emotions as you detailed are that. You are so right about Prostate cancer longevity, it is becoming to looked at as a chronic disease many will not die from, but from some other co-morbidity that comes up. This time allows for future treatments to come into play maybe years later.
I was first diagnosed with non Hodgkin’s lymphoma 23 years ago with life expectancy of 7-11 years back then. Today it is treated as more of a chronic disease, with many advancements in the last 23 years that have made it that way as the direction of prostate cancer as Jeff can acknowledge after his 16 years before much of today technology and advancements in Radiation and Surgery. I will always remember flying out on Halloween from California to Minneapolis on my way to Mayo in Rochester for a second opinion. My wife and I had dinner at a wonderful italian restaurant at the Mall of America that evening watching all the children in Halloween costumes trick or treating in the mall. Then returning home and undergoing chemotherapy therapy and new immunotherapy while my wife was pregnant. Tgen later a relapse and more treatments. Here I am, unfortunately with the prostate cancer journey and treatment beginning two years ago. I think my prior cancer helped me tremendously with my prostate cancer diagnosis and my approach to it. I have been so blessed never believing I might see our daughter graduate elementary school, then high school and finally college. It is important to look at most patients with treatments and relapses can and will live a long time.