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Living with Prostate Cancer: Meet others & introduce yourself
Prostate Cancer | Last Active: Sep 10 6:24pm | Replies (648)Comment receiving replies
My name is Charlotte and my husband Steven was recently diagnosed with aggressive stage IV metastatic prostrate cancer with cancer present in both the left and right lymph nodes. He completed his radiation treatments and has had to take a three week break from the chemo pills due to heightened liver enzymes. So very disheartening that a cancer such as this can so easily be detected with PSA testing yet at age 55 as a veteran who has lab work done frequently this was never done. With an understanding that stage IV cancer is something that we can only work to slow progression we have so many questions on the future outlook.
Replies to "My name is Charlotte and my husband Steven was recently diagnosed with aggressive stage IV metastatic..."
I am sorry as well that Steven, who provided his time to the armed forces, should be let down by them that way. I agree with the comments from others here. Clearly, one doctors opinion is not enough. You might want to follow the imaging and nuclear medicine technology to hone in on the latest ways to make sure the doctors are locating the cancer in your system. Its changing pretty quickly. If you can see it, you can treat it.
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I am very sorry to hear your story. It is unfortunately very common. My name is Jeff.
In August I talked with a good business friend in Sweden. We stayed in touch monthly. He is 70 and very active. He told me that he had just been diagnosed with Stage IV prostate Cancer. Metastasized to bones and lymph nodes.
I had not had my PSA checked for about 6 years, age is 64 at the time. Had it checked through WEBMD, who used Labcorp for testing. Test showed PSA of 12. I freaked out. Had another test and it was 10.5. Saw a Urologist who performed another PSA, still 10.5. Two days later had 13 core biopsy. Cowered all weekend waiting for results. Gleason 6 Cancer diagnosis. My panic mode went into full gear. Fortunately my Urologist gave me a reading list which included Dr. Walsh's "Surviving Prostate Cancer". My wife bought it immediately and we both started reading. With each chapter my blood pressure dropped and I began to start to understand that Prostate Cancer in low risk stages is not like many other cancers which progress rapidly.
Because of elevated PSA I chose to have it treated with Proton Beam Radiation Therapy at Mayo Rochester. Completed 5 dose regimen on January 19, 2023. Other than some inflammation causing slow urination there have been no side effects to date.
All men react differently. Some immediately want a RP, just cut it out. Others want Active Surveillance, some want Radiation in one form or another. My personal lay opinion is that all men diagnosed at whatever stage should do their homework. Dig in, look for multiple opinions from the experts on which direction to pursue. Do not get bullied by someone insisting their approach is the only sane approach and taking an alternative approach is like committing suicide.
Stage IV is not Gleason 6 and requires a much different approach, even so, prognosis is still better than other aggressive cancers. My friend in Sweden is taking hormones but has decided to forego chemo at least for the time being. He has a very goood probability of living a full life for at least another 5 years.
Stay strong and although difficult, try to understand just how fragile men are when confronting this type of challenge.
Best wishes to you both.