11 anniversaries since diagnosis of stage 4 prostate cancer

Thank you rick137! You've raised a great point. I try my best to stick to a healthy diet and maintain an active lifestyle, as we've been repeatedly advised. I've always enjoyed exercise in my life. As I'm getting old, going out for a walk and gardening have become part of my daily routine. I also enjoy traveling and playing with my grandchildren. Remember moderate exercise is beneficial for our bone health. In terms of diet, I follow the general principles of a heart-healthy diet. ADT and older age increase the risk of heart disease and stroke, which may partially explain my suboptimal cholesterol and glucose level. Management of prostate cancer is continual learning process. I'm also interested in learning what others are doing.
Personally I like being involved in deciding my treatment plan. It's a learning process. For prostate cancer and many other diseases, you're best managed by a multidisciplinary team. It's helpful to know the underlying reasoning and data about choosing a treatment.

I had terrible pain in my back when I was initially diagnosed 2 years ago. I received radiation to my spin and ribs and the pain disappeared. I used to be slightly over 6"0 and I am now a solid 5"11. I am concerned about my spin in the future. If you do not mind, what was your PSA at diagnosis. Am I to assume you are do novo stage 4 Prostate Cancer? I also am de novo stage 4 bone only.

The pain in my back wasn't horrible, but the balance problems were really getting me.

The cancer was oligometastatic (stage 4b) to my thoracic spine — just one metastasis, thankfully — and my PSA was 67 at diagnosis. I had emergency debulking surgery (over 10 hours on the operating table), radiation to my spine after the surgery healed, then radiation to my prostate 6 months later. I've also been on ADT (first Firmagon, then Orgovyx) and ARSI (Erleada) continually since diagnosis, and I get tested every three months.

The news has stayed good (PSA < 0.01) since my onco team "threw the kitchen sink at it" (their words). I did suffer some permanent radiation damage to the bottom of my bladder and my rectum, but it's not all that serious, and if even I knew I'd have these complications I'd still make the decision to fricassee that prostate to give me a chance of living many more years.

I surrender, I can't figure out the difference between 4a and 4b, I guess it really doesn't matter at this point but I am still curious.

The pain in my back wasn't horrible, but the balance problems were really getting me.

The cancer was oligometastatic (stage 4b) to my thoracic spine — just one metastasis, thankfully — and my PSA was 67 at diagnosis. I had emergency debulking surgery (over 10 hours on the operating table), radiation to my spine after the surgery healed, then radiation to my prostate 6 months later. I've also been on ADT (first Firmagon, then Orgovyx) and ARSI (Erleada) continually since diagnosis, and I get tested every three months.

The news has stayed good (PSA < 0.01) since my onco team "threw the kitchen sink at it" (their words). I did suffer some permanent radiation damage to the bottom of my bladder and my rectum, but it's not all that serious, and if even I knew I'd have these complications I'd still make the decision to fricassee that prostate to give me a chance of living many more years.

Stage 4b oligometastatic is curative. Deep remission. Unfortunately, I am high volume. I had my recent checkup and I am still < 0.100. I also meet with our :Life with cancer" group and I was encouraged and also discouraged by the meeting. Basically, they told me that I need to accept that the cancer will return some day. They do not know when but it is inevitable that everyone becomes resistant (castrate resistant). Resistance occurs because you already have resistant cancer cells that are not killed and left over after radiation and or chemotherapy. My strategy was also the throw the kitchen sink at it "Carpet Bomb" the cancer with radiation to the spin and ribs and enduring 10 chemotherapy cycles instead of 6. I told my wife I did not want to leave any resistant cancer cells behind and give them a chance at returning and causing resistance sooner rather than later. I had quadruplet therapy not triplet. Radiation, ADT (Eligard), ARSI (Darolutamide), 10 cycles of chemotherapy (Docetaxel), and Xgeva injections for my bones every 6 weeks. I did 22 infusions of Zometa before being switched to Xgeva. I do not want to accept that I will become Castrate Resistant.

Stage 4b oligometastatic is curative. Deep remission. Unfortunately, I am high volume. I had my recent checkup and I am still < 0.100. I also meet with our :Life with cancer" group and I was encouraged and also discouraged by the meeting. Basically, they told me that I need to accept that the cancer will return some day. They do not know when but it is inevitable that everyone becomes resistant (castrate resistant). Resistance occurs because you already have resistant cancer cells that are not killed and left over after radiation and or chemotherapy. My strategy was also the throw the kitchen sink at it "Carpet Bomb" the cancer with radiation to the spin and ribs and enduring 10 chemotherapy cycles instead of 6. I told my wife I did not want to leave any resistant cancer cells behind and give them a chance at returning and causing resistance sooner rather than later. I had quadruplet therapy not triplet. Radiation, ADT (Eligard), ARSI (Darolutamide), 10 cycles of chemotherapy (Docetaxel), and Xgeva injections for my bones every 6 weeks. I did 22 infusions of Zometa before being switched to Xgeva. I do not want to accept that I will become Castrate Resistant.