1. < Prostate Cancer

Recurrence of prostate cancer

Posted by davidrm @davidrm, 3 days ago

I was diagnosed with prostate cancer 04/2015. Stage IV, Gleason 4+5, 3 lymph nodes positive, ( I remember possibly one was distant), radical prostatectomy, radiation, hormone therapy. Also diagnosed with late stage III renal cell carcinoma. Partial nephrectomy. I'm wondering if I could expect recurrence.

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smc24 | @smc24 | 1 day ago
In reply to @jeffmarc "Where do you live (country)? There’s a lot of controversy about whether or not insurance will..." + (show)
@jeffmarc

Where do you live (country)? There’s a lot of controversy about whether or not insurance will pay for a second treatment of Pluvicto. I know that it is done in Australia, Did you have any issues getting insurance to pay for it? In the USA it is questionable whether insurance will pay for it.

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To jeffMar:
My situation is very unique. I received the first round of 6 Pluvicto treatments as a Norvartis Pharmaceutical clinical trial patient in 2021-22. As the prostate cancer returned in early 2024, my oncologist, Medicare and my supplemental insurer conferred. Since Norvartis paid the cost the first go around, the insurers see the 2nd set of treatments as their first, and agreed to pay for this now, US FDA program.
You are correct in saying the insurer only pays once.

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heavyphil | @heavyphil | 15 hours ago
In reply to @bluegill "I no longer worry too much about recurrence. I've been in this battle for 5 years..." + (show)
@bluegill

I no longer worry too much about recurrence. I've been in this battle for 5 years now, and I got tired of the roller coaster from my doctors ("Wow, it looks like we got it in time"... "Oops, from your rising PSA it looks like it's back"... etc.)

I do still have a reasonable chance of a cure (HDR brachy at Mayo), but I'm more or less resigned to some kind of dance between recurrence and remission. I'm 65, and right now my life is pretty good. All I need to do is to squeeze out 5 more good years, and then maybe 3 or 4 after that, and 2 or 3 after that, and before you know it I'm an old fart who dies from something else.

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OMG!! Your post is the absolute most spot-on description of my own mindset - right down to the yearly estimates. Too damned funny.
You call it a dance, I call it playing for time…but that’s what this whole thing IS -
Metastatic Musical Chairs until there are no chairs left for you…great post, Blue. Best,
Phil

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bluegill | @bluegill | 14 hours ago

"Metastatic Musical Chairs" omg what a great line!

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