1. Community
  2. Cancer
  3. Prostate Cancer

What to expect from here...???

Posted , 6 users are following.

Kombi_Cruiser
Kombi_Cruiser

I have been diagnosed with a pT3a R1 Gleeson (5+4) 9 prostate cancer...

2 likes, 10 replies

10 Replies

  • Dudley71081
    Dudley71081 Kombi_Cruiser

    Posted

    Mate,  what a set of readings with which to make an entrance to the Forum ( s ) !

    Not doing things by halves,  are you ?

    Look, there is going to be no end of people telling you what to do.  I would not dare.  

    Just know that,  you are not alone and that once you start treatments,  if you haven't already,  we are collectively here to support you and encourage you in your attempts to survive for as long as possible,  with a good quality of life.

    Fight on.

    Regards

    Dudley

    • georgeGG
      georgeGG Dudley71081

      Posted

      Hi Combi Cruiser,

      I entered the forum at T3. I was in a terrible state of anxiety as Dudley will remember. Things have been much, much better for me since my friends on the forum got me calmed and four days later I got started on treatment. I staterted living again from where I now was - much happier and forward looking. Indeed I am still determindly striving  with treatment that can deliver a cure. (please see my profile)

      Wishing you the very best of outcomes and a more comfortable path than mine is proving to be. But I will not turn aside. The possible gain is so much greater than the current pains. George

    • georgeGG
      georgeGG Kombi_Cruiser

      Posted

      That is very kind of you to ask. I have had 27 of the planned 37 radiotherapy treatments with hormone therapy continuing throughout and on after. I had terrible pain passing water over a couple of weeks. A catheter resolved the problem. The remaining 10 treatmens no longer look so daunting.

      I have already posted a response to your full text.

  • Kombi_Cruiser
    Kombi_Cruiser

    Posted

    Sorry, didn't get to finish what I was going to say when I started...

    As I stated earlier, I have been diagnosed with a pT3a R1 Gleeson (5+4) 9 prostate cancer in mid 2012.  Had a radical prostatecomy in December 2012.  Had 7 weeks of adjuvant radiotherapy early 2013.  PSA levels rose again from 0.32 - 0.57 - 1.1 - 1.5 over time.  Not long ago completed a PET PSMA scan which revealed PSMA avid lymph nodes in the right arburator, pre-sacral, left superior rectal and bilateral ecternal iliac nodal regions and a focal uptake in the left 7th rib.  Today starts my 4th week on Zoladex...

    • georgeGG
      georgeGG Kombi_Cruiser

      Posted

      Very interested that you are helping in the research of cutting edge diagnostic tool development.  Do you have any ide when the results of the program will be published.?
  • carlacupcake
    carlacupcake Kombi_Cruiser

    Posted

    Hello Kombi

    I was hoping to pick your brains, if I may? My Dad was diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer in July of last year. He is currently on hormone therapy (Zoladex) and really struggling with the side effects, as well as coming to terms with the diagnosis. My Dad is 70 years old. Are there any alternatives to Zoladex? Do side effects usually dampen down a little? My dad has made positive changes to his diet and exercise habits and also introduced some natural medicine into his life. We are wondering what to expect in general... Any help, advice or words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated. I hope this message finds you well... Many thanks 

    • Kombi_Cruiser
      Kombi_Cruiser carlacupcake

      Posted

      G'day carlacupcake... thanks for taking an interest in the mad world of male prostate cancer... I've just three days had my second three monthly injection... My observations are that the side effects do seem to fade with time (or perhaps I am just getting used to them)... I could feel my energy really get back to normal the two days prior to my injection so can only assume that my body had already absorbed the previous injection... Almost instantly after injection 2 I could feel my energies wane and a new group of isolated little pain spots emerged...

      Thankfully the fuzziness in my head and lack of concentration seem also to be dissapating...

      Yes there are alternate drugs to Zoladex but I think they all do pretty much the same (not too sure)...

      As I see it the Zoladex ios the lesser or two evils as the Zoladex slowly slowly weakens the body depleting muscle and bone mass etc as opposed to a more rampant decline as a direct attack by the cancer itself...

      I feel for your dad as I understand only too well what must be going through his mind...

      All I can say is to tell him to walk tall and look life in the eye and have fun...

    • carlacupcake
      carlacupcake Kombi_Cruiser

      Posted

      Hi, apologies for the late reply and a big thank you for your reply! It is greatly appreciated. How are you getting on? My Dad is okay - up and down. The Zoladex is doing it's job, which is great! However the side effects are still proving a bit of a nightmare. My Dad wants to stick with it for another one or two three monthly injections, and if still not feeling great, he may contemplate intermittent treatment, to give his body a break from the drugs (with very close monitoring of his PSA during drug free period) Or maybe an alternative to Zoladex!? Thanks again and I do hope you are still doing good! 
Back to top

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.