southernboy1 said:

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I know I've been jumping on here 73. Hope and pray everything is going good. I go for a biopsy on Monday. Really worried about this. I'll keep y'all up to date.

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Good luck with biopsy. I'm going in next Monday for a gel pack injection to help prevent radiation burn. Then on Thursday, I have a simulated radiation scan for mapping purposes. Had my hormone therapy shot last week and will repeat in 6 months. It's a slow process, so just stay patient. That's the hard part.

Spore Ag said:

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Has your oncologist suggested proton therapy. May not be indicated but is an alternative for radiation and surgery.

Anyway get after it and good luck.

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Thanks, no mention, could be my age, 71, or weight or severity of cancer. It's a slow process, but will be having simulated scan next week and then radiation scans to be scheduled.

I am home from the biopsy. Procedure was easy. The first few hours afterwards is not fun. I'm drinking water, a lot of water. I will be getting the results on Thursday.

My dad starts radiation treatment today. Based on his MRI, they modified his protocol to 4 weeks of radiation, and then they will send him downtown to have radioactive particles embedded in his prostate. I forget what he called it.

I asked him if he will glow in the dark after that.

Had the SpaceOAR procedure done this morning. No issues. Just don't like laughing gas effects for me. Thursday, I get the mapping scan for my radiation treatments, the will get my schedule for the radiation treatments.

My result on path was positive cancer. I'm on a 7 on the Gleason. Doc says I have 5 choices. Removal, radiation, pellets or a radio wave by a doc in austin.
The fifth is not an option to live a full life. I'm 46 fyi.

Southern, how did y'all decide you needed biopsy?

73 sounds like you are about a week behind my dad on the treatment deal. He's had his spaceoar and hormone already. Will Start rad week or so before thanksgiving.

lazuras_dc said:

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Southern, how did y'all decide you needed biopsy?

73 sounds like you are about a week behind my dad on the treatment deal. He's had his spaceoar and hormone already. Will Start rad week or so before thanksgiving.

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Had my mapping scan yesterday and will have my first radiation treatment on November 11th. Wish they would have given me a choice on what color tattoo. Lol

southernboy1 said:

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My result on path was positive cancer. I'm on a 7 on the Gleason. Doc says I have 5 choices. Removal, radiation, pellets or a radio wave by a doc in austin.
The fifth is not an option to live a full life. I'm 46 fyi.

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The best on your decision. I was a 9 on the Gleason scale, but I'm 71. Just know that it's a slow process from diagnosis to actually treatment. I now have all my preliminary work done for receiving radiation treatments and still have to wait 2 weeks for treatments to begin. Your timeframe could be different depending on which route you take. I'm doing the 6 month hormone shot for 3 years and the radiation treatments. I'm seeing Texas Oncology in the Woodlands and Texas Urology Specialists

This is where my dad is. I thought he started on Monday, but they just took some measurements.

He doesn't start the actual radiation for another two weeks. He first went to the urologist back in March.

It's agonizingly slow.

No suggestions but my dad went through this several years ago. He had radiation only and has been cancer free for years now. I wish you all the best with this.

The biopsy was decided on because the urologist was concerned. I didn't like the decision but in the long run for now it was a good thing. We now know it is cancer and I can move on from here. My next step is a bone scan and then I will decide what to do next.

southernboy1 said:

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The biopsy was decided on because the urologist was concerned. I didn't like the decision but in the long run for now it was a good thing. We now know it is cancer and I can move on from here. My next step is a bone scan and then I will decide what to do next.

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I had the bone scan and it came back clean, but my oncologist believes just from my PSA of 19 and Gleason score that I probably have some microscopic leakage from the prostate.

southernboy1 said:

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The biopsy was decided on because the urologist was concerned. I didn't like the decision but in the long run for now it was a good thing. We now know it is cancer and I can move on from here. My next step is a bone scan and then I will decide what to do next.

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Sorry I guess I meant why did you suspect anything was wrong in the first place ? Or why were you seeing the urologist ?

lazuras_dc said:

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southernboy1 said:

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The biopsy was decided on because the urologist was concerned. I didn't like the decision but in the long run for now it was a good thing. We now know it is cancer and I can move on from here. My next step is a bone scan and then I will decide what to do next.

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Sorry I guess I meant why did you suspect anything was wrong in the first place ? Or why were you seeing the urologist ?

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Mine was from a high PSA blood test from my annual checkup. A lot of times men do not have any physical issues, I didn't. Some do, like frequent need to urinate while sleeping or hard to urinate or weak streams.

Mine is the same as 73. This is a silent killer. If you don't catch it it can spread. I've been telling all my friends to get checked. Don't mess around even though we are younger. My advice to all on here is to get checked. I know it's not comfortable with the process. Do it. It can save your life.

Got my bone scan. I will find out on Monday or Tuesday how it looks. I'm hoping and praying that it's clear. 73 how is it going for you?

southernboy1 said:

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Got my bone scan. I will find out on Monday or Tuesday how it looks. I'm hoping and praying that it's clear. 73 how is it going for you?

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Doing fine. Will have my first radiation treatment on Thursday and then get my schedule
for the balance of the 40 treatments.
My bone scan came back clear, but the radiologist oncologist felt that there was probably some microscopic cells that just were not picked up, but that the radiation would kill them. This is based on my Gleason score of 9 and my PSA of 19.
No issues with the gel pack .
It was mention to me if I had any male children or close male relatives that they need to have their PSA monitored because of genetics.

Just know depending on what treatment you choose, that it's a slow process which is the hardest thing for me to do. I'm one that if there is a issue, I want to take it on right away.

Good to hear. I'm going on Thursday for the results of the bone scan. This is really a worrisome process. Take care.

southernboy1 said:

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Good to hear. I'm going on Thursday for the results of the bone scan. This is really a worrisome process. Take care.

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Got my treatment scheduled pushed up. Waiting for my first treatment now.

Dad has CT scan next week and starts rad first week of December.

My dad went for a second opinion at MD Anderson. Recommendations were the same as what he heard from Houston Methodist. But, he still has not started treatments. The frustration is off the charts.

TXTransplant said:

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My dad went for a second opinion at MD Anderson. Recommendations were the same as what he heard from Houston Methodist. But, he still has not started treatments. The frustration is off the charts.

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Understand, I was diagnosed in late August and didn't have my first radiation treatment till yesterday. I did receive my hormone shot 3 weeks ago. It's fun coordinating between the urologist and radiologist oncologist. I won't see the urologist till after my 44 radiology treatments. I did take a 7 day trip to Utah and Arizona in September with my doctors blessing, so that might have delayed treatment a little, but between getting a ct scan, bone scan and gel implant and being worked into the radiation schedule. It's a slow process.

His timeline for offices diagnosis and the shot is similar to yours. He went to the initial radiation "fitting" over two weeks ago, but no treatments are scheduled, yet.

The bone scan was clear. Best news I've had all year. I really hate seeing my urologist although I know it's not his fault, but the dude had saved my life or at least helped to extend it. Now it's time to wipe this crap out of my system. Thanks for the prayers. Mine will always be with everyone with or without this fn disease.

For sure. I started getting PSA checked in my mid 30s because my dad, his 3 brothers and his dad all had prostate cancer.

I'm not messing around with it.

southernboy1 said:

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The bone scan was clear. Best news I've had all year. I really hate seeing my urologist although I know it's not his fault, but the dude had saved my life or at least helped to extend it. Now it's time to wipe this crap out of my system. Thanks for the prayers. Mine will always be with everyone with or without this fn disease.

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What treatment do they recommend? I'm doing the hormone shots every 6 months for what years and just had my 3rd out of 44 radiation treatments.

Great news on the bone scan.

I'm going to a consultation in Austin to see if ultrasound will work for me. If not then we have to decide between seeding or radiation treatments. If the ultrasound is not possible I'm hoping for seeds. The radiation treatments take a lot of time. I'm not near a big city for it to be convenient. I know it's about living. I would have to drive an hour to San Antone. Removal is something I don't even consider unless it detrimental to my life.

southernboy1 said:

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I'm going to a consultation in Austin to see if ultrasound will work for me. If not then we have to decide between seeding or radiation treatments. If the ultrasound is not possible I'm hoping for seeds. The radiation treatments take a lot of time. I'm not near a big city for it to be convenient. I know it's about living. I would have to drive an hour to San Antone. Removal is something I don't even consider unless it detrimental to my life.

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Good luck on getting treatments that fits into your life. I lived about 20 minutes from my treatment site and being retired it's not a problem.
I used to live at Fort Clark in Bracketville many years ago (1956 to) and a few years ago thought about moving back. But, so glad we didn't. I can't imagine how this type of sophisticated treatments would happen.

So the location of the cancer which is at the lower right is in a bad place to do ultrasound. I was told it could leave scar tissue and have to catheterize 2 times a day or more if that happens. Which is worse case, or it could go fine. He doesn't like radiation at my age because it makes it more difficult to have a good outcome later if it needs to be removed. I am being told to remove it, learn to hold my urine and take pills for a few months for the sex life. 2 hour surgery and outpatient. Outcome should be catheter for a week or so, learn to urinate again. Sex life would get better and better, with orgasm and dry ejaculation. Sorry guys that's a lot and tmi. But that's what I got so far.

southernboy1 said:

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So the location of the cancer which is at the lower right is in a bad place to do ultrasound. I was told it could leave scar tissue and have to catheterize 2 times a day or more if that happens. Which is worse case, or it could go fine. He doesn't like radiation at my age because it makes it more difficult to have a good outcome later if it needs to be removed. I am being told to remove it, learn to hold my urine and take pills for a few months for the sex life. 2 hour surgery and outpatient. Outcome should be catheter for a week or so, learn to urinate again. Sex life would get better and better, with orgasm and dry ejaculation. Sorry guys that's a lot and tmi. But that's what I got so far.

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Sorry, sounds a lot more complicated than my case. Living in a rural area makes it rougher. Have you gotten a second opinion for your treatment?

I have had 9 radiation treatments out of 44 and have to get up a couple of times a night to urinate and thus leaves me more tired durning the day. Going in everyday is already getting old. From my hormone shot, I have developed hot flashes and now I know why women complain about them so muck.

This doc was a second opinion. I am thinking about going to ut health science/md Anderson in San Antone for a third.

My dad is at almost the exact same place you are. His treatments started I think Wednesday week before last, so that would put him at around 8.

To make matters worse, my mom fell and broke her arm the weekend before he started treatment. Thanksgiving should be a blast.

He is experiencing some localized discomfort. Anything I can do or get him to help?

TXTransplant said:

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My dad is at almost the exact same place you are. His treatments started I think Wednesday week before last, so that would put him at around 8.

To make matters worse, my mom fell and broke her arm the weekend before he started treatment. Thanksgiving should be a blast.

He is experiencing some localized discomfort. Anything I can do or get him to help?

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Thinks for the offer, but it sounds like you and your dad have your hands full. My wife fell right after Covid shut things down and had to have reverse shoulder replacement surgery and somehow has stressed it out again and certain movements are very painful. We are having 12 here for Thanksgivings, but are catering all the food.

I've set my surgery. I might still back out. I am confident in the doctor, I just have a hard time removing my prostate. Three recs and they say it's my best option at my age. I am good with the outcome though. This pos decease will be out of my body. My goal is to live and watch my kids grow up.