I have prostate cancer

[Bear Paw Jack]

Waterman, I hope you are in the midst of a good recovery. Keep us posted.

 

[Watertender]

Waterman, I hope you are in the midst of a good recovery. Keep us posted.

I talked to Taterman not long ago and he is doing well. I had a cancerous nodule the size of a pencil eraser removed from my right lung on June 17th. I can breathe without pain since a week after the surgery and I see the thoracic surgeon tomorrow for a follow up.
This was my 4th cancer surgery and the 3rd one in my lungs. I trust my cancer doctors and will keep going to them for the rest of my life.

 

[Dan Carey]

I went through the Prostate situation in 2023, completely forgot what my score was, but had the radioactive target pellets installed, had the radiation treatments, and had the hormone shot as part of the process. I was going on 73 years old, so surgery was not a recommended option. I was declared cancer-free in early 2024. The quote from my doctor that really stuck with me was "Almost all men die with prostate cancer, but very few die from it."

 

[TScott]

I was diagnosed years ago. We watched it for 9 years. PSA testing every 6 months and a biopsy every three years. Finally after 9 years they decided it was time to do something about it. I had the targeted beam radiation treatment. It was no walk it the park but it was doable. I survived the treatment and so far still cancer free. PSA was .58 last month. The treatment can have some side effects. Everyone responds differently. In my opinion it was better than having surgery.
Just keep a positive attitude and do what you and your doctors decide is best and stick with the program what ever you decide.

 

[clayguy]

I went through the Prostate situation in 2023, completely forgot what my score was, but had the radioactive target pellets installed, had the radiation treatments, and had the hormone shot as part of the process. I was going on 73 years old, so surgery was not a recommended option. I was declared cancer-free in early 2024. The quote from my doctor that really stuck with me was "Almost all men die with prostate cancer, but very few die from it."

Like most males in older age, I went thru the Prostate Cancer scare. My PSA score was 154, which meant nothing to me until I asked the doc what a good PSA would be: 2 or under! I elected for Radiology treatment with absolutely zero side effects. It was somewhat lengthy, as I went for treatment every day of the week except Sat/Sun for 44 days,. I got my latest PSA results last Wednesday: 0.66. I am quite pleased. My doctor told me the same, "almost all men die with prostate cancer but very few die from it."

 

[Neon Vernon]

I'm currently in the Watchful Waiting camp. Diagnosed a few years ago, PSA every 6 months and biopsy every 3. I'll have the 2nd biopsy next month.

A co-worker just finished the daily radiation course recently, he's good so far.

 

[Watertender]

I'm currently in the Watchful Waiting camp. Diagnosed a few years ago, PSA every 6 months and biopsy every 3. I'll have the 2nd biopsy next month.

A co-worker just finished the daily radiation course recently, he's good so far.

My father in law is going to be 95 on Friday and he is still on watchful waiting. They have been monitoring him for at least 15 years

 

[ibboatin28]

I had mine removed last fall. The hardest part is the waiting. It starts with the diagnosis then the wait for the biopsy, then wait for the results, then the scheduling with the nuro surgeon, then the wait to schedule the surgery, then the 3 month wait to see if they got it all.... That was my experience... The waiting was much worse than the operation...

 

[GrumpyOldMan]

Once you reach 70, they stop tracking your PSAs in most locations. They figure that something else will kill you before prostate cancer will. My big revelation was 3 years ago after a 6-mo checkup. The doc walks into the room reading my chart. Everything was good - cholesterol, A1C, etc. I left there (the VA) fat, dumb, and happy. I'd been home for about 30 minutes, and the doc calls me. 'Oh, your PSAs are high.' What's a PSA and why do I care? 'Well, it means that you may have prostate cancer.' Gee, Doc. D'ya think that we should have discussed this at your office, instead of over the phone? So I had another PSA check 30 days later, and I was good to go. I'll admit that I was unaware of PSAs before that time. And now that I'm going on 71, they don't check them any longer.

 

[Crockett12]

After a biopsy, I got the bad results on Tuesday. Still kind of in shock, I just turned 60.

I went through the same thing at 60 and also had one bad out of the 12. I don't know what grade it was because they decided to watch it and do a 2nd biopsy somewhere down the road (maybe 6 months but I don't remember the timeline)! After the 2nd biopsy they told me I needed to make a decision on treatment. After listening to all the options, I decided to remove the prostate because I was young enough that if I ignored it, I'd eventually die of cancer!
Life has changed since then because I no longer have a sex life and I have slight incontinence but pads take care of that! The good part is that I've had no signs since then as my PSA has been undetectable and that was 19 years ago -- almost 20.
I'm now on a 6 month schedule with my dermatologist for skin cancer and regularly have spots taken off, sometimes every few months, but I'm still on the green side of the grass!

 

[Dan Carey]

Once you reach 70, they stop tracking your PSAs in most locations. They figure that something else will kill you before prostate cancer will. My big revelation was 3 years ago after a 6-mo checkup. The doc walks into the room reading my chart. Everything was good - cholesterol, A1C, etc. I left there (the VA) fat, dumb, and happy. I'd been home for about 30 minutes, and the doc calls me. 'Oh, your PSAs are high.' What's a PSA and why do I care? 'Well, it means that you may have prostate cancer.' Gee, Doc. D'ya think that we should have discussed this at your office, instead of over the phone? So I had another PSA check 30 days later, and I was good to go. I'll admit that I was unaware of PSAs before that time. And now that I'm going on 71, they don't check them any longer.

If I were you, I'd insist on PSA tests whenever you have other bloodwork!

 

[Ale-8(1)]

I'm way past 70 and we check mine every year . . . because I want to. ;)