Prostrate Cancer

[John_Lorenz]

Hey Guys this is a Guy Only Issue, it is your issue, any man at any age can have it. The best way to fight it is to stay ahead of it and it is getting checked yearly. Get checked, Make an appointment today, get your PSA levels and start taking ownership of your health. Whats a finger up your butt if its gonna save your life ? More to come on this ?

Do your Research

More than 180,000 cases of prostate cancer are diagnosed and treated annually in the United States, and close to 32,000 men die each year of the disease. Most men over the age of 50 will have some experience with prostate disease -- with either an enlarged prostate or cancer.

Stanford Cancer Center

Johns Hopkins (The De facto Standard)

UCSF (University of San Francisco)

You owe it to yourself to your family to get this done.

Fortunately for me I have been getting checked every year since 1999. I lost my Mom to Pancreatic Cancer in 1998 and my dad was diagnosed with Colon cancer in 1999. My PSA (Prostrate Specific Antigen) is sitting at 1.3 (Good) my gleason (A way to measure the Grade of the Cancer) is 2+3 for a total of 5 (Another Good) my Biopsy showed out of 10 cores 1 had adenocarcinoma that is located in both sides of the prostrate. I am as My Surgeon says Barley at a clinical stage 2 or B the tumor is very small and was totally impressed my small town family dr found it. As far as I am concerned, Just bailed in the whoops, have a whole race to finish here ?

You can survive this, of all the cancers a man can get prostrate is the easiest to beat if caught early enough.

More to come I am still learning......

Get Checked, Get checked, Get checked

[DRZCatastrophe]

G'pa had it. Took meds, forget which and now is doing great. He's in his 80s now. Was on meds for about 5 years.

Totally not something you should be dying of. It's very treatable.

[DRZCatastrophe]

"G'pa was taking a hormone therapy of Lupron & Casodex which is used for treating prostate cancer. The cancer is in remission now but if & when it comes back he will be taking Lupron & Casodex again."

Here go, this is what he was taking....

[John_Lorenz]

Oh ya very treatable, I am opting for surgery, Main reason is if it does come back or whatever I can go to Chemo, Meds, Raiation or seeds. If I do these first then things can get complicated if I need surgery later. Kind of a no brainer. Dec 2nd I go in.

But you are right I will survive....

? Go Gpa ?

[Kev_XR]

Hi John,

You've been very quiet, so I was hoping you were busy, not sick.

My friend who is our age had prostate cancer and beat it.

He said the hardest thing was everyone else in the ward with prostate cancer was over 65. It seemed very unfair to him.

If you want me to ask about his treatment, send me a PM.

Kevin

[kawidual]

Glad you found it early enough to get help. I asked my doctor

about getting checked & she said I was still a bit too young, (38).

Wondering If I should get one anyway...?

Keep us posted, sounds like you will be fine. ?

[Domenic_WRF]

My father died of it two years ago, my friend our age had his prostrate removed last year. I just had mine checked last week. Hope for best ?

[John_Lorenz]

Kawiduel

Insist you get checked its a simple physical exam and a blood test, its important to start a history reading of PSA (Prostrate Specific Antigen) IMO every man from the age of 20 - 40 should start getting at min PSA checks every year. After 40 finger salutes as well as PSA ?

Kev

Already got a great surgeon at Stanford, Dr Brooks. Dec 2nd is the date, Wife and I looked at all the options given to us, and decided surgery was the best option. ?

[DRZCatastrophe]

Oh ya very treatable, I am opting for surgery, Main reason is if it does come back or whatever I can go to Chemo, Meds, Raiation or seeds. If I do these first then things can get complicated if I need surgery later. Kind of a no brainer. Dec 2nd I go in.

But you are right I will survive....

? Go Gpa ?

It's kinda weird though to realize you have cancer. Was told I had skin cancer on my face. (Which is really not that big of a deal) I knew I was going to get it eventually, it was just shocking to be told I had it already. Anyway, good news was that the biopsy came back negative.

But I kinda understand a little what you must be going through.

Will be thinking of ya.

[kawidual]

Kawiduel

Insist you get checked its a simple physical exam and a blood test, its important to start a history reading of PSA (Prostrate Specific Antigen) IMO every man from the age of 20 - 40 should start getting at min PSA checks every year. After 40 finger salutes as well as PSA

Thanks, Ill get it looked into... So to speak... ?

[wjc2003]

I get checked annually too,but I am wondering if riding irritates the prostate?

[irazu]

Hey John -- best of luck

Great advice to everyone about getting checked.

[superslyko]

? Had mine checked at 38!

Now I know what it feels like to be in prison! ?

[John_Lorenz]

? Had mine checked at 38!

Now I know what it feels like to be in prison! ?

? Make sure you get and record your PSA numbers, watch those they are very early indicators.

So here is so far what I have learned

1: If there is any good cancer "Ya if there is a good in cancer" for any man to get it would be prostrate and or testicular. Reason: These are and have the highest survivable rates, and are treated easily and readily in many ways that are available.

2: Prostrate cancer is very slow growing. Meaning: This gives you time, to be diagnosed and properly treated along with early detection and proper diet.

3: Western Diet is one of the Main "Suspected" contributors to its climbing rates in America. Stats: Some 300,000 men will be diagnosed with PC each year, this is climbing at a rate of 10% each year. Out of this 30,000 men die of PC each year.

4: Treatments like Surgery, Direct Radiation, Seeds, Chemo, Cryo, Proton and Watchful Waiting have all been proven, and in some cases (Cryo and Proton) are showing great promise in treatment Facts: Surgery, Radiation and Chemo have Proven tract records "LONG TERM" track records of Success and are equal in that same survival success. Seeds, Proton and Cryo are as equal but lack the Long Term Statistics. IMO all are equal. RED FLAG STAT: Depending on your age IMO depends on your decision for what treatment. The fact is that each of the Therapies (Not Chemo) if done prior to Surgery, will damage tissue, Seeds, Radiation, Proton, Cryo will destroy surrounding tissue. If by chance PSA levels rise after the Above treatments. This makes Surgery a very difficult option, one that will be in need of a Specialist. Most Dr will tell you this. If I was 65 - 70 I would opt for Non Surgery.

I am still learning about things like Gleason Score and stage ratings, things that may not mean much to others but to me, I want all the information. There is a good deal of information on the Web, Most I have found to be crap. I stay with Sites that I listed in the first post and search and throw out what is garbage from other sites.

All in all you need to take ownership of your own health, remember the Dr serves you, you are not the servant of the Dr. It is important to get checked and rechecked and checked again each year.....

[skthom2320]

John,

I'm not surprised that you've picked up all the knowledge you have. Good job.

As you say, prostate ca is one of the more "treatable" diseases and all of the options you mention (with the exception of cryo and proton) have similar long term outcomes.

Go here for another good source of information http://www.mdanderson.org/diseases/prostate/

I trained and worked there and think they are paralleled only by Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York.

BTW - if you haven't, I recommend that you consult *directly* with a Radiation Oncologist regarding your radiation treatment options. If you have already, good! IMHO urologists tend to always favor surgery or seeds since that is what they get reimbursed for. But I've seen that the Rad Onc's, expecially those NOT in private practice, tend to offer a more fact-based viewpoint.

Anyway, your prognosis is great. Get over the initial treatment phase and back to riding!

[John_Lorenz]

Steve

Great information Web Site ?

Thanks, Very inspirational ?

I will be posting a followup with this. As prevailent as Cancer is, I am sure many members here are looking for info or are dealing with it in one form or fashion. Maybe a sub forum for Cancer Help Group can be added ?