concerned wife, psa rising

Thanks for all the replies. My husband had his shot of Lupron yesterday and will start the radiation in 2 months. (Something about having to wait to let the shot do its stuff first) then 36 treatments of radiation along with the shot. I am just amazed at all the people & DRS who think this disease is "no big deal"  "just take it out and your cured" per what his surgeon told him. You have to be on top of this and monitor psa's for the rest of your life. I am saddened by the death of Dan Fogelberg, who died of prostate cancer at the age of 56. Best of luck to all you guys out there, keep on top of this and demand to get your psa checked when you need it.

Rose

Dear Rosie -

I am SO GLAD you are moving forward with radiation threatments, after you start hormone therapy. Radiation offers a second chance for a "cure", while horome therapy only buys us some more time....  That is the clear message you wrote, DON'T believe having your prostate removed in surgery or initial radiation treatments after first PC diagnosis, solves your cancer long term....  Very often (30-50% of time) "salvage" therapy is necessary as you are now starting... EVERYONE on this prostate cancer board must understand this and continue every 3 to 6 months to have PSA tests for the rest of your life....    Dick

Rose,

I had a RP in Jan and pre-op psa of 17. 6 weeks after surgey my psa went up to 25 and a recheck one week later by the same lab was up to 30. I was started on Casodex for 6 weeks and in 10 days the psa was down to 20 and another referral to MD Anderson 2 weeks later I started Lupron injections. We waited only one month to start IMRT and I got to get an extra dose (37 treatments) and really didn't have any bad side effects except for chronic diarrhea and depression. 6 weeks after IMRT my psa was up to 35. I have been on Casodex and Lupron continuously since July and my psa was down to 4.0 in Nov. I have repeated another bone scan 2 weeks ago and still clear of metastasis to bone at least. All I am told is that I have "cancer" somewhere in the body and nobody knows where>>> So I live each day to the fullest I can, I drink Xango, Pomegrante juice and take 4000mg Vit D each day and hope that someday I can get rid of the last of the cancer.

Albert Pugh

Dear Albert ---

You have certainly had a busy 2007 !  We all pray you will be greeted with better news in the coming New Year....  Certainly it is exciting that your hormone therapy has taken your PSA readings to a very modest 4.0 Congratulations !  May this be just the start of a better time for you.... Much love & support to you Albert. Please let us know your progress.  Dick