CancerCompass message board discussion started by Bizzione on 7/20/2005 http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,2529,0.htm Sun, 23 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT Sun, 23 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/ I am 68 years old and I was diagnosed with prostate cancer just about month ago. The tumor is very small and Gleason score is 6. I am reading all the info I can find, hoping that it will help me to make the correct decision which tratment I will eventually choose. I am otherwise very healthy and am enjoying life fully. Can somebody/anybody give me some information about personal experience with radiation and also surgery? Thank you. Bizzione Wed, 20 Jul 2005 00:00:00 GMT I'm 62 years old and had prostate surgery about 2 years ago. I too had a Gleason 6 score and I explored all the possibilities. My brother recently died from prostate cancer after having previously elected to do the seeds (6) years earlier. For me, the surgery was the best of all options so both my wife and I researched and cross checked surgeons who performed this type of surgery on a regular basis. After getting several referrals from different people we interviewed (2) of the doctors which were mentioned at least (3)times and chose one. I appear to be totally free of cancer now with my PSA at 0 for my last 4 checkups. I am continent and my sex life is pretty good for 62. If you need any information on my experience, just email me back. John S. Wed, 20 Jul 2005 00:00:00 GMT Hello John! Thank you for your prompt reply. I am living a turmoil of emotions these day. I want to make the decision of treatment within 2 weeks so you can imagin my concerns. I am very interested in your personal experience with the surgey. Please, share with me as much as you can! Thank you again, Erik Bizzione Wed, 20 Jul 2005 00:00:00 GMT I am recovering from a Radical Prostatectomy. I had surgery July 18. Have seed or external beam with IMRT, even if you have to travel to find treatment. I wanted Brachytherapy , my prostate was too large, then I choose Radiation with IMRT The cat-scan showed problems, my huge prostate had grown into the bladder. There was also kidney and bladder problems. Everything was complicated by the Lupron I had received to shrink my prostate.Lupron makes the outside lining of the prostate thick and sticky. This makes the nerves harder to find. I have talked to a lot of men who had Seed, External Beam Radiation or a combination of both, they do great. Surgery is rough, some people do OK, but why put yourself through it when the cure rate is the same. I also would not ever have hormons except in advanced stage, there isn't enough proof that it helps to be worth the side effects. Good Luck, James K. Bud622 Thu, 21 Jul 2005 00:00:00 GMT Hi Erik, Don't panic, prostate cancer is never an emergency! You have many options, especially with your Gleason score of 6. I had the radical prostatectomy in December 2003 for a 13 cc tumor, Gleason score of 9. I ruled out radiation because it was fast growing and aggressive. It had not spread to lymph nodes or bone, but there was 1 cc on the margin, and my PSA was 0.71 four months after surgery. I had four months of chemotherapy with weekly Taxotere IV which reduced my PSA to 0.21. I lost all my hair and fingernails, but it grew back. Then I was on hormone therapy for six months, Lupron injection with daily Casodex. In just one month my PSA went from 0.21 to 0.01. Two months after the Lupron wore off, my PSA went to 0.41. I will check again in 4 months and repeat the Lupron & Casodex for 6 months if the PSA continues to rise. I wear a diaper, I leak when I cough or strain, an erection is not possible since the nerves could not be saved. I wish I had tried hormone therapy first to reduce the tumor size, but that was not wise with the fast growing Gleason 9. Surgery can not be done after radiation therapy, it makes a scarred mess and can also have side effects. In your case, I suggest hormone therapy, or even seed implants. Jim Badge414 Thu, 21 Jul 2005 00:00:00 GMT Hello Jim! Thanks so much for all the info you delivered to me in your post. I am amazed how much can be done for PC in any stage. I admire you for your courage to go through all of that "hooplah" and still be so positive. I have to learn a lot in that "department" yet. Never before I faced any, and I mean ANY health issues so this diagnose came as a thunder. I had all the available scans and testing done and no sign of cancer anywhere besides the prostate. My urologist was never able to find any lump in my prostate when the rectal exam was done. It was my wife's insistence that made me and my urologist go for the biopsy. It was the RIGHT choice uderwise my cancer would grow and grow and then?? So, here I am, still getting as much of info as I can and will make my final decision in a few days. Thanks again and wish you the best, which in "our" cases is H E A L T H ! Bizzione Thu, 21 Jul 2005 00:00:00 GMT Hi Erik, What lead you to have the biopsy, was it a high PSA? What is your PSA now? I am now 67, and it was in July 2003, two years ago when my PSA was about 4.8, up from the prior year at 2.8 or so. Then in October it was around 7.8, and the digital exam indicated an enlargement. Then I had the biopsy to confirm cancer, all 13 samples were positive, Gleason score of 9. My urologist considered hormone therapy to shrink the tumor prior to surgery, but he decided against that since it was so fast growing, no time to wait. I have been told from many sources that surgery can not be done after radiation because that causes too much scar tissue. I have not heard of any negative impact from hormone therapy causing thickening of the prostate capsule or causing stickiness as reported here by another person. Most likely that was the result of radiation. My doctor could not see the nerves to spare them at time of surgery, the right one was taken on purpose because of the size of the tumor there. I spoke with another patient of my doctor whose nerves were spared, they peeled off the prostate just like they should, and he had no erection problems. His tumor was smaller. My cancer doctor who administered the chemotherapy is also directing the hormone therapy, and the plan is to do six months of therapy and then six months of nothing so that the body can recover. It is possible that radiation could cure the cancer, but it has too many side effects such as burning holes in the colon and nerve destruction. I still suggest hormone therapy, surgery can still be done if needed, and hopefully the two nerves needed for erection can be spared. What does your doctor say? Jim Badge414 Fri, 22 Jul 2005 00:00:00 GMT Hi Jim. Thank you again for giving me inside look at your personal problem. And we do have a problem, don't we? Some more serious then others but still.. problem. My PSA was rising by the years. Not much but still rising. In the last 4 years it went from 1.0 to 4.2 and then 4.6. My wife insisted on more testing but my urologist did not feel is needed. Thanks to my wife's insistence, I finally had the rectal exam (2 months ago) but the urologist could not feel any tumor at that time. So again.. my wife demanded the biopsy and there it was. Small tumor (T1). 12 samples were analysed and only one had evidence of cancer. The urogogist (just few days ago) gave me a prescription for Casodex 50MG and if I decide for radiation I should start to take this hormone once a day. I am still undecided though and trying to read and talk to other men as much as possible. Most of my friends (3 of them physicians) are suggesting the radiation. They said that surgery would be recommended if I were much younger but at age of 68 and the size of my tumor I should be doing just fine with the radiation. On the other hand I read some quite positive articles about the surgery. I now realize that I am dealing with very confusing controversy and my head is spinning. You are right! I did not hear nor read anything similar to the other poster's info on the undesirable problems from the hormone therapy. Actually all I heard is quite positive. I met two man (in the doctor's office)and they both are receiving their injections of hormones for several years after their surgeries and radiation. One was diagnosed 18 years ago and the other 15 years ago. They both are doing very well and that is encouraging. I found two additional urologists/oncologists and asked for their opinions or suggestions. Both inclined for radiation. They explained that there is a new method of External Beam Radiation which is aiming precisely at the tumor so the collateral damage is much lower then it used to be even a year ago. So, go figure! Now you know why my head is spinning. BTW Did you hear or read if the radiation can cause additional cancers like colon or rectal? Bizzione Fri, 22 Jul 2005 00:00:00 GMT Hi Erik, You have some good numbers, the low PSA and the low Gleason score of 6, so you have lots of time to decide on a course of treatment, even nothing, the so called watchful waiting. One treatment you can rule out at this time is the chemotherapy. That works only for the fast growing cancer, Taxotere attacks ANY fast growing cells, cancerous or not. That is why I lost hair and fingernails, those cells are fast growing. Your cancer is not fast growing, so chemo would not work well for you. The least invasive would be hormone therapy. As you know, prostate cancer initially depends on testosterone to thrive, so Lupron is given by injection to cause the brain not to deliver the signal to the testes to produce testosterone and thereby starving the cancer. The adrenal glands sitting on the kidneys also produce testosterone, and they don't get the signal from the brain not to produce. That is why the daily Casodex is administered, to block what testosterone is produced from binding with the cancer. Casodex is expensive, about $14.70 per pill in the US, but I got mine for $7.33 from a Canadian pharmacy, $220 per month rather than $441 per month US. I have no direct knowlege about radiation, maybe you can find someone who has had that treatment. No, I have not heard of any cancer being caused by the radiation treatment, and the beam is more focused on the tumor to avoid collateral damage. Jim Badge414 Fri, 22 Jul 2005 00:00:00 GMT Hi, I was diagnosed last October. I am also 68. My Gleason was 7. I went on hormones right away. My PSA dropped from 5.3 to 0.3 in six weeks. Radiation was to start in January and last eight weeks. Being as how we live in Ottawa, Ontario and have a nice place in Florida for our winters, my oncologist agreed that I could stay on hormones until the Spring and start the radiation then. That is exactly what I did. I have now had 35 treatments with just three to go. I finish on Wednesday. By April my PSA was 0.1 and my testosterone was 0. There is no reason for you to rush a decision. Your cancer isn't going anywhere. I am very pleased to have chosen my treatment plan (actually my oncologist did not give me options except to say that surgery was unnecessary). There are side effects to all options. In my case, I would say that mine are mostly mild and tolerable although annoying at times. The actual process of doing the radiation is simple and painless. I go in the afternoon and they schedule me for late afternoon on Tuesdays which is my golf day. My treatment crew of radiation technologists say they don't want to run my life just save it. I will see my oncologist on Wednesday and I believe that I will see him next in 6 to 8 weeks. At that time he will probably do a PSA test and every 6 months after that. He has already given us the green light to go to Florida on October 22nd until next April. I volunteered that I could get my PSA tested in Florida at the 6 month interval but he said that that would not be necessary and that 7 1/2 months would be fine. "This stuff works months and years, not days and weeks" Take care and let me know how you are doing. My best wish is that you do as well as I have. Bob T. Badge414 Fri, 22 Jul 2005 00:00:00 GMT Hi, I was diagnosed last October. I am also 68. My Gleason was 7. I went on hormones right away. My PSA dropped from 5.3 to 0.3 in six weeks. Radiation was to start in January and last eight weeks. Being as how we live in Ottawa, Ontario and have a nice place in Florida for our winters, my oncologist agreed that I could stay on hormones until the Spring and start the radiation then. That is exactly what I did. I have now had 35 treatments with just three to go. I finish on Wednesday. By April my PSA was 0.1 and my testosterone was 0. There is no reason for you to rush a decision. Your cancer isn't going anywhere. I am very pleased to have chosen my treatment plan (actually my oncologist did not give me options except to say that surgery was unnecessary). There are side effects to all options. In my case, I would say that mine are mostly mild and tolerable although annoying at times. The actual process of doing the radiation is simple and painless. I go in the afternoon and they schedule me for late afternoon on Tuesdays which is my golf day. My treatment crew of radiation technologists say they don't want to run my life just save it. I will see my oncologist on Wednesday and I believe that I will see him next in 6 to 8 weeks. At that time he will probably do a PSA test and every 6 months after that. He has already given us the green light to go to Florida on October 22nd until next April. I volunteered that I could get my PSA tested in Florida at the 6 month interval but he said that that would not be necessary and that 7 1/2 months would be fine. "This stuff works months and years, not days and weeks" Take care and let me know how you are doing. My best wish is that you do as well as I have. Bob Tremblay Bobbyt Sat, 23 Jul 2005 00:00:00 GMT Hello Bob! Thanks for sharing your case with me and many others. Since I was diagnosed (slightly over 2 months ago), I tried to get all the information, personal experiences and opinions as much as possible. It came to the point that I was desperately confused about the treatment I should choose. I have to admit that the diagnosis did affect my life greatly. Yes, I pannicked at first but I am calming down now. I am learning to accept what is happening to me and am ready to attack it now. Last night I made my decision. It will be the radiation. I already started with the CASODEX 50MG last night and tonight had the second pill. Well, "let's the thing roll"...... There is no way back. I do have some question if you don't mind? Do you or did you suffer the hot flashes I am so much hearing about? And when did they start after taking the first pill? What other side effects did you have during the hormone therapy and now during the radiaton? It must be quite relieve to finally reach the last radiation session this coming Wednesday. I am glad for you and hope I will have similar "smooth sailing" as you did!BTW Florida is nice place to run to and hide from cold and hostile Ontario's winter. Good for you! My best wishes for you and all of "us"! Bizzione Sun, 24 Jul 2005 00:00:00 GMT Hi, I think you probably made the right decision. No matter what, we are in for a bit of a tough time or worse. Let's recap; We have cancer. That's not good. Left unattended, it could become a serious condition - or maybe not. Who wants to take an unecessary chance? So let's face it: we have to do what we have to do. And our loved ones (wife, kids, grandkids etc) should not hesitate to be supportive. Heck, we didn't invite this stuff. In my case, my wife doesn't care that I haven't had an erection in 9 months. She only wants me to get better and be her partner for another 20 years. I hope your close ones feel the same way. It makes all the difference in the world. Side-effects: these vary with the individual but you can expect a noticeable decrease in libido. That's almost guaranteed. Hot flashes: Mine were fairly mild and predictable; seems that when my mind was occupied with different thoughts, I was fine. If I stopped to think about my situation, then I had what I would mostly describe as a 'warm moment' rather than a 'hot flash'. The radiation also has its side-effects and mine were different from some others. Some have diarrhea and I did not. The radiation in my case seems to have caused a swelling internally (that you cannot feel) that causes the passages from both the bladder and the rectum to contract and make the passage of all the stuff a little more difficult. But it eventually all gets out. I don't want to overstate these things. We are in a difficult situation and all we want to do is get better. 'Suck it up and get on with it' is my motto. I wish you all the best. You are a strong person and you will get through to the end and most likely be cancer-free - almost 100% sure in our situation. Take care Bob T. Bobbyt Sun, 24 Jul 2005 00:00:00 GMT Hi Bob. Very well put! We MUST fight it and not wait and watch it. I hope my side effects will be mild as yours are! I am continuing with the pill every day now. In about 2 weeks I will see my urologist/oncologist for checking my PSA. I will be reporting all "happenings" which I most likely will encounter. I have wonderful wife who thinks the same way your wife does. Erection has no importance in this fight for life. I am blessed with great family who is supportive to the max. BTW did you take or are you taking Metamusil for the bowel movement? That is, what my doctor insist, I should take when the radiation starts. Best wishes, Erik Bizzione Mon, 25 Jul 2005 00:00:00 GMT Hi, I have Metamusil and have taken it a few times in the past 8 weeks. I probably would have been better off by taking it every day. Metamusil works to help in both scenarios: constipation and diarrhea. It is definitely the thing to do if that is what your doctor is recommending. It surely won't hurt. I have been irregular and probably should have taken it daily. I'm sure you will be fine and by sometime in the next few months,prostate cancer will be a thing of the past for you. Take care, Bob T. Bobbyt Mon, 25 Jul 2005 00:00:00 GMT Hi Erik, I just checked a site for info on side effects of casodex, maybe I can place it here. Try this site, http://www.cancerbacup.org.uk/Treatments/Hormonaltherapies/Individualhormonaltherapies/Bicalutamide#8817, it has good info on the drug. I had hot flashes, mostly at night. It would start as a pain in both forearms, then my legs and feet would burn. It would pass within just a few minutes, but I would kick off the covers at night to cool down. I thought mine were caused more by the Lupron than the casodex, but I have no way of knowing, since I was taking both at the same time. Another side effect was excessive tearing, my eyes watered a lot. Jim Badge414 Mon, 25 Jul 2005 00:00:00 GMT From my own experience with having a Radical Prostatectomy I would say that if you decide to get surgery done do closely examine the record of the surgeon. Try to find one who has a long record of surgeries--a 1000 may be, and has a repution as an artist whos patients did not end up being incontinent and impotent. It is not enough to go to a Cancer center with a great reputation--its the individual surgeon that counts. I had my RP done at Hopkins when my PSA was 3.14 and Gleson score was 7 and the cancer was confined to the prostate with good margins. The surgery was done by an assistant professor who had done about 200 surgeries but because he was at Hopkins I did not check him out. The surgery left me incontinent and impotent inspite of being advertized as "nerve sparing". Later I learnt about other surgeons at Hopkins who had been doing the operation for 15 years and had a very good record on incontinemce and impotence. Four years after my opertion my PSA started going up and now I am faced with another decision on what to do for my recurrent Cancer tumor--hormone therapy or radiation or altrnative therapies I have friends whose RP's turned out perfect and 10 years later they are still cancer free and free of the other side effects. I have other friends who have chosen Brachytherapy--seeds and nine years later they are doing fine. In one case the man had some hormone therapy for a short period prior to the Brachytherapy. Andrew Grove of INTEL wrote about his decision in favor of 3D conformal radiation in an article in Fortune magazine--I think around the mid 1990's. Recently I attended a Protate Cancer Treatments conference in Washington D C The National Conference on Prostate Cancer 2005, organized by Dr. Charles, "snuffy" Myers. It provided a wealth of information on all sorts of conventional therapies. You would do well to get a copy of the Proceedings from Dr. Myers' Foundation for Cancer research and education (FCRE). Take a look at www.prostateforum.com for additional informatio on Dr. Myers. Seerwise Mon, 25 Jul 2005 00:00:00 GMT Hi Erik, With your low Gleason score, I agree with most of the letters regarding having time to decide. I would be happy to discuss my experience with surgery and what lead me to go that route. John S. Tue, 26 Jul 2005 00:00:00 GMT Hi n L: Your story is very touching. I am sorry that you had and now have this kind of experiences! It is true lesson to others to check and double check their surgeon, no matter in which Hospital he is performing the surgery. I spoke to some men who also had the surgery and so far all of them suffer impotence and incontinence. I also read articles pertaining to the radical surgery and all are mentioning these two "evils" as something what happens in almost all cases. I made my decision few days ago and am now on the hormone CASODEX 50MG. Later on I will be on Lupron and then, after my prostate shrinks to the desirable size, I will start with the External Beam radiation treatment. I am still reading what ever I can find regarding "our" problem. I am visiting also other forums which debate this issue. I am learning more and more by small steps but still learning. I will try to get the copy of the Proceedings from Dr. Myers' Foundation for Cancer research and education you mentioned. I am open to any info. Thank you for all you posted. Wish you the best outcome. Erik Bizzione Wed, 27 Jul 2005 00:00:00 GMT Hello Bob T! Just want to tell you that my wife took charge of the Metamusil supply today and got hefty amount of it. She is taking Psyllium Husk for many years now just to keep the intestinal track clean. She is willing to change to Metamusil out of pure solidarity. She is starting already with her support. :-) Erik Bizzione Wed, 27 Jul 2005 00:00:00 GMT Hi John! I know that I do not need to rush to any treatment at this time but I don't want to wait. I want to take care of my problem ASAP! So the decision is made. I am on CASODEX already and then I will be on Lupron until the prostate shrinks. I chose the EB Radiation after having three different doctors evaluating my case. I would like to know your story though. Even when I decided for the radiation I still am interested in other men's experiences. Please, post here what ever you feel comfortable with, so not only myself but all the other readers can maybe learn something from it! Thanks for every word of yours! Erik Bizzione Wed, 27 Jul 2005 00:00:00 GMT Hi Jim: Thanks for the site addy. Very good information! I am prepared for the hot flashes but not for the high blood pressure though. When I read all the possible side effects I want to believe that I will be spared of most of them. I like to keep this hope. :-) Erik Bizzione Wed, 27 Jul 2005 00:00:00 GMT Hi Erik, My radiation is done. It's nice to have all my time back for my wife and me. Seems that it takes 2-3 weeks for the side-effects to start to disappear. After that, the healing begins and everything is supposed to get back to normal. My next appointment is in late September with my oncologist. At that time he wants to see how I am doing recovering from the side-effects. He was not planning on doing a PSA test at that time unless I wanted one to satisfy my curiosity. I want one. As far as he is concerned, a PSA next Spring is early enough. I think I mentioned that we are good to go to Florida as planned in late October. I feel great and hope you do as well as I have. Take care Bob T. Bobbyt Fri, 29 Jul 2005 00:00:00 GMT Well hello Bob! Huraaaaaaah! Congratulation to your newly found freedom! I am truly happy for you. How great feeling that must be having control of your own time again! I think you are right asking for PSA test in September. I will demand PSA test quite often after I am done with the radiation. So tell me please, what are you still feeling in these last days! I mean... side effects. I am still on the Casodex and on Tuesday I will get my first Lupron injection. Who knows what is ahead of me but your case is giving me tremendous hope and courage. I must tell you that the Casodex did not affect my erection. My wife can atestify to that! :-) I know that the Lupron injection will be another story but we are taking it as it comes. I am sure your estance in Florida will be very special this time. Best regards, Erik Bizzione Sat, 30 Jul 2005 00:00:00 GMT Hi Erik, It has been ten days since my last radiation treatment. So far the side-effects have not increased except for the tiredness which can be due in part to the more relaxed attitude i.e. not as keyed up as I may have been. The past three nights I have only been up three times each meaning that I have been getting two and a half to three hours sleep at a time. One thing to remember is that everyone's side-effects are different. For instance I did not have diahrrea as a friend of mine did nor did my skin get burned as happened to our local TV News anchor who was treated last year. I don't know why there is such a wide divergence but there is. I have gained an inch or two around my waist but that should go in time. Speaking of time, it has been almost ten months since I started the hormones so I'm giving myself eight to ten months to recover most of my strength and vitality. If I do better, then that's OK too. Let me know how you are doing. Take care Bob T. Bobbyt Sat, 06 Aug 2005 00:00:00 GMT Hello Bob! I did not hear from you for ten days so I am glad you got in touch again. I was thinking of you often wondering how things are going. My appointment for the first Lupron injection was changed to this coming Monday so I am ready for ..... what is coming. Glad to hear that you are doing fine. I hope that my sailing through the treatment will be without any major turbulence! I will be posting step by step my whole experience here. Will email you soon. Erik Bizzione Sun, 07 Aug 2005 00:00:00 GMT Hi Erik, Just do it.!! Whatever the effects, you are just about to get rid of the bad stuff. My friends who have been through this in the past few years hardly ever even think about it. You and I are about to join that club. One of my mottos, which is not very elegant, and I only apply it to myself is "Put up and shut up!" You can use it if you like. Take care, Bob T. Bobbyt Sun, 07 Aug 2005 00:00:00 GMT Hello Bob! "Put up and shut up!" LOL! I certainly can use these words too! ...... Well, time is going by and I am on my second bottle of casodex. I also got my first Lupron injection few weeks ago. Last week I had the CAT Scan done and all the measurements were taken. I am not sure when the radiation will start though. I am going to see the radiologist/oncologist this coming Thursday and will know more then. So far I have no side effects at all. And to my surprise I am still functioning sexually..... I made a post to you few days ago but the site had some issues and my post landed in totally irrelevant thread. Oh well... And how you are doing these days? Bizzione Mon, 22 Aug 2005 00:00:00 GMT Hi Bob? Time is passing by and pretty soon you will be on your way to Florida. Meanwhile I would like to ask you how things are going? Did you finally get rid of all the (mild) side effects? I already started the radiation therapy. Had 4 so far. I don't have any side effects from the Casodex but from the radiation I am starting to feel some burning sensation while urinating. Oncologist said today that some men suffer this side effect but I am questioning the timing of it. Like I said, I had only 4 treatments so it seems too soon for that. What do you know about it? I am going to find some answers on line tonight. Otherwise I feel great. Hope you are doing fine! Erik Bizzione Sat, 10 Sep 2005 00:00:00 GMT  On 7/22/2005 Badge414 wrote:Hi, I was diagnosed last October. I am also 68. My Gleason was 7. I went on hormones right away. My PSA dropped from 5.3 to 0.3 in six weeks. Radiation was to start in January and last eight weeks. Being as how we live in Ottawa, Ontario and have a nice place in Florida for our winters, my oncologist agreed that I could stay on hormones until the Spring and start the radiation then. That is exactly what I did. I have now had 35 treatments with just three to go. I finish on Wednesday. By April my PSA was 0.1 and my testosterone was 0. There is no reason for you to rush a decision. Your cancer isn't going anywhere. I am very pleased to have chosen my treatment plan (actually my oncologist did not give me options except to say that surgery was unnecessary). There are side effects to all options. In my case, I would say that mine are mostly mild and tolerable although annoying at times. The actual process of doing the radiation is simple and painless. I go in the afternoon and they schedule me for late afternoon on Tuesdays which is my golf day. My treatment crew of radiation technologists say they don't want to run my life just save it. I will see my oncologist on Wednesday and I believe that I will see him next in 6 to 8 weeks. At that time he will probably do a PSA test and every 6 months after that. He has already given us the green light to go to Florida on October 22nd until next April. I volunteered that I could get my PSA tested in Florida at the 6 month interval but he said that that would not be necessary and that 7 1/2 months would be fine. "This stuff works months and years, not days and weeks" Take care and let me know how you are doing. My best wish is that you do as well as I have. Bob T. Hi, thanks for the info. How long were you on hormones and did you get them in Fl. while away??? Side affects? Do you continue with the hormones during and after radiation?Bob Bobnbabe Wed, 21 Mar 2007 00:00:00 GMT