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PROSTATE CANCER SUPPORT SITE

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Ernest Frank lives in Maine, USA. He was 72 when he was diagnosed on June 30, 2000. His initial PSA was 5.6 ng/ml, his Gleason Score was 4+3 = 7 and he was staged T2a. His choice of treatment was WW Diet & exercise. Here is his story.


Hi,

After biopsy and diagnosis in June 2000, my Urologist suggested hormones and EBRT (External Beam Radiation Treatment) to start immediately as he considered the 4+3 = an aggressive cancer. I went to BGH in Boston and got 2nd opinion from Chief of Uro there, he said due to age, recent heart surgery and other issues, it would be best to do as my Uro proposed. He didn't consider me good candidate for surgery.

After much research and in particular reading the Dr. Lynes letter I chose Watchful Waiting and diet with exercise. Explained to my family I would prefer a shorter life without side effects and would still have options if cancer spread.

Started with diet heavy with antioxidants, and immune system boosters, low on fats and as SUGAR feeds cancer a minimum of that. I drink distilled water, green tea, V8, use small amounts of skimmed milk. In 2 months PSA dropped to 3.6 and October 4, 2001 was 1.4. It stayed below 2 until May 4, 2006 when it went to 2.64.

In Jan 06, I was switched by insurer from Lipitor to Zocor, I had a severe adverse reaction resulting in drug induced myopathy. There is NO treatment and only solution is to wait and hope it clears system with no lasting side effects. During this time you can't do ANYTHING, NO exercise at all as ANY activity creates additional CK levels that are the enzymes that destroy muscles !! I being VERY active became depressed and tended to seek comfort foods and I feel became a factor that cost me control. MY FAULT !!

It took me 20 months to get back to normal CK levels. During this time my PSA went to 3.3 and had doubled to 6.6 in May, 2008. New biopsy July 1, 2008 PSA 8.65 and on right side showed six of nine cores involved from 99 to 20% and PIN (prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia) present. Left side cores benign.

My Uro says now his turn and in last two weeks have had CAT scan(negative), bone scan( results pending) and a three month hormone shot, . Today July 22, 2008 had gold markers implanted and will have mapping session with oncologist on August 20, prior to 42 IMRT (Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy) treatments and a final three month shot.

Currently back on diet…..to be continued we hope !!

Later:

Since last update have found bone scan to be negative ! 7/22/08 Had 3 gold fiduciary markers implanted, with no problems. Will have mapping session on 8/20/08 prior to start of 42 IMRT treatments.

 

UPDATED

August 2008

 

 

August 24, 2008

I probably should have mentioned at start that I was diagnosed with bladder cancer in 1997. It started with bleeding and the urologist said there could be multiple causes. Found I had TCC (transitional cell carcinoma) with CIS (carcinoma in situ). I had one small tumor right at junction of urethra which he was most concerned about possibly migrating as well as danger of problems while removing same. He successfully removed several at various times in 1998 and '99. He said they would continue unless we undertook treatment and suggested BCG (Bacillus Calmette-Guerin) . I had BCG instilled 5 weekly sessions...due to excessive sloughing off took a week off then 2 final doses. I was fortunate that this solved problem and has been in remission since. AS bladder cancer is the most recurrent I am checked regularly.

 

UPDATED

November 2008

 

 

October 28, 2008

Hi, Have just completed my 42nd radiation session and had a final 3 month Lupron shot. Oncologist says that prostate cancer is slow to grow and also slow to die. He expects little change in PSA for six months and then it could go up slightly before trending down. This process could take a year, radiation side effects should start to decline in 2 to 4 weeks and be close to normal in 3 to 4 months. Side effects from Lupron should continue for 6 months then start to decline.

While I had some rectal discomfort I avoided any loose bowels and had instead hard fragmented bms. Solved with daily Metamucil use. My biggest problem was urinary....cystitis like , a sudden need to void then having to wait for a painful flow to start. After initial start flow would shut down, then wait for recovery and continue same routine until urge had passed. This was manageable through the day and I found lessened with activity. Nights were another matter and I was up almost hourly , am hoping this will also stop.

Other than that no problems from IRMT, I ate as suggested a high protein and high calorie diet and kept active, walking daily and doing yard work, painting etc. Lupron side effects were minimal and primarily hot flashes, mostly at night. Will update in six months after my PSA is checked.

Ernest's e-mail address is: golfishrsl@yahoo.com