JHK's Journey with Prostate Cancer
Patient: Prostate Cancer
Patient Info: Living with cancer as a chronic illness (undergoing adjuvant therapy), Diagnosed: over 9 years ago, Male, Age: 72, Stage IV
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Laparoscopic radical prostatectomy
Procedure or Surgery
Doctor was confident surgery would be "curative" Difficult recovery process
External radiation
Radiation
PSA did not decline after surgery, though scan could not locate the cancer; radiation to the pelvic area was recommended and presented as a "50-50" chance of being effective; PSA doubled to 7 after radiation
Decision Point
An annual physical exam May 2011 indicated abnormality; subsequent biopsy confirmed prostate cancer (aggessive) with a high Gleason score of 9; PSA just over 3; PSA still over 3 - 6 weeks after surgery;radiation to pelvic area recommended and completed - PSA rose to 7- 6 weeks after radiation; my current Urologist suggests hormone therapy if PSA goes to 10 or 15; I have numerous questions and concerns about all this - when to begin hormone treatments (if at all), side effects, % success probability, etc. Also, probability of spread to the bones and consequences if I do nothing. I do have another PSA test scheduled for early July. Any input would be appreciated.