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First, let me start by thanking everyone that contributes to this site. I have learned so much from all of you. I have not posted since last year, but I read and follow the postings on a daily basis and can’t express my gratitude enough to the men and women that take the time to share their knowledge, learnings, thoughts, feelings, and fears as we travel this road. It sucks! But it’s been made more bearable by each of your contributions! Thank you all.
So here I am, one year post diagnosis. What a year it has been! There's never a day goes by that I don't think of this in some form or another. I'm now 47. During the last year I've been reading and learning like crazy. On January 1, I left my HMO insurance and joined up with a PPO plan. With my new insurance, I can now go to UCSF and I am a patient of Dr. Peter Carroll. I have agreed to have the Oncotype DX genetic testing done and am waiting for the results. I go back on March 11 for an MRI.
I have had 4 PSA tests done.
2.2 – most recent (1/24/14)
2.7 – post biopsy
2.9 – pre biopsy
2.8 – pre biopsy
Biopsy results.
The pathology report came back with a little in the left base. My Gleason score is 6 (3+3). My staging is T1c. I had 2 cores out of 12 positive. (<5% in the positive cores). I have no symptoms whatsoever.
What I am doing… I hope it helps.
I have changed up my diet. Cut way back on sugar and dairy – and only organic dairy at that. No red meat. No fast food (expect a good burrito every now and then) I eat lots of vegetables, especially broccoli, tomato sauce, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, avocados and olive oil, and organic soy milk. I drink lots of organic green tea and eat salmon (sashimi). I try to follow a Mediterranean diet as much as possible. I have taken Pomi-T, Zyflamend Whole Body, ActivaMune, PomWonderful pills. I have always been active. I am a runner/biker. I run 3-4 times each week. I run two marathons and several half marathons each year. I also bike a lot. I read a lot. I listen to Dr. Snuffy Myers’ videos. I attend a support group. I donate to PCa research entities. I try to stay positive. I believe in God and an afterlife.
So, I guess I am taking an Active Surveillance approach right now – trying to see what the genetic tests show as well as the MRI. The PSAs appear to be stable at the moment. We shall see. I’m always open to suggestions and observations.
Thanks again, guys. I wish you all the best in health and happiness.
I do not know how much of it is due to YANA Mac, but it sounds as if you are doing all you can and everything right. Keep the faith and keep us posted.
Best wishes Don O.
Looks like you are a good candidate for Active Surveillance. UCSF active surveillance protocol is: gleason 6 or less, less than a third of your cores positive, no core greater than 50% cancer, and PSA less than 10. Be advised that the Oncotype DX test must be done with needle biopsy tissue samples less than 6 months old or they won't certify the results. They will still do the test with samples under 1 year but no certification. Since you are going to UCSF you can have your next needle biopsy done by Dr. Shinahara. He Is one of the best in the world for reading the ultrasound images.
I commend you on not jumping the gun on this. You have time to sort this out. Studies have shown that men that defer treatment with low risk disease actually have better outcomes. When or if you decide to have treatment you will most likely not be offered ADT3. The best study I have found on primary treatment using ADT3 is 2011 ASCO annual meeting abstract e15198. 200 patient were followed for 10 years. This study would suggest that you would have better than an 80% chance of going 8 years or more before you would need to be retreated.
Sounds like you are doing everything right! I too am on AS (May will be 2 years), and I have numbers very similar to yours (My PSA is lower though).
I think we are making the right choice. no rush to treat. taking care of myself, etc. if I had to treat soon, I have given myself 2 extra years of normal life with my wife.
