Documenting my journey into the murky and confusing world of prostate cancer

Started: April 2, 2002
Last Update: July 14, 2007

On February 7, 2000 at the age of 67, I was diagnosed with prostate cancer.

The biopsy of my prostate revealed 2 out of 12 sticks contained prostatic adenocarcinoma cancer cells. One involved approximately 14% and the other 20%. Both were Gleason (3+3). Gleason 1, 2, and 3 are relatively less agressive than 4 or 5.

My stage was T1c which means when the doctors put their finger up my butt they don't feel anything funny. I never thought it felt funny. It also means that the cancer has not spread and can be treated by surgically removing the prostate, poking radioactive seeds (brachytherapy) in it, or zapping it with x-rays. Often these procedures are used together.

I consulted with my family doctor, my local urologist, two specialists at Johns Hopkins, and the director of brachytherapy at the INOVA Alexandria Cancer Center.

My decision was to pursue active "watchful waiting" getting PSA readings every 3 months or so.

My PSA history is shown below:

PSA READINGS
(ng/ml)

9.4	9.6	11.1	10.9	10.7	9.4	10.8	10.2	12.3
1996	1997	03/00	6/00	9/00	2/01	7/01	10/01	2/02

DATE

Over the past 2 years I've been learning about prostate cancer and treatment options.

With the large increase in the last PSA test, I've decided to get treatment.

I plan to have brachytherapy (radioactive seeding) plus external beam radiation. In my opinion the best place to have it performed is at the Radiotherapy Clinics of Georgia (RCoG) in Atlanta. My seeding is scheduled for April 25th at 12:30 PM.

My alternate choice was Dr. Clarke at the INOVA Alexandria Cancer Center in Alexandria, VA.

RCoG call their procedure ProstRcision®. If you want the details just look at their web page. The seeding procedure takes less than an hour. The entire process, including the daily radiation treatments, takes about 3 months. I'm not looking forward to the treatments.

From now on, I'll stop thinking about the worse that can happen and hope for the best.

I will put my treatments in the hands of the very capable doctors and my destiny in the loving arms of God.

I'm scheduled to have seed implants on April 25th at the Radiotherapy Clinics of Georgia. Dr. Critz and Dr. Rozas will do the honors.

My wife and I plan to leave by car on Sunday the 21st. We will be staying at Studio 6 near the clinic.

I was seeded (138 seeds) by Dr. Schnell of RCoG and Dr. Ramigailo (Urologist) on April 25th.

I had pee-pee problems (described in my prostate cancer journal).

The external beam radiation went without incident or pain. It was like getting a chest xray. The 7 weeks (Mon-Fri) of treatments took only about 10 minutes each.

I got home July 2nd and am glad to be back. I still get up to pee about 4 times each night. I'm grateful I can still get up and on the right side of the grass.

I am to get a PSA test in 2 weeks, another 3 months later and then every 6 months. I'll post the results here when I get them.

It has been a year since I started treatment. My PSA test results are shown in the chart below

My target is still 0.2 ng/ml

My pee-pee problems have diminished. I usually only have to get up twice each night. That is about the same as before treatment. If you want to know about my pee-pee problems read my pca journal.

I drink 1 large coffee in the morning and one or two beers during the day. Yeah!

FLASH !

My February 2007 Psa test was 0.2 ng/ml. It was a long trip down with no "bumps." I hope my Psa gets even lower.

My family doctor doubled my Hytrin dosage. I now only get up at most once per night. I often sleep though the night with no trips to the bathroom.

He also solved a long time problem I've had with burping and belching. I take 1 or 2 Gas-X tablets in the evening. It works wonders. Thanks, doc.!