Prostate cancer 5 year post update

[BigBill]

No prayers needed.

I'm five years past the prostate cancer treatments. I'm having a urnary problem. I talked the doctor he says it's because of the radiation burns inside. My urnary tract and bladder had radiation burns. Sometimes it goes away and sometimes it doesn't. But my doctor turns to me and says this year is five years since the treatments, I got you to live five more years of life as he runs out of the room. Hey no problem either way. I lost two brothers one at 43yo, the other at 52yo, massive heart attacks. Smoking and drinking plus one had diabetes. I'm 67yo I have diabetes but never smoked. I feel blessed I lasted this long.

I read about the radiation burns after the doctor told me on online. No biggie I enjoy that first cup of high test brew in the morning (coffee) and enjoy each day even more. Life is what it is I expect no more and no less. I hope there is bass fishing, firearms in the next life when I pass on. I will see my two awesome brothers again. I miss them they were my mentors.
I'm not gone yet but I'm ready if my number is called. Bigbill

 

[Lee Barner]

i'm 3 years post prostate surgery and PSA still 0. lee

 

[BigBill]

My PSA is 0.1 it's very low.

 

[hsguy]

BigBill, what a great milestone! I went through six months of chemo this winter for a different problem and sure hope to hear the same words from my Doctor in five years. Wishing you many many years of Bass fishing and firearms.

 

[les.b]

Well, my cancer was a different kind, but tomorrow I go for my five year CT Scan as part of my follow up regimen. The blood work looked good a couple of weeks ago, so I'm hoping for the best. It's amazing what they are able to do these days to keep us old codgers going!!

Best to you and hope that you can get past the radiation burns.

Best Regards, Les

 

[jag312]

This is a good reason for all of us over a certain age to have a PSA test. Prostate cancer sneaks up on you. Without the test, you don't know. By the time you do know you have it, it is too late.

 

[les.b]

Jag, you are spot on. Where I work, our insurance mandates a series of blood work every spring, and for guys, this includes the PSA. That's a good thing, because a lot of guys just don't bother, and as you say, it can sneak up on you. Another screening that I recommend is the colonoscopy. Just had my second or third one about 6 months ago, and the doc said "see you in ten years"!! Good words to hear. My best friend had his life saved by a colonoscopy, he is like 15 years post colon cancer now. Without the checkup, he wouldn't be here.

Best Regards, Les

 

[richardw]

Here is a ray of hope. My wife of 44 years had breast cancer 36 years ago. Chemo and lumpectomy followed. Five relays later she had it in the other breast but it had metastasized. More chem and surgery. Docs told me to en prepared for the worst.nthreebyeras later it came back and she had a double mastectomy and reconstruction. Still docs cautioned me. But no more cancer. She dies at age 74 in June 2016 from a stroke. She always told me as she battled cancer that she too, a lesson form me. I always encouraged he and out two kids to do one thing in the face of adversity: jus t keep putting one foot in front front of the other and keep moving forward. It is no ones time to die until they die. The will to live is a powerful force.

I miss her ve ry much because she was my moral compass. She never let me get away with anything that might be condisered wayward. For me she was a Marine wife who was ever bit a Marine when it came to facing death with courage. It worked. She died from anunexpected stroke in a matter of minutes. Cherish life ans just keep on trucking.

 

[BigBill]

Richard sorry for your loss, sounds like she was a tough woman. We have to be tough to survive.

Now it's hitting us baby boomers were in this age group now. Overnight I'm the elder in the family too. I don't want that job. I'm retired lol.

Time goes by so fast now. I start reading a book andvthe day is. Gone.

 

[Rustyt1953]

Bill, I admire your tenacity and resolve. Radiation burns to my throat, tongue and neck have left me with half of my salivary glands and scrambled taste buds.

The upside to this is that a $1.00 beer tastes the same as an $8.00 beer and it has lowered my bar tab considerably.

I'm still gonna pray for ya anyway.

So there.

 

[McGivern]

Congrats BigBill and all others who have beat it. I completed radiation treatments 10 years ago next month and PSA remains <0.1 which is great. I turned 82 last month and I probably wouldn't be here if my Dr. hadn't convinced me to have my PSA tested every 6 months instead of yearly. The cancer was very aggressive when they found it. I am fortunate that I have not experienced the radiation burns you mentioned. In fact I have not even heard of that problem. Best to all.

 

[BigBill]

McGivern, guys by the time my pc treatments started my PSA was over 8.0 as compared to the first PSA blood test of 4.1. Within a few weeks it was very aggressive. They started the seed injections right away with the radiation. They caught it just in time. While my PSA number is really low we still have to watch it now.

My point in mentioning all of this is to raise an awareness to get your prostates checked for cancer. This cancer feeds on testerone. I was always tired with no energy. Had no clue as to why. Get it checked often.

 

[DWalt]

PSA is indicative of the possibility of prostate cancer, but it is definitely not definitive. Four years ago my PSA skyrocketed, enough so that my urologist did a biopsy (no fun). Zippo for any malignancy. Anyway, he put me on finasteride, my PSA dropped, and it has been down ever since (I am still on finasteride). His standard treatment for PC is a radioactive seed implant (brachytherapy), and he claims to have great success with it, averaging over 10 years post-treatment survival. He has all his charts and graphs hanging on the walls of his exam rooms. So, never get overly excited if your PSA is elevated. And do get annual exams. Early detection means survival.

BTW, my urologist is a big-game hunter (Africa, India, Alaska, etc.). He has his trophies in his waiting room. It doesn't seem to bother him that it might be politically incorrect. We talk guns a lot when I visit. He can afford those hunts, I can't.

 

[BigDog48]

Amen BigBill! I wish you well! Good thoughts for all of us!

 

[Gripgrabber]

Hello, I'm 3+years after radiation and 0.1 with no problems, the VA took great care of me!!!
SEMPER PARATUS

 

[BigBill]

DWalt, guys, I been hunting in central vt in the green mountains since '73. In around '83's I lost my place to stay. (Cousins). In '86 while on vacation we were looking at land there. I found 7 1/4 acres untouched very affordable like the cost of a new car. We put a trailer on it, I installed a woodstove built bunk beds, added a propane cooking stove and that's my piece of heaven. We spent many a hunting trips up there. At the same time we said let's do vacations with the three kids there. They can go tubing, hiking, feed the chipmunks crackers, shoot their BB gun, ride their dirtbikes. They had a ball. They had cremes that's a soft ice cream cone for $1. My kids still enjoy going up there and they are in their 40's. It doesn't matter where I go hunting as long as I'm hunting. I have my own place it's not the trump towers but it's ours. I border on the national forest. We park setup camp, hunt. It's nice to get away.

Here in ct the deer permits is a lotto, I never got one in decades. The misses said let's purchase land in vt so me and my brother could hunt. I walk in the gas station and fill out my hunting license. That's it. No bs, no lotto, just pay and go hunting. Vt the way life should be.
Back in '86 the land cost me $10k for 7 1/4 acres. I gave up getting a new car to buy the land. I put band aids on the old car.

It's simple new car or land? Now the well and septic just passed. I'm close to building. I'm thinking maybe swap a hunt in other states with other land owners.

 

[ameridaddy]

Had multiple biopsies after a lump and PSA=6, last biopsy finally scored Gleason 8, aggressive C.
I elected open surgery and removal so Doc could biopsy all around the walnut and lymph nodes. I'm so glad I did for my own peace of mind. I got a MRSA infection in the incision thanks to lousy, incompetent post-op nursing and housekeeping - things like lying in my own vomit and diarrhea for half an hour - and the surgeon had to open the wound and pack it for two weeks. Lots of combo antibiotics, no lasting effects except a good scare and a scar like a hemp rope instead of a zipper. The OR staff and surgeon were terrific - everything still works, no problems. PSA=0 for eight years now, but I still get jittery the day before the annual test.
Get the finger wave and PSA annually guys - it could save your life.

 

[robvious]

glad to hear things are going in the right direction... I am actually sitting in the hospital waiting room to get a ct scan... if it matches the one from 3 monthes ago I am good to go for a while and can have my chemo port removed... I recommend the colonoscopy... I was diagnosed with stage 3 rectal cancer at 48.. it has been a wild ride... I turn 51 in a couple of weeks... potty training at 50 is not recommended... but you do what you need to...

 

[Krell1]

Anyone who has or had cancer deserves all the prayer they can get so I'm sending mine your way.

You sound like you're enjoying each day as it comes. We all should be doing more of that and less worrying about the small stuff that can bog us down.

As Snubby would say "keep on chooglin"!!!!!! Or something along those lines!!!!

 

[Lee's Landing Billy]

Clean after 45 Rad treatments and two surgeries for other cancer. PSA last month .2 . 70 in November. I try to mash every second out of every day! Make yourself contented and remember...we'll be dead a lot longer than we've been alive. Hang in there Forum Pal.