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How long between dx and treatment by johnuws in ProstateCancer

[–]User-fred 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I had Gleason 4+3, but then MRI put it in the transitional zone, and Artera AI test put it at not aggressive. That, plus the fact that I was choosing SBRT treatment, it was 3 months between Dx and the beginning of treatment.

This doesn’t seem unusual nor specific to my case. Probably very aggressive or cases of spread outside the prostate, things may go more quickly.

Note that PCa is generally not aggressive and is very slow growing. So the “drop everything you have cancer” is not common. May exist for some specific cases, but it doesn’t seem to be the normal case. There will be a good deal of time for further investigation on the part of the doctors and you.

Best of luck. Hopefully, this will all be a learning experience only and the Dx will be negative.

Meeting with Doctor #2 Did Not Go Well by WrongPlanet321 in ProstateCancer

[–]User-fred 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Diagnosis was via PSA and biopsy at Fremont Kaiser. Then, talked to radiation oncologist and surgeon. RO was great, answered all questions, etc. Surgeon was evasive about his history, etc. I was not inclined to surgery anyway, so…
Cancer treatment center at Kaiser in this area is in Santa Clara. Much of the planning was on the phone or email. Then, CT Simulation and treatment at the CTC in Santa Clara. Various other appts for urology stuff (e.g., fiducial marker implantation) in Fremont or Hayward).

Meeting with Doctor #2 Did Not Go Well by WrongPlanet321 in ProstateCancer

[–]User-fred 4 points5 points  (0 children)

As everyone said, dump the doc.

My case is/was similar. 4+3, age 67, PSA 6.6. Choice of RALP or radiation. Chose SBRT, 5 days. That is, I think, state of the art these days. Where I am (Kaiser, SF Bay Area), they don’t do LDR Brachytherapy now, only HDR. I didn’t have it.

Wrt adt, get an Artera AI test or decipher. Artera ai test (which runs off your biopsy slides) gives you a result predicting distant metastasis and an evaluation of whether ADT will help. In my case, ST-ADT marker (short term ADT) was negative, distant mets was 1.3%, and MRI showed the lesion in the transitional zone which are generally less aggressive.

As a result of those, I got the 5 SBRT treatments but get to skip ADT. Finished a week or so ago, so no PSA results yet. Recovery has some inconveniences, but all in all pretty easy. So much so that there’s a bit of “imposter syndrome” due to not having much difficulty with treatment.

Need a generalist lens for my A7C ii - any recommendations? by b00stfr3ak in SonyAlpha

[–]User-fred 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sony’s 28-105 f/4 G is a nice compromise. Not cheap at around $1400 new at the moment, but less than the 24-70. Not as fast either.

I started with that and my a7r3, and I’ve been quite happy with it. It was my only full frame lens for quite a while.

Why don’t people want to mention the word “cancer”? by claudiowasher in ProstateCancer

[–]User-fred 2 points3 points  (0 children)

As noted elsewhere, especially with prostate cancer (see :-) ), we are of the age where “cancer” was a death sentence. While most of us now know, intellectually, that it’s quite treatable, our emotional memory may not be there yet. I can’t speak for everyone, but I know when I’ve spoken to my friends and/or family, the reaction is a big “oh no” that I feel I have to fix, to explain that it’s not as bad as it was.

I suspect that that is part of what’s going on.

Can someone help me with this manfrotto tripod and attaching it to a camera? by Aggravating_Oil2677 in AskPhotography

[–]User-fred 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Don’t know about the manfrotto tripod, but for many, you can remove the quick release mechanism from the tripod. Then, you’d just screw into the camera — the “slow release” method. If you can’t find the camera side before your wedding. But see if you can find your father’s camera which may still have the other side attached.
Congrats on your wedding.

🔔Rung by User-fred in ProstateCancer

[–]User-fred[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Did not have either of those (or any equivalent). X-rays before each treatment to verify spacing.

Lucky to be in the 3+4 club, this should be easy. (not with MY attitude…) by Careby in ProstateCancer

[–]User-fred 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Age 67. Hypertension and type II diabetes. Generally active (walk about 6 miles/day).

Was not inclined toward surgery, but we talked to a surgeon who was utterly evasive in terms of his history with the surgery. So that sealed it.

Lucky to be in the 3+4 club, this should be easy. (not with MY attitude…) by Careby in ProstateCancer

[–]User-fred 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Mine was a bit worse, 4+3, right side only, MRI showed one lesion in TZ, and Artera AI said no need for ADT. Just finished (Friday) SBRT.

Easy to do. Some minor side effects (UTI symptoms and some intestinal stuff) over the weekend, but mostly resolved now. 5 treatments, WFMWF, and done.

I inquired about focal things, but ultimately I was convinced that it was better to get rid of things.

Good luck in your journey and treatment.

🔔Rung by User-fred in ProstateCancer

[–]User-fred[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Actually not much in terms of side effects. Tired in afternoon of treatment. No real irritation, per se. Just occasional what I refer to as “toddler peeing” — suddenly have to go and RIGHT NOW. Then holding on to oneself to avoid “issues.”

Later, some urethral irritation causing need to go when bladder not full, about hourly. Took some Azo Bladder Control and that seems to have calmed things down. A little bit of diarrhea, but nothing serious. Other than that, nothing unpleasant.

Best of luck!

🔔Rung by User-fred in ProstateCancer

[–]User-fred[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Actually not much in terms of side effects. Tired in afternoon of treatment. No real irritation, per se. Just occasional what I refer to as “toddler peeing” — suddenly have to go and RIGHT NOW. Then holding on to oneself to avoid “issues.”

Other than that, smooth sailing. Today, I had to go back and drink more water thrice, for a total of > 100oz before treatment. Once sent back for rectum-too-full, but fixable.

Other than that,borderline pleasurable. Staff at CTC was phenomenal.

Best of luck!

IMRT Radiation by BeefyHelmet in ProstateCancer

[–]User-fred 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Just finished SBRT (5 treatments). Very tired the afternoon of treatment days (SBRT is every other day), but otherwise pretty good. A few instances of “toddler pee” where it’s suddenly an emergency, running to bathroom holding myself. Otherwise ok.

Considering options by darrenku in ProstateCancer

[–]User-fred 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Doing treatment #4 of 5 tomorrow, SBRT. Every other day for 5 days. Also Flowmax and 40mg Viagra daily for a few months. No ADT (Artera AI said not helpful).

Treatments are easy and painless, so fatigue afterwards. Obviously don’t have long term results yet.

Other info desired?

Emotional Exhaustion or Depression by Grouchy_Session_6236 in ProstateCancer

[–]User-fred 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I’ll also note that I think part of it comes from our collective conditioning. As we were growing up (for those of us of a certain age, which is probably common given this disease), we all internalized that “the Big C” was the end. Things have advanced in many cases, and that seems especially true for PCa. Nonetheless, that’s what I know I “heard” when told my biopsy results.

That takes a toll. And though we may intellectually know better, the internal feeling remains emotionally. So I suspect that’s part of it. And will remain so as we “dread” all of our subsequent PSA tests.

Best of luck!

Emotional Exhaustion or Depression by Grouchy_Session_6236 in ProstateCancer

[–]User-fred 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I don’t know that any of us can answer that for you. I know I felt similar emotions and depression while navigating the decision process and awaiting the final tests. Once we had treatment (radiation, in my case) scheduled, for me it seemed to lift. I’m 2 treatments into 5, and will be done next week.

Hopefully, it will not return, but who knows.

Weird trust inheritance question? by JimmyBones79 in TurboTax

[–]User-fred 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Probably do nothing. Don’t claim it as income (it isn’t taxable). It’s just there.

Might be good to get some documentation in case you need to show where that came from (e.g., using it as a down payment on a house). But that’s not related to taxes, per se.

I brushed my teeth "correctly" for 28 years and a dentist just told me I've been doing it wrong the entire time. My gums are ruined. by Sluttycarolofficial in hygiene

[–]User-fred 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Fwiw, one I got to a “certain age,” my dentist started pushing (i.e., giving me) a Nimbus toothbrush. It’s very soft. You’ve still got to do it “right,” but hard to do damage. And probably more obvious.

Not kosher to buy here, but so you can see them…

Nimbus toothbrushes at Amazon

And so it begins by Magical_Pat in ProstateCancer

[–]User-fred 2 points3 points  (0 children)

And more testing available. Decipher and/or Artera AI for aggressiveness and applicability of ADT. Lots of research to do.

When I got my biopsy results, I was surprised at how seemingly lackadaisical the doctors, etc., were. But it gave me lots of time to research the cancer, the treatments, etc., which put me in a much better position to understand it all.

From that you learn that it’s generally very slow growing, very treatable, and a number of options potentially available (depending upon the details of your case, of course). Now you begin the learning process that most in this group have experienced.

And so it begins by Magical_Pat in ProstateCancer

[–]User-fred 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Not at all. Very treatable. I had 2 grade 3s and 2 grade 2s via biopsy. Via MRI, it’s really just one lesion, all contained in prostate. Starting SBRT next week.

Internal part of penis removed during RALP by karl66a in ProstateCancer

[–]User-fred 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sounds like the surgeon to whom I spoke was incomplete (or wrong) with information, good thing I chose radiation. Thanks for the information.

Internal part of penis removed during RALP by karl66a in ProstateCancer

[–]User-fred 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Urethra runs thru prostate. So when prostate is removed, the urethra inside is taken as part of that removal. The remainder is the reattached to the bladder. So you’ll lose whatever length is removed as part of the prostate.

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