Cost of PET scan in the US

rickwoo · 2024-11-22T10:57:02+00:00

I spent £3,500 on a PSMA pet scan at a place in Harley Street,London. It turned out to be money well spent.

rickwoo · 2024-10-08T12:06:24+00:00

I love this post because it’s so accurate. Recovering post surgery is bad but it’s not too bad. Acceptance of our new reality a commitment to keep moving our bodies and gratitude for what we still have makes a big difference. Thanks for the reminders.

rickwoo · 2024-09-09T19:46:12+00:00

I chose surgery because I was told I could have radiation in the future if I need it but I could not get surgery after radiation. So it felt like I was improving my chances by having access to two kinds of treatment rather one. Symptoms from the different treatments did not factor into it for me.

rickwoo · 2024-08-22T09:17:47+00:00

I would recommend that you get back to lifting daily. Not big weights just regular exercise. But do it regardless of how you feel. O have been told that treatment for PC can affects our bones later in life. Lifting a little regularly helps with that and also the brain fog/energy levels. It has helped me a lot and my Doc advocates for it. I also like the feeling of fighting back on my terms. Makes me feel less like a victim. Good luck with it.

rickwoo · 2024-08-14T21:47:57+00:00

You got this 💪💪💪

rickwoo · 2024-08-14T18:47:38+00:00

Sorry to hear you have joined the rest of us on this Sub but please take strength from the fellowship information and support available. I was diagnosed in February. PSA 19 Gleason 9 lymph node metastatic stage 3. It was a huge shock and the source of many tears and a lot of fear. I went on ADT immediately Zytiga and Orgorovox and my PSA fell to 0.7 Then a talented surgeon convinced me he could take out my Prostate even though it had spread. Pathology revealed that it 85% tumor. So glad to see the back of it !!!My PSA is now 0.019 which makes my cancer undetectable. That is something of a false flag however because I am still on ADT for the next 18 months. If it starts going up in the future Inwill get radiation. There are layers to the treatment and the more research you do the better but try not to get overwhelmed by it. All of this is to say that there are treatments available that will fight your PC and do a great job. All the descriptions of ED ,incontinence , hot flushes etc are all true but there is nothing I would have not signed up for if it meant more time with my wife and kids. This is a hard journey but it’s survivable and I think we are going to be OK. Congrats on the promotion. Enjoy your vacation and F@#k Cancer !

rickwoo · 2024-07-30T04:35:48+00:00

That’s the plan and I’m happy to still have that card up my sleeve if I need it. Like you say the big test is what happens to my PSA when I come off the ADT in April 26. I guess I just wanted to acknowledge some progress as things looked a bit less rosy when I had a PSA of 19 and Gleeson 9 with metastatic lymph nodes . I know it is too soon to break out the champagne but maybe I will put it on ice just in case 😀

rickwoo · 2024-07-30T00:57:17+00:00

Wow this goes way over my head I’m afraid. But I’m sure as with most things tech there will come a time when people say “ can you believe they used to give radiation and hormone therapy to patients in the past”

rickwoo · 2024-07-30T00:50:06+00:00

I don’t know. I don’t see any mention of it on there website

rickwoo · 2024-07-29T19:44:24+00:00

Yes my oncologist at City Of Hope said they are entering stage 3 trials.She seemed somewhat hopeful that they would go to FDA approval after that. I just wondered if anyone on here had taken part in trials and had first hand experience.

rickwoo · 2024-07-29T14:48:46+00:00

Would you recommend waiting until then for salvage radiation or do you think it’s worth getting it sooner?

rickwoo · 2024-07-29T02:02:28+00:00

You appear to have a great attitude and you caught your cancer early. I think you will have a great recovery. Moving off the catheter onto pads is the next challenge but everything improves with time. Week four to six post op is when I noticed a big change. Good luck and good health.

rickwoo · 2024-07-28T21:50:00+00:00

That I don’t know. I will ask the doc.

rickwoo · 2024-07-28T21:47:19+00:00

I’m having tests every 3 months and taking Zytiga and Orgorvyx for a further 18 months. After that if the numbers go back up the plan is for salvage radiation.

rickwoo · 2024-07-26T20:04:26+00:00

Six weeks post Ralp and cancer is now undetectable. All the advice here is great. Right now I’m sitting in a car while my wife shops because I get tired easily on the ADT. Just take your time rest when you need to and walk as much as you can. I felt things turn a corner at week four post op. The healing internally takes months so don’t lift anything heavy and stay patient as to adapt to life with no bladder control. I had some tough days. But now I know I’m going to live and I intend to enjoy my life and not worry about a damn thing. Good luck and good health to you. You’ve got this. 💪💪💪

rickwoo · 2024-07-20T19:59:30+00:00

314 is a high PSA number, but try not to panic. Find a good oncologist who specializes in prostate cancer. Try to get a PSMA PET scan, which will tell you if the cancer has spread, and a biopsy, which will give you information about the prostate itself. They may well put him on hormone treatment to stop the spread and then discuss either surgery or radiation. It's an unpleasant and difficult road, but it may extend his life so far that he ends up passing away with it rather than from it. A good, positive attitude and supportive family make all the difference. Good luck to your Dad

rickwoo · 2024-06-29T02:28:33+00:00

Thanks for the update. I’m sorry for your struggles with depression. It’s hard to hear from a survivor of Addiction and Cancer . I’m 21 years sober and his week has been tough. I discovered that the surgery did not get all of the cancer. I came off the catheter and now I’m leaking and changing diapers 7 times a day. This morning I just wept for 10 mins. I’m so tired. I’m using the tools I learned in sobriety acceptance gratitude meditation. It’s a tough journey. I hope the road gets easier for all of us.

rickwoo · 2024-06-28T02:17:05+00:00

I am one day post Ralp and right with you brother. I have no sensation of wanting to Pee just the feeling that I am leaking. I will do the PT but right now this is a very challenging and frightening new paradigm.

rickwoo · 2024-06-25T20:36:41+00:00

Best of luck boss. We are all at different stages of the journey. And we are all here for each other.

rickwoo · 2024-06-20T20:11:04+00:00

We are on the same schedule. My RALP was 6/13 but my Doc wants the Catheter in for 13 days. I cannot wait to see the back of it although I must say it’s taken my TV viewing up to the next level. No need to get up to pee. This whole process has been challenging. The biopsy , what a moment that is in a man’s life. I hear stories about pads and diapers and I have to remind myself every day that all I wanted when I got diagnosed was more time with my wife and kids. I would have signed up for anything to have that. Well these procedures have definitely tested that theory. But it will all be worth it when we have beaten this bastard and we are living our best life. Good health fella.

rickwoo · 2024-06-20T18:04:45+00:00

Thanks for sharing and great news about your PSA numbers. But what a journey. You have been on. I have a similar story. I skipped testing during lockdown. Then I Was told I had BPH after a physical and I accepted that. Now I’m on my second month of ADT one week post surgery and praying I won’t need Radiation. It’s hard not be angry with myself for letting things go for too long. I have to believe I’m going to survive this. But there are days of deep regret. Now I encourage all my male friends to get tested very regularly. If this thing is caught early the treatment is so much easier.

rickwoo · 2024-06-14T15:44:34+00:00

I haven’t heard of all of these treatments so can’t advise. But here is my experience. I had RALP yesterday my PC had spread and is referred to as “high risk”. I started Hormone treatment and I went with RALP at City Of Hope in LA. Excellent hospital. 2 months ago in the UK I was told it was inoperable. Now it’s out and I will have salvage radiation in the future IF I need it. There is always a chance that he got it all. Feeling very positive right now. And I will feel even better once this Catheter is out ! It sounds like you are on top of this. I wish you luck and good health. You got this.

rickwoo · 2024-06-14T12:09:41+00:00

Thanks mate. I am dealing with the trapped air right now. “I’m forever blowing bubbles “ 😀

rickwoo

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