YANA - YOU ARE NOT ALONE NOW

PROSTATE CANCER SUPPORT SITE

BRONZE

David Reynolds and Anne live in Texas, USA. He was 59 when he was diagnosed on April 8, 2008. His initial PSA was 3.2 ng/ml, his Gleason Score was 6 and he was staged T1c. His choice of treatment was Active Surveillance. Here is his story.

I went in for the biopsy after my PSA rose too much in the space of a year (from about 2.7 to 3.8). A week later I got the news. I was angry and depressed, but my wife has been a strong supporter. The urologist disclosed that the cancer was present in 2 out of ten cores (5% and 15%) and a "nomogram" indicated a 29% chance that it would be "indolent" and a 91% chance that I would die of something else. Nevertheless, the urologist recommended surgery in the next 2-3 months.

My odyssey had begun. I consulted at least four more doctors in the next month and read two books. The medical oncologist and the radiologist (both recommended by the uro) recommended the surgery. Another surgeon, Randy Fagin, a specialist in the Da Vinci robotic technique, was also unenthusiastic about watchful waiting.

Several of the doctors had recommended a surgeon at the Univ. of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio as being an expert in this geographic area (I am in Austin). I finally got in to see Dr. Thompson and finally heard what I wanted to hear. He strongly recommended Active Surveillance, along with the obligatory diet and lifestyle changes. He says he has about 200 patients on Active Surveillance and that only three of them have opted for treatment. He also acceded to my suggestion that I take finasteride.

A year later, the finasteride has driven my PSA down to 1.2, but probably masks a higher level. DREs (Digital Rectal Examinations) are negative. He will put off my second biopsy until 2010. I will update after that.

I am extremely happy with my decision to go on AS. I have improved my diet but should do more. Surgery and side effects are depressing ideas. I appreciate my family and my life style more since I caught this life-threatening disease.

 

UPDATED

September 2010

 

 

I am now 61.

In May, 2010, after two years of watchful waiting, I had my second biopsy, which indicated that the volume of cancer had increased ten-fold, although the Gleason score was still 3+3. I had persuaded my urologist to start me on Finasteride around January, 2009, so my PSA was way down around 0.90.

I quit the Finasteride right after the May biopsy and began an agonizing investigation of brachytherapy, surgery, EBRT, HIFU, and proton beam therapy. Pretty much everyone recommended surgery but, afraid of the knife, I chose EBRT (External Beam Radiation Treatment).

Ten weeks after discontinuing Finasteride, and just before starting the radiation, my PSA was back up to 3.3. I have now completed two weeks of the eight week regimen, so it is too early to report on side effects, much less cancer control.

Stay tuned.

David Reynolds

David's e-mail address is: xdreynolds@aol.com