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PROSTATE CANCER SUPPORT SITE

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James Schwartz and Magdalena Rappl live in Tennessee, U.S.A.. He was 57 when he was diagnosed in November 2005. His initial PSA was 13.7 ng/ml, his Gleason Score was 8 and although he does not give his staging it seems from his story that he was staged T1c. His choice of treatment was Radical Prostatectomy. Here is his story.

I never experienced any of the symptoms leading one to believe that they might have prostate cancer. There was never any urinary problems, sexual problems, no enlargement of the prostate and all digital tests done in the preceding 5 years showed normal tissue mass.

In November, 2004 my PSA was around 4.8, a time to begin concern and it was tested again in June 2005 and it was 13.7 and by the time tissue samples and bone scans were done it was 17.5 in November, 2005. Surgery was then the option of only choice according to my urologist and the prostate was removed in January, 2006 (at age 58).

It was found that there was no evidence of the spread of the cancer to the bone when a bone scan was done in November, 2005 and the urologist performing the operation went ahead with the removal when it appeared that the cancer had not spread beyond the prostate but later pathology tests showed that it had spread to the seminal vesicles which were also removed at the same time.

Normal recovery was achieved and I was back at work in 10 days on a normal schedule after the catheter was removed. Leakage was quickly noted and for 3 months it was a problem but the flow reduced considerably to where after 3 months no pads were again needed.

Leakage problems did continue upon strenuous exercise or under unknown conditions even for 5 years beyond the surgery but big problems have only happened twice after the first 3 month period.

PSA levels remained below 0.1 for almost a year and then progressed slowly to 1.0 after 3 years and then more sharply after 4 years up to 3.3. Then after another 6 month period the PSA jumped up to 8.3. At that time I went and had a bone scan done and it was determined that the cancer had already spread to the bone in 3 places. The oncologist doing the scan and analysis said it was likely that it had spread up to 2 or 3 years before, even when the PSA level was at the 1.0 level or below.

Radiation became out of the question and the only solution / treatment was Lupron (Eligard). After the first 3 months the PSA level dropped to 0.9 and a week later when undergoing a 2nd opinion at MD Anderson in Houston, TX the PSA level dropped to 0.7. My new treating oncologist said that the PSA level would continue to drop down for the first 6 months and that 0.1 was achievable.

I am now reaching the end of the first Eligard treatment (4 months) and am due for a 2nd injection in early August, 2010. It is likely that another PSA reading will be done after only another 1 month period before the 2nd injection is given but that is to be determined.

In the meantime between the diagnosis that I was at stage T4, metastasized prostate cancer, I began a serious life style change (daily exercise, weight loss, better nutrition, vitamin supplements, and attitude adjustments). In the preceding 9 months before the diagnosis of the spread to the bone I had already decided on exercise and weight loss and did lose 40 pounds and increased my heart and lung capacity and consider myself to be reasonably fit for a 62 year old.

Now I am awaiting my next treatment and PSA level monitoring to see if I did reach the desired for 0.1 level.

The Eligard had little side effects initially but hot flashes/flushes became more common after a 3 month period. No other side effects were noted.

I will note that my MD Anderson oncologist said that the 2-3 year prognosis I was given was a much out of date figure and that 3 years ago (2007) a 5 year life expectancy was possible and as late as early 2010 up to 10 years was still possible if the PSA level did reach the 0.1 level and that 5 - 7 years was still possible with 0.1 - 0.5 readings. [See The Elephant In The Room for more information on these predictions.]

As far as vitamins and supplements are concerned several articles and people I talked to seemed to think of moderate intakes of Vitamin C and Vitamin D-3 and Co Q10 were beneficial and that they couldn't hurt. Another study said that cottage cheese and flax seed oil also had some positive effects so my daily intake is now around 6000 mg of Vitamin C, 6000 IU of Vitamin D-3 and 5 tablespoons of flax seed oil with 1/4 - 1/2 cup of cottage cheese blended with fruits and sweetener to enhance the taste. Obviously the jury is out on the benefits of these supplements but time will tell. [This resembles some parts of what is termed the Budwig Diet, although the original regimen is much more strict.]

- to be continued -

UPDATED

September 2010

 

 

September 9, 2010 I am six and a half months into the 2 to 3 years the doctors gave me back in April, 2010. My cancer had entered my bones in 3 places (identifiable) and there was nothing short of hormone treatments that they could give me. I received my first Lupron (Eligard) shot back in early May and I just received my 2nd injection (given every 4 months).

My PSA level back in March was 8.8. In July I had a 2nd reading and my PSA level had dropped to 0.90 at one center and 0.70 at another. My reading on September 2 was back to a 0.90.

My life hasn't changed much in the last four months. Hot flashes and a little muscle pain has all that I have encountered. Hot flashes didn't come early after my first injection in May but began about a month later. They occur regularly now, sometimes as few as 2 to 3 times a day and sometimes as many as 10 to 12 times a day. They don't last long (about 5 minutes on average) and they aren't causing me any real discomfort. Muscle pain isn't always in the same place. Mostly in the chest or back area and it doesn't hurt that much. I shrug it off to exercise or exertion.

Have continued my flax seed oil and cottage cheese ingestion (4 tbs/day in 1/2 cup of cottage cheese normally blended with some fruit) and it may be helping. My oncologist says that the PSA drop is towards the better side of what could have been expected so it will chalk some of it up to that. I exercise regularly, watch my diet, consume little in the way of sweets or alcohol so that may be helping as well.

I am scheduled to get a PSA test every 2 months for the near term to see how the PSA level is running. Am considering supplements that I have read about on the Web to see if they have any effects. Zeolite, Quanzor, and OxyDHQ are among some that have gotten a lot of play and some have had good results. Will start Zeolite first in October to see if it improves the PSA level.

More later.

 

UPDATED

November 2010

 

 

In mid October afer a month and a half I went back for a PSA reading (my 4th in the last 6 months) along with a general blood tests.

My September 1st reading was 0.90 and the two previous to that in June and July were 0.90 and 0.70. My latest reading in the middle of October was 0.90 so for the last 7 months on Eligard my readings have been in a very tight range. So far all is good.

It has been 7 months now since I got the news that my cancer had mestasized. On the whole, most days I don't feel any different. I do have some muscle pain associated with the Eligard shots but the pains are hardly ever in the same place. Mostly in the shoulders and neck regions on one day and the middle back on another and the lower back on another. Sometimes even in the chest area. The pains seem to move around. None are too painful and they are just an irritation.

So far cancer has not affected by ability to work, play, and do the things that I enjoy. Actually I feel more at peace and am happier now than I have been in years and I feel that I am more productive and have more of a zest for life. I guess you can call that normal.

As a side, my blood results were up and down. My chlosterol which was down in June to 145 is up to 213. Lupron/Eligard is at fault and I will go on Crestor to bring it back down. I have found that my vitamins and supplements to help some to keep the kidneys, liver, and other organs healthy and some of these results have showed a small steady increase to the good side due to vitamins and supplements.

I take more than 25 vitamins and supplements a day, probably no more than many of you out there [a good deal more than I do!!] but I am a fighter and if someone says it is good for you I will try it for a month to see if it helps any and if not drop it and try something else.

Vitamin C, Vitamin D-3, Co-Q10, Flax Seed Oil, Vitamin E, Selenium, Zinc, Potassium, Milk Thistle, Vitamin B and a few others are a regular part of my daily intake. Anyone out there with a better mix? I'm game. I think I am willing to try anything while I remain healthy to remain that way. No use trying treatments when you are seriously ill.

James' e-mail address is: n1067w@yahoo.com