YANA - YOU ARE NOT ALONE NOW

PROSTATE CANCER SUPPORT SITE

GOLD

Jim Mulcahy and Paul lived in New York, USA. He was 57 when he was diagnosed in June 2000. His initial PSA was 23.0 ng/ml, his Gleason Score was 7 and he was staged T1c. His choice of treatment was Surgery. Here is his story:

At diagnosis, I was taken by surprise. I felt wonderful, had no symptoms.

Surgery 8/10/2000. Pathology report: negative lymph nodes, organ confined disease, Gleason upgraded to 9. No follow-up treatment.

After surgery, I was significantly incontinent which has not ever improved. Also impotent.

2003 - rising PSA. Began pelvic radiation in summer of 2003 with a PSA of 0.24. Negative bone scans. Negative CT scans.

PSA lowest point after radiation 0.13 ng/ml in December 2003

In 2005, PSA began rising rapidly, reaching 22 ng/ml in October 2005. Lupron started October 17, 2005 - my 62nd birthday.

May 2006 - undetectable PSA - less than 0.03 ng/ml.

Plan: received 4-month Lupron on May 12, 2006 and plan to discontinue Lupron at end of this shot which will be 11 months on Lupron.

I work two full time jobs and, apart from the effects of androgen deprivation (fatigue, anemia, muscle aches, joint pain, hot flashes), I am well and happy.

UPDATED

July 2007

 

 

I was on Lupron from October 2005 to September 2006. PSA went from 22 ng/ml to undetectable. I refused the injection for September 2006 and have been off treatment since then.

Now my PSA is rising. It was 1.69 ng/ml in April and I am due to have it checked within a few weeks. After I went off Lupron, my significant anemia resolved and I have been functioning fully, working a full time job as hospice chaplain and bereavement counselor and also pastoring a church.

Being too busy has often been good for me. Sometimes I don't know if my tiredness is due to work or age or PCa. Overall, life is good.

 

UPDATED

July 2008

 

 

In September 2007, my PSA had risen to 7.57. I went on Lupron for 8 months and refused the May 2008 injection because my PSA had dropped to 0.04. Now, after 8 weeks off Lupron, I feel like my old self and my anemia is resolving.

 

UPDATED

February 2008

 

 

After reaching PSA nadir of 0.04 in May 2008, I discontinued Lupron monotherapy.

September 2008 PSA 1.23, January 2008 PSA 4.88. Saw new med onc, put on Casodex monotherapy because Lupron had caused such severe side effects such as anemia, very high blood sugar, fatigue, arthritis flare. Bone scan and CT scans ordered for early March 2009. Casodex monotherapy will be re-evaluated for effectiveness in mid-March 2009. I'll report on scan results when I get them.

I feel great, not having had a Lupron shot since end of January 2008. I retired from hospice chaplancy and have only one full time job. Life is very good going on 9 years post diagnosis.

 

UPDATED

July 2010

 

 

Since I last updated, things have gone on pretty normally. The regimen of Casodex (bicalutamide) 50mg/day has maintained a PSA between 1.85 and 2.5. All scans are still negative.

Since January of 2005, I have taken daily doses of Vitamin D of 8000 to 10,000 I.U. I am now borderline diabetic (personally I think this is from the time I was on Lupron) but managing with diet and exercise. My life is full and on August 10, I will celebrate 10 years since surgery. I am working full time as a pastor and traveling more often than I expected I would.

Unfortunately, my relationship has not survived the impotence. In May of 2009, I had an artificial urinary sphincter implanted (AMS 800 AUS) before two months traveling in Eastern Europe. I wish I had done it years ago.

Jim's e-mail address is: mulcahyj@citlink.net