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Joe B and MJ live in Massachusetts, USA. He was 59 when he was diagnosed on August 20, 2009. His initial PSA was 4.1 ng/ml, his Gleason Score was 3+3=6 and he was staged T1c. He is undecided as to his choice of treatment. Here is his story.

I am a 59 year old living on Cape Cod. I have prided myself as someone who has taken fairly good care to live and eat the right way since I was a young adult growing up in the Boston area. I stopped smoking as a teenager and stopped drinking soft drinks back then and started learning about eating and living better. Biking early on and running and skiing later on. I felt I was on a path for a long trouble free life as long as I took supplements and exercised and watched what I ate.

My mother passed away of Cancer in her mid sixties and my father had prostate Cancer at 80. He was a long time smoker, and lived until 92.

My PSA has always run around 2.3 until Nov 08 when it was 4.2, than 3.6 in Jan 09 and 4.1 in Jun 09. That one surprised me. I was just turning 59 - Happy Birthday big guy, life has a curve ball for you.

12 pin Biopsy Aug 09, Report Aug 20,2009. 5 benign, 2 atypia, 1 hg pin, 3 5% cancer, 1 70% cancer. Since Biopsy, decreased sexual functions and bloody semen. Watching, but should go away as prostate heals.

We are now exploring the best procedure with the least side effects.

How do I feel? I'm Pissed Off, Angry and Scared.

 

UPDATED

January 2010

 

 

After much research and several consults with friends and doctors I chose the Proton Beam Radiation treatment at Mass General Hospital(MGH) in Boston. I believe it will work best for me.

I wasn't up to another surgery and the risks involved, but I would have been well on to the road to recovery by now if I had chosen the surgery. I have just finished the first 4 radiation treatments of an estimated total of 39, following 3 months of wait time to be scheduled. I was on a "cancellation list" hoping to be scheduled sooner, but that didn't happen.

I have no side effects so far, but it's still early. For the first week I receive an ultrasound and an x-ray as well as the proton beam at each session. After that, an ultrasound and proton beam at each session, with an x-ray once a week. I also have a consultation meeting once a week with my radiologist.

I will update as needed.

JFB.

 

UPDATED

March 2011

 

 

After a year since my final proton beam radiation treatment I can say that things are getting back to normal (as normal as they can be I guess). My goal is to get physically stronger and with more stamina. I have picked up jogging again but it's slow going.

I don't think about my treatments any more, but I will try to recollect how they went. I went through approximately 39 treatments (five days a week for two months). I started to feel a little queasy and dizzy after the final 10 or so treatments. But it would pass in a few hours.

I had discomfort on ejaculation and lower pee stream (getting up at night and an urge to go) also during and after treatment for a few months. Now I have a slower pee stream (not getting up at night anymore and hardly and urgent need to go) and not much discomfort on ejaculation (also drying up[normal]).

I normally don't use medication to get hard, sometimes a problem, but the use of Cialis helps (don't like how it makes me feel, going to try Viagra)

All in all I would say it was the correct treatment for me. I probably could have done watchful waiting but I wasn't sure the treatment would have been available to me at a latter time.

Regards, JFB

Joe's e-mail address is: jambalayajoe@yahoo.com