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BRONZE

Rex Bakall lives in UK Wiltshire. He was 70 when he was diagnosed on January 9, 2008. His initial PSA was 114.0 ng/ml, his Gleason Score was 7 and although he does not know his staging it seems likely that he was staged T2. His choice of treatment was ADT (Androgen Deprivation Therapy) and EBRT (External Beam Radiation Therapy). Here is his story.

I went to my GP last December ( 2008 ) and he performed a DRE (Digital Rectal Examination) which confirmed an enlarged Prostate. I had a PSA blood test a few days later which was shown to be 114.0 ng/ml.

I had a biopsy done in late December and I was informed, the following month that I had Prostate Cancer. Two weeks later I had a `Full Body bone Scan` which showed no abnormalities in my bones. Then I had an MRI scan ( Pelvis and Abdomen ) and this showed that the cancer did not appear to have spread beyond the Prostate. However, because of the very high PSA reading, it was felt that the cancer MAY have spread beyond the Prostate in doses too small to be detected by the MRI.

I was offered a Prostatectomy or Radiation Therapy. I opted for Radiation Therapy.

Immediately following my Diagnosis in January I was prescribed Casodex which I have been taking ever since. I have been told to arrange with my GP for an injection which I will need to have for the next two years ! I have also been told to continue with the Tablets for two weeks following the first injection.

My Radiation is due to start in late April or early May.

 

UPDATED

July 2010

 

 

Following my Radiotherapy treatment ( 4 x 5 treatments ) I have been having Prostap [aka Lupron, Eligard, Viadur] Injections every 3 months. The only side effect I have experienced is one of 'Hot Flushes', particularly at night. I have found this to be a nuisance, and, in some cases, somewhat embarrassing. However I find I can cope with this.

UPDATED

September 2010

 

 

My PSA has gone down from 114.0 to 0.3. My appointed nurse informs me that she is pleased with my response to treatment and will not need to contact me again until November this year. It is anticipated the I will need these Prostap injections until two years have passed as long as my PSA levels continue to be low.

 

UPDATED

April 2011

 

I was contacted by my appointed nurse in November 2010. She informed me that the result of my latest PSA test ( approx. two weeks earlier ) showed a level of 0.20. The nurse said she was very pleased with this, however, due to the high initial reading ( 114.0 ng/ml ) she felt that I should continue the 3 monthly Prostap injections for another year. She does not need to contact me again until MAY 2011. I can, of course, contact her at any time.

I still continue to experience `Hot Flushes` but they are slowly becoming less severe. My Macmillan appointed nurse is superb and a great help. I will update again after May 2011.

 

UPDATED

November 2011

 

My Specialist Nurse contacted me last May and informed me that my PSA reading was now 0.10; she was very pleased with this. However, in view of my high initial PSA count she wanted me to continue the Hormone treatment for another year.

I have an injection next week, and, hopefully my last one in February of next year. I am still experiencing `hot flushes` but these are mostly at night and seldom in the day. Although this is a continuing nuisance I feel I can cope.

Earlier this year my GP put me on a course of Vitamin B12 injections because of a form of anaemia - but I don`t know if this is related to PC.

I have another PSA test next week and a contact appointment with the Specialist Nurse. I will update again later.

Rex's e-mail address is: r.bakall@ntlworld.com