YANA - YOU ARE NOT ALONE NOW

PROSTATE CANCER SUPPORT SITE

SILVER

Shawn Comrie and Lorraine live in KZNatal South Africa. He was 52 when he was diagnosed on October 16, 2002. His initial PSA was 6.7 ng/ml, his Gleason Score was 5 and he was staged T1c. His choice of treatment was Active Surveillance. Here is his story.

After diagnosis in Oct 2002 I followed Active Surveillance. During that period, although having a gradual upward trend, my PSAs happily bounced between 6 and 11. However since major motorcycle trauma in June 2007, they have stayed above 10 and rising. (currently 13.4)

Currently scheduled for further investigation with view to either staying as is or further treatment.

 

UPDATED

November 2009

 

 

Another biopsy now showed 4/7 positives in the Right lobe and Gleason 6. (2002: 1/5 positives and Gleason 5 in Right). An MRI also showed tumour now on the left with breaching of the capsule. (I think possibly from a previous biopsy. The MRI technician immediately queried if I had previous biopsies when this showed up.)

Based on this and an the awareness that time for conventional treatment success may be fast running out, I opted for Brachytherapy on 19 Sept 2008. (As per the PRIAS Protocol [Prostate Cancer Research International: Active Surveillance]I had been following)

Overall, treatment was tolerable. After initial difficulties with urinating, (retention, burning etc) and tiredness this is almost fully cleared and apart from the odd occasion I am now up usually only once a night. Sexually there is still "life after death"

My PSA's post treatment:

Treatment: 13.4

3 months: 13.3

6 months: 7.52

9 months: 5.3

My super confident Urologist (Told me I am 90% curable and can "throw away the antioxidants!") is happy with these results and has put me onto 6 monthly PSA's. However I am less happy, hoping it would be much lower by now, however I am comforted by the slow rate of PSA decline, which I believe is a good thing.

I am continuing with AS (Especially diet) etc as

1. May slow any possible re-occurance.

2. May help reduce the now increased chance of bladder cancer. (From the radiation)

3. It is good for my body overall.

Time will tell!

 

UPDATED

March 2011

 

 

After an initial PSA of 13.3 early post brachy, subsequent readings at three monthly then six monthly were: 7.52, 5.37, 5.1, and now six months back, 1.98. Have become due for another PSA this month. (March 2011)

Two years post brachy I still have the following side effects.

Urination: More or less normal although seems slower than before and at night can still vary from once to up to five times per night. Depends what I have drunk the night and afternoon before. Overall not problematical.

Erectile: Very much as it was before brachy. (This 'success' may be attributed to the recommended "stimulation treatment" I tried post brachy, as recommended on one of the posts)I tend to be less enhtusiastic than I was some years back however this probably more age related. Dry orgasms are wierd and often more intense than before!

So far so good. Next PSA coming up soon!

Shawn's e-mail address is: skc@telkomsa.net