THERE WAS NO RESPONSE TO AN UPDATE REMINDER IN 2015 SO THERE IS NO UPDATE.

I need to start treatment soon and am leaning toward hormone but worried that it does not kill cancer only shrinks it Would like feedback from anyone who has been through it.

I was first diagnosed in 2008 because it had been awhile since I had my cholesterol check so I had a physical and had them do a blood test. My PSA showed up at 6.2 - wow!

I was shocked so I had it checked again and it was 7.0. Went on Cipro for two weeks (should have been four weeks) and it went to 5.9. Went to urologist and he said biopsy. Results were 1 out of 12 cores with less than 2% Cancer - Gleason of 6. He actually said " You have cancer we'll do robotic surgery and put you in a penile implant".

I saw another doctor - this time Prostate Oncologist - and he suggested Active Surveillance which I did until March 2010, with Avodart, MRI-S, PCA 3 urine tests and ultra sound all OK, until March when my PSA went from 2.7 to 3.2, 30 days later 3.5, 30 more days 3.59. Oncologist said time for another biopsy, this time 4 cores of 7 with 20-25% cancer Gleason 6 on 1 and 7 (3+4) on the other 3.

All other factors ok DRE (Digital Rectal Examination), ok, PSA Velocity [Brachytherapy] or Hormone therapy [ADT (Androgen Deprivation Therapy)].

I am interested in getting more info on the Temporary seeds [HDR - (High Dosage Radiation Therapy)], I think I know what I need to know about the permanent seeds, but the Hormone therapy information is all over the place which is frustrating me to no end. I need to find out the truth about it before I proceed.

Hormones shrink but do not kill Cancer [although this is the general belief, there are also numerous individual cases where men in intermittent ADT do not have a recurrence of the disease - one of the interesting examples being Platinum Member Doug Adams] and sounds like after you go through nine months of Menopause it's luck of the draw whether or not your manhood returns. Scary !!! True it is least invasive and unlike the seeds you can stop. Once you do seeds the outcome is irreversible.

I went to Seattle visit Dr Grimm for seed implant then went to UCLA to visit Dr Demanes for temp seed HDR . I like UCLA because of proximity to home but Seattle seed treatment is "easier" (if there is such a thing). Two days you go home: HDR you go in hospital two days 3 x treatment over two day period - implant first day and radiation in afternoon; overnite then two radiation treatments morning and afternoon then go home, but return one week later and repeat process (bummer) - that's it.

That's the way I'm going, really liked Dr Demanes, he used to do permanent seeds but switched to HDR. I have MRI scheduled 13 Sept (I'm going to try and change that to this week) then procedure approx last week in Sept.

Just had a guy call me about DART treatment do you know anything about that? [DART is an acronym dynamic adaptive radiation therapy a sub-set of EBRT - External Beam Radiation Therapy]

I will keep you posted.

Regards for all your time and hard work.

Al

Just finished first of two treatments of HDRT at UCLA on November 10 2010. I must return for second next Tuesday - November 16 - and I have to say I am not looking forward to it. It was quite miserable, not the actual procedure but the time in the hospital. I got terribly sick from the pain meds and did not sleep for more than one half hour in two days and the food! What I could manage to get down was sub-standard as well (You figure how bad can juice, fruit cups be).

The procedure was considered a success by the docotr. I had lots of bleeding in bladder (from cystoscopy and catheter) and the removal of the catheter was the most painful part but only momentary.

The jury is out, I am still hopeful I chose the right procedure but if the outcome is no different than the guys who have had the permanent seeds that would be better due to this more invasive procedure. I'll update after next week.

My last PSA was 0.6 so I am happy.

My procedure which was not as easy as doing "seeds" but I felt then and still do that it is a better procedure. I believe that now the procedure might be a little less invasive than when I did it, which is a good thing.

The top doctors seem now to have moved their "line" on doing treatment.My Gleason Score was 6 so I stayed on Active Surveillence, when it went to 7 the doc said time to do something. Now people are remaining on Active Surveillence with a gleason of 7.

In hindsight I wished I had waited one more biopsy but... to late for that. These procedures do adversely effect ones sex life soooo.....

Keep up the good work, I tell everyone about YANA it's a wonderful tool.

In response to a final reminder Al said:

Sorry just been very busy, I will update soon. Thanks for all your hard work.

MY PSA has been decreasing ever since my HDRT @ UCLA in 11/2010 all is good.

I highly recommend this treatment for those patients that meet the criteria. Dr DeManes was excellent and the procedure while more invasive than standard Brachy treatment it was worth it as I compared myself with a few others who did seeds and had problems. Another plus is that they now have cut the procedure in half. ( I would have loved that).

My side effects were minimal, few days of incontinent issues. My ED problems are exaggerated by BP Rx and age.

All is good Praise God.

GOD BLESS Terry for the magnificant job in building and running this website.

I don't think you will know the full positive impact you have had on so many people you have never met. I'm sure God will honor what you have done for so many people.

Al's e-mail address is: avdilger AT yahoo.com (replace "AT" with "@")

NOTE: Al has not updated his story for more than 15 months, so you may not receive any response from him.