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

Diagnosed in 2011 at age 57 with a first-ever PSA 8.8 that rose to 9.6 in 3 months with a hard node on the right side of the gland detected on DRE. With PSA on track to double in 12 months and the hard node, the doctors were concerned as was I. I chose brachytherapy due to the lack of urinary incontience and lower risk of sexual impotence. The major side effects were initially radiation fatigue, but that got better with time. No urinary issues. Bowel bother included unexpected bowel movement when I urinated, but that has mostly gone away. I developed radiation proctitis and get low volume (< 10 cc) mucous-like anal discharges that I do not feel. I also get diarrhea more frequently, sometimes with little or no warning, but Immodium (Loparamide HCl, 2mg) takes care of that. Erections still happen but take more mental and phsical stimulatoin and happen less frequently than before. I still get by without need of ED pills.

After brachytherapy, my PSA took a nose dive. It was 9.6 at treatment and 30 days later it was 4.7 and at 4 months it was 1.4 - at 7 mnths it was 1.0 - at 10 months it was 0.7 - at 1 year it was 0.7 - at 18 months it was 0.42 - at 2 years it was 0.17 - and at 2-1/2 years it is now 0.10. Since radiation kills as cells divide, my cancer was obviously dividing rapidly and was not the slow growing indolent variety.

Jim's e-mail address is: jmccarthy AT quadexllc.com (replace "AT" with "@")

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