THERE WAS NO RESPONSE TO AN UPDATE REMINDER IN 2016 SO THERE IS NO UPDATE.

We are at the beginning of this journey and very thankful to have found this resource.

Prior to seeing a specialist I was having some difficulty stopping and starting my urine stream. My G.P. perscribed Flomax. After a few months I saw no improvement and he sent me to a Urologist. My first PSA was 1124.

A biopsy was ordered and all 12 of the samples came back positive for cancer. That was on Dec. 12, 2014. At that point my PSA was 1800.

The Urologist ordered a CT scan of my pelvis and abdomen, an x-ray of my lungs and a ful body bone scan. I recieved the results yesterday. My bone scan was clear, my lungs were clear but there were some lymph nodes near my prostate that he said are enlarged and indicate the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes. My Dr. told me the treatment is clear and that treatment is hormone treatment. He perscribed pills that are to be taken each day until Dec. 26th when I will recieve my first injection. I will have these hormone injections every six months. He says this will totally stop any spread and I should expect at least 12 years or more to live. He was surprised that such high PSA numbers could be possible without having spread to my bone but I am very fortunate.

Since my last post I have began hormone therapy and am tolerating it well. I also saw an Oncologist for a second opinion. My Urologist had said I would only need hormone therapy and should expect to live 8 to 12 years. I am sixty four years old. My cancer has escaped the prostate and is in the nearby lymph nodes so I am a stage 4. The Oncologist believes I need a very agressive chemo along with the hormone therapy because with a 1900 PSA I have a very aggressive cancer. He believes my prognosis after both chemo and hormone therapy is 2 to 4 years. Both are excellent doctors and I am doing both therapies and believe that only God knows how long I will live but I am going to do my best to enjoy the good days and get through the bad. In the end I will know I have fought a good battle. I am very optimistic that I have a lot of years ahead of me. I will begin six rounds of chemo this week and I will have them every three weeks. I am taking a sick leave from my work and concentrating on my path forward. I hope this helps someone.