THERE WAS NO RESPONSE TO AN UPDATE REMINDER IN 2014 SO THERE IS NO UPDATE.
Really have no experiences at this time. Just getting over the initial fear and trying to learn as much as I can so I can make an educated decision on treatment.
[Update March 31, 2003]: Larry is 60 years of age now and still has continued with Watchful Waiting as his treatment of choice. His PSA is now 2.4.
The update to his story:
My PSA was 6.1 in February and went down to 2.65 in March. My doctor thought they had made a mistake at the lab and had me come back in the same day to draw more blood. They drew three vials and tested two of them in two different labs in Rapid City, SD. Both results came back 2.65. They sent the third vial to a lab in Salt Lake City, UT. It came back 2.4 with a prognosis that there was a 72% chance that I was cancer free!!! I am still working my five-point program:
- Healthy eating with an emphasis on fresh fruits and vegetables.
- Lots of nutritional supplements - If I believe their research I buy the supplement!
- Exercise, I walk daily doing about 25-30 miles per week and use the Bow Flex three times per week for about 50 min. each time. I am buying a bike next week.
- A super positive attitude. I believe that I am cancer free right now!
- Lots of prayer, mine and all of my friends.
I am doing monthly PSA's and will have a cat scan with my next PSA. Thanks to YANA and all of your support I will live for another 60 years!
I've had a long, difficult seven months as I was in a bicycle-RV accident. Yes, I was on the bike.
I suffered a concussion, punctured lung, eight broken ribs, some with multiple breaks, two breaks on my scapula, and a dislocated shoulder. I ended up with some severe depression also. I spent 19 days in the hospital, four and one-half months at home.
The reason for sharing this is that I basically forgot all about my prostate cancer. I went off my supplements,didn't stay on my diet and did not exercise. I lost 33 pounds in the hospital and my main concern was to put on some weight.
I visited with my cancer doctor on Friday, March 19. He was pleased with my PSA and said my cancer tumor was smaller. I am back on my good eating habits, supplements and exercise. I am walking four miles per day, doing the bow-flex, and road my bike for 11 miles today-the first time since the accident. My positive attitude is back and I am going to lick the PC thing!
I noticed that the part of my story about my near fatal bicycle accident on August 21, 2003 has been deleted. A by product of my bike accident was severe depression.
Because of the depression and the fact that my PSA was slowly going up -only 3, but all this caused me to go and go through tomotherapy in the summer of 2004. [Tomotherapy is a form of External Beam Radiation Therapy better known as IMRT - intensity modulated radiotherapy.]
I ended my 28 treatments on August 21, 2004 After one month my PSA was 0.95 and after 4 months it was 0.49. I do not go back to my doctor for another 6 months.
The only negative I am going through is no sex live, but that could be caused by the anti-depressants I am taking and have nothing to do with the tomotherapy. I am going to live for another 60 years!
I have healed up from my bicycle accident and my PSA continues to go down. I am going to see my Cancer doctor at the end of this month.
I am in great physical and mental shape and my only negative is ER. I will survive that!!
I went from watchful waiting to radiation therapy and am 100% healthy. Thanks goes to YANA and the knowledge and support I received.
My PSA was less than 0.1 when I was last tested in Nov. I still have ED and some plumbing problems---get up too often at night to use the bathroom? My problems are very minimal and am living a great life. I sincerely appreciate the support that I received from YANA and I hope that all of you keep the faith.
Larry Luitjens.
My doctor told me he couldn't tell me I was cured, but I was. Life is good!
My latest PSA was less than 0.1. It was like my Dr. said, "I can't tell you that you are cured, but you are!"
I am well enough that they have started me on testosterone for my lupus. Because of the lupus I have no energy, am very fatigued, not real fired up, and have lots of aches and pains. I have been on the testostorone for about 10 days and already feel the energy coming back. They used to be concerned about testostorone and prostate cancer, but even though I will be monitored "I am cured" and there was little concern. To be able to feel that you have kicked the BIG C in the butt is a great feeling.
Hey, it is Christmas and I am so happy to be able to share it with my lovely grand daughters, Brooke, 13 and Somer, 10.
God Bless, Larry
I am basically cancer free. I have the ED, and have lupus, but I am doing very well With the PC. Thanks YANA for all of your help and support.
Larry's e-mail address is: lluitjens AT afspe.com (replace "AT" with "@")
NOTE: Larry has not updated his story for more than 15 months, so you may not receive any response from him.
