Re: new to group and a question

December 19, 2008

Even though you might wish to get a second opinion on the biopsy samples, there is no reason why the Lupron shots should not be started. If brachytherapy (radiation seed implants) is going to be the treatment of choice, then it will be necessary to shrink the prostate before implantation be made. There has been reports that hormone therapy in conjunction with radiation treatment improves outcome with this form of treatment. The side effects of hormone injection is certainly not something to look forward to, but is something that has to be started before implantation. I was originally going to go with brachytherapy, but when confronted with the prospect of hormone shots, I quickly chose surgery instead. However, in your case, surgery may not be an option.

Louis. . . . .

new to group and a question

Hi,My dad got diagnosed a couple of weeks ago. He got his treatment plan this week. The cancer is apparently a 9 on the Gleeson scale but seems to be contained to the prostate for now. The doctor says it can wait for treatment until Feb but I am really scared. Is it reasonable to wait this long? He has been told he can't have surgery because the prostate is too badly effected, so the proposed treatment is radiation (via three pellets surgically impanted) combined with hormone therapy.Should we be trying to push faster? (I know it is xmas)very worriedSam

December 19, 2008

Even though you might wish to get a second opinion on the biopsy samples, there is no reason why the Lupron shots should not be started. If brachytherapy (radiation seed implants) is going to be the treatment of choice, then it will be necessary to shrink the prostate before implantation be made. There has been reports that hormone therapy in conjunction with radiation treatment improves outcome with this form of treatment. The side effects of hormone injection is certainly not something to look forward to, but is something that has to be started before implantation. I was originally going to go with brachytherapy, but when confronted with the prospect of hormone shots, I quickly chose surgery instead. However, in your case, surgery may not be an option.

Louis. . . . .

new to group and a question

Hi,My dad got diagnosed a couple of weeks ago. He got his treatment plan this week. The cancer is apparently a 9 on the Gleeson scale but seems to be contained to the prostate for now. The doctor says it can wait for treatment until Feb but I am really scared. Is it reasonable to wait this long? He has been told he can't have surgery because the prostate is too badly effected, so the proposed treatment is radiation (via three pellets surgically impanted) combined with hormone therapy.Should we be trying to push faster? (I know it is xmas)very worriedSam

December 19, 2008

Even though you might wish to get a second opinion on the biopsy samples, there is no reason why the Lupron shots should not be started. If brachytherapy (radiation seed implants) is going to be the treatment of choice, then it will be necessary to shrink the prostate before implantation be made. There has been reports that hormone therapy in conjunction with radiation treatment improves outcome with this form of treatment. The side effects of hormone injection is certainly not something to look forward to, but is something that has to be started before implantation. I was originally going to go with brachytherapy, but when confronted with the prospect of hormone shots, I quickly chose surgery instead. However, in your case, surgery may not be an option.

Louis. . . . .

new to group and a question

Hi,My dad got diagnosed a couple of weeks ago. He got his treatment plan this week. The cancer is apparently a 9 on the Gleeson scale but seems to be contained to the prostate for now. The doctor says it can wait for treatment until Feb but I am really scared. Is it reasonable to wait this long? He has been told he can't have surgery because the prostate is too badly effected, so the proposed treatment is radiation (via three pellets surgically impanted) combined with hormone therapy.Should we be trying to push faster? (I know it is xmas)very worriedSam

December 19, 2008

> My dad got diagnosed a couple of weeks ago. He got his treatment plan

> this week. The cancer is apparently a 9 on the Gleeson (sic:

> Gleason) scale but seems to be contained to the prostate for now.

Sorry, but it is probable unless otherwise proven that the PCa (prostate

cancer) is systemic, which is NOT the same as metastatic.

But: how many of the biopsy specimens were classified as G9? I strongly

recommend that Dad (what's his name?)

(1) obtain a copy of the pathology

report

and

(2) have the specimens and paraffin block sent to a specialist

laboratory (see below).

> The doctor says it can wait for treatment until Feb but I am really

> scared. Is it reasonable to wait this long?

I am not a medic and unlike some will not presume to give medical advice.

However, my amateur understanding is that there is not likely to be a

catastrophic development between now and February.

> He has been told he can't have surgery because the prostate is too

> badly effected (sic: affected), so the proposed treatment is

> radiation (via three pellets surgically impanted) combined with

> hormone therapy.

This is called brachytherapy with adjuvant ADT (androgen deprivation

therapy).

> Should we be trying to push faster? (I know it is xmas)

No one here is medically qualified to answer that question, sorry.

> very worried

And rightly so. But a diagnosis of PCa is not a death sentence.

I most earnestly recommend that Dad be encouraged to participate online

rather than to depend upon anyone else, however loving and dedicated to his

welfare. I deeply respect the ladies, wives and daughters mainly, who

post on the

PCa support sites on behalf of their men, but as a practical matter the

direct

participation of the person affected is, quite simply, indispensable.

Here is my essay for the newly-diagnosed:

Anecdotes contributed by other patients can be interesting, but should

never, ever, be relied upon as authority for one's own decisions. In

other words, what helps me might harm you and vice versa.

There is a lot to do.

(1) If applicable, I recommend having the biopsy specimens examined by

a pathology lab that specializes in prostate cancer (PCa). Everything

that is done from here on depends upon the accuracy of the Gleason

scoring. Here is a list of such labs:

Bostwick Laboratories [800] 214-6628

Dianon Laboratories [800] 328-2666 (select 5 for client services)

Jon Epstein (s Hopkins) [410] 955-5043 or [410] 955-2162

Grignon (Michigan) [313] 745-2520

Jon Oppenheimer (Tennessee) [888] 868-7522

UroCor, Inc. [800] 411-1839

This is a " second opinion " and should be covered by insurance/Medicare.

The cost, last I heard, was about $350. More if further tests, which

might be prudent, are ordered.

The chosen lab can give instructions on shipment arrangements.

In civilized jurisdictions, those specimens are the property of the

patient and not the medic, not the lab. Sometimes it is necessary to

educate them on that point.

(2) The authoritative website of the Prostate Cancer Research

Institute (PCRI) at http://prostate-cancer.org/index.html

is an excellent beginning.

See also http://prostate-cancer.org/education/education.html#newly_diagnosed

Some medics who specialize in treatment (tx) of PCa are listed via

this portal: http://prostate-cancer.org/resource/find-a-physician.html

If a particular medic is not suitable due to distance (but there are men

who travel thousands of miles for treatment) or otherwise, there is no

harm and much possible gain in simply asking for a referral.

There are also men whose primary medic is some distance away, but who

receive their routine treatment (tx) near home.

(3) I heartily recommend this comprehensive text on PCa: _A Primer on

Prostate Cancer_ 2nd ed., subtitled " The Empowered Patient's Guide " by

medical oncologist and PCa specialist B. Strum, MD and PCa warrior

Donna Pogliano. It is available from the PCRI website and the like, as

well as Amazon (30+ five-star reviews), & Noble, and

bookstores. A lifesaver, as I very well know.

(4) Personal contact with other patients can be very helpful. Local

chapters of the international support group Us Too can be found via

their website at http://www.ustoo.com/chapter_nearyou.asp

Regards,

Steve J

" Empowerment: taking responsibility for and authority over one's own

outcomes based on education and knowledge of the consequences and

contingencies involved in one's own decisions. This focus provides the

uplifting energy that can sustain in the face of crisis. "

--Donna Pogliano, co-author of _A Primer on Prostate Cancer_, subtitled

" The Empowered Patient's Guide. "

December 19, 2008

> My dad got diagnosed a couple of weeks ago. He got his treatment plan

> this week. The cancer is apparently a 9 on the Gleeson (sic:

> Gleason) scale but seems to be contained to the prostate for now.

Sorry, but it is probable unless otherwise proven that the PCa (prostate

cancer) is systemic, which is NOT the same as metastatic.

But: how many of the biopsy specimens were classified as G9? I strongly

recommend that Dad (what's his name?)

(1) obtain a copy of the pathology

report

and

(2) have the specimens and paraffin block sent to a specialist

laboratory (see below).

> The doctor says it can wait for treatment until Feb but I am really

> scared. Is it reasonable to wait this long?

I am not a medic and unlike some will not presume to give medical advice.

However, my amateur understanding is that there is not likely to be a

catastrophic development between now and February.

> He has been told he can't have surgery because the prostate is too

> badly effected (sic: affected), so the proposed treatment is

> radiation (via three pellets surgically impanted) combined with

> hormone therapy.

This is called brachytherapy with adjuvant ADT (androgen deprivation

therapy).

> Should we be trying to push faster? (I know it is xmas)

No one here is medically qualified to answer that question, sorry.

> very worried

And rightly so. But a diagnosis of PCa is not a death sentence.

I most earnestly recommend that Dad be encouraged to participate online

rather than to depend upon anyone else, however loving and dedicated to his

welfare. I deeply respect the ladies, wives and daughters mainly, who

post on the

PCa support sites on behalf of their men, but as a practical matter the

direct

participation of the person affected is, quite simply, indispensable.

Here is my essay for the newly-diagnosed:

Anecdotes contributed by other patients can be interesting, but should

never, ever, be relied upon as authority for one's own decisions. In

other words, what helps me might harm you and vice versa.

There is a lot to do.

(1) If applicable, I recommend having the biopsy specimens examined by

a pathology lab that specializes in prostate cancer (PCa). Everything

that is done from here on depends upon the accuracy of the Gleason

scoring. Here is a list of such labs:

Bostwick Laboratories [800] 214-6628

Dianon Laboratories [800] 328-2666 (select 5 for client services)

Jon Epstein (s Hopkins) [410] 955-5043 or [410] 955-2162

Grignon (Michigan) [313] 745-2520

Jon Oppenheimer (Tennessee) [888] 868-7522

UroCor, Inc. [800] 411-1839

This is a " second opinion " and should be covered by insurance/Medicare.

The cost, last I heard, was about $350. More if further tests, which

might be prudent, are ordered.

The chosen lab can give instructions on shipment arrangements.

In civilized jurisdictions, those specimens are the property of the

patient and not the medic, not the lab. Sometimes it is necessary to

educate them on that point.

(2) The authoritative website of the Prostate Cancer Research

Institute (PCRI) at http://prostate-cancer.org/index.html

is an excellent beginning.

See also http://prostate-cancer.org/education/education.html#newly_diagnosed

Some medics who specialize in treatment (tx) of PCa are listed via

this portal: http://prostate-cancer.org/resource/find-a-physician.html

If a particular medic is not suitable due to distance (but there are men

who travel thousands of miles for treatment) or otherwise, there is no

harm and much possible gain in simply asking for a referral.

There are also men whose primary medic is some distance away, but who

receive their routine treatment (tx) near home.

(3) I heartily recommend this comprehensive text on PCa: _A Primer on

Prostate Cancer_ 2nd ed., subtitled " The Empowered Patient's Guide " by

medical oncologist and PCa specialist B. Strum, MD and PCa warrior

Donna Pogliano. It is available from the PCRI website and the like, as

well as Amazon (30+ five-star reviews), & Noble, and

bookstores. A lifesaver, as I very well know.

(4) Personal contact with other patients can be very helpful. Local

chapters of the international support group Us Too can be found via

their website at http://www.ustoo.com/chapter_nearyou.asp

Regards,

Steve J

" Empowerment: taking responsibility for and authority over one's own

outcomes based on education and knowledge of the consequences and

contingencies involved in one's own decisions. This focus provides the

uplifting energy that can sustain in the face of crisis. "

--Donna Pogliano, co-author of _A Primer on Prostate Cancer_, subtitled

" The Empowered Patient's Guide. "

December 19, 2008

> My dad got diagnosed a couple of weeks ago. He got his treatment plan

> this week. The cancer is apparently a 9 on the Gleeson (sic:

> Gleason) scale but seems to be contained to the prostate for now.

Sorry, but it is probable unless otherwise proven that the PCa (prostate

cancer) is systemic, which is NOT the same as metastatic.

But: how many of the biopsy specimens were classified as G9? I strongly

recommend that Dad (what's his name?)

(1) obtain a copy of the pathology

report

and

(2) have the specimens and paraffin block sent to a specialist

laboratory (see below).

> The doctor says it can wait for treatment until Feb but I am really

> scared. Is it reasonable to wait this long?

I am not a medic and unlike some will not presume to give medical advice.

However, my amateur understanding is that there is not likely to be a

catastrophic development between now and February.

> He has been told he can't have surgery because the prostate is too

> badly effected (sic: affected), so the proposed treatment is

> radiation (via three pellets surgically impanted) combined with

> hormone therapy.

This is called brachytherapy with adjuvant ADT (androgen deprivation

therapy).

> Should we be trying to push faster? (I know it is xmas)

No one here is medically qualified to answer that question, sorry.

> very worried

And rightly so. But a diagnosis of PCa is not a death sentence.

I most earnestly recommend that Dad be encouraged to participate online

rather than to depend upon anyone else, however loving and dedicated to his

welfare. I deeply respect the ladies, wives and daughters mainly, who

post on the

PCa support sites on behalf of their men, but as a practical matter the

direct

participation of the person affected is, quite simply, indispensable.

Here is my essay for the newly-diagnosed:

Anecdotes contributed by other patients can be interesting, but should

never, ever, be relied upon as authority for one's own decisions. In

other words, what helps me might harm you and vice versa.

There is a lot to do.

(1) If applicable, I recommend having the biopsy specimens examined by

a pathology lab that specializes in prostate cancer (PCa). Everything

that is done from here on depends upon the accuracy of the Gleason

scoring. Here is a list of such labs:

Bostwick Laboratories [800] 214-6628

Dianon Laboratories [800] 328-2666 (select 5 for client services)

Jon Epstein (s Hopkins) [410] 955-5043 or [410] 955-2162

Grignon (Michigan) [313] 745-2520

Jon Oppenheimer (Tennessee) [888] 868-7522

UroCor, Inc. [800] 411-1839

This is a " second opinion " and should be covered by insurance/Medicare.

The cost, last I heard, was about $350. More if further tests, which

might be prudent, are ordered.

The chosen lab can give instructions on shipment arrangements.

In civilized jurisdictions, those specimens are the property of the

patient and not the medic, not the lab. Sometimes it is necessary to

educate them on that point.

(2) The authoritative website of the Prostate Cancer Research

Institute (PCRI) at http://prostate-cancer.org/index.html

is an excellent beginning.

See also http://prostate-cancer.org/education/education.html#newly_diagnosed

Some medics who specialize in treatment (tx) of PCa are listed via

this portal: http://prostate-cancer.org/resource/find-a-physician.html

If a particular medic is not suitable due to distance (but there are men

who travel thousands of miles for treatment) or otherwise, there is no

harm and much possible gain in simply asking for a referral.

There are also men whose primary medic is some distance away, but who

receive their routine treatment (tx) near home.

(3) I heartily recommend this comprehensive text on PCa: _A Primer on

Prostate Cancer_ 2nd ed., subtitled " The Empowered Patient's Guide " by

medical oncologist and PCa specialist B. Strum, MD and PCa warrior

Donna Pogliano. It is available from the PCRI website and the like, as

well as Amazon (30+ five-star reviews), & Noble, and

bookstores. A lifesaver, as I very well know.

(4) Personal contact with other patients can be very helpful. Local

chapters of the international support group Us Too can be found via

their website at http://www.ustoo.com/chapter_nearyou.asp

Regards,

Steve J

" Empowerment: taking responsibility for and authority over one's own

outcomes based on education and knowledge of the consequences and

contingencies involved in one's own decisions. This focus provides the

uplifting energy that can sustain in the face of crisis. "

--Donna Pogliano, co-author of _A Primer on Prostate Cancer_, subtitled

" The Empowered Patient's Guide. "

December 19, 2008

wrote:

> My dad got diagnosed a couple of weeks ago. He got his

> treatment plan this week. The cancer is apparently a 9 on the

> Gleeson scale but seems to be contained to the prostate for

> now. The doctor says it can wait for treatment until Feb but

> I am really scared. Is it reasonable to wait this long?

>

> He has been told he can't have surgery because the prostate is

> too badly effected, so the proposed treatment is radiation

> (via three pellets surgically impanted) combined with hormone

> therapy.

>

> Should we be trying to push faster? (I know it is xmas)

Sam,

I'm assuming that your Dad is not yet known to have metastatic

cancer and that the treatment he is getting is aimed at the

prostate. What I say in the following assumes that. If that's

wrong, then what I say below doesn't apply.

When a doctor combines radiation and hormone therapy, he or she

usually administers the hormone therapy first. That is usually

done with Casodex or similar pills, followed by an injection of

Lupron or some similar drug.

Has that been done yet? If not, you could push for that. It

doesn't even require a doctor's visit. He can get your Dad a

prescription for the Casodex pills and schedule an appointment

(often done 1-2 weeks after the Casodex starts and has taken

effect) for the Lupron (or whatever) injection.

Once the drugs begin, the treatment has started. The drugs will

suppress and even shrink the cancer for a considerable period of

time, so your Dad will probably not get worse before February.

In fact, the opposite will likely be true. The cancer will be

damaged somewhat by the drugs and the prostate will be shrunken

so that when the radiation starts it will have more cancer

killing power than it would if it were administered now. In

other words, radiation in February will be more effective than

radiation now and your Dad will not get worse while he's

waiting.

The treatment you described sounds a little odd. You or your

Dad may not have gotten the details accurately. When

radioactive seeds are used there are usually many more than

three, though sometimes only about three seeds are used when

they are not radioactive but are used instead as x-ray

location targets for external beam radiation. For Gleason 9

cancers, some external beam radiation is usually used because it

can treat the area around the prostate as well as the prostate

itself.

As you probably know, Gleason 9 cancers are very serious. Your

Dad's chances of a " cure " may not be better than 50/50. But

even if the treatment doesn't cure him, hormone therapy can be

used to hold the cancer in check for some time. How long it

works depends on the particular cancer. Each patient is

different.

The only real question I have for you is whether your Dad is

comfortable with the doctor who will be treating him. It is

important to get a good radiation oncologist who has a lot of

knowledge and experience with prostate cancer. If your Dad has

any doubts, and maybe even if he doesn't, it wouldn't be a bad

idea to ask about a second opinion. Once the hormone therapy

starts he'll have some time to think things over and take the

best course he can.

In the meantime, if you or he want to learn more about prostate

cancer, there are some very good introductory videos at Dr.

Gerald Chodak's website at:

http://www.prostatevideos.com/

And lots of good information at:

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/prostate

http://www.yananow.net/

http://www.prostate-cancer.org/

and elsewhere on the web.

Best of luck to you and your Dad.

Alan

December 19, 2008

wrote:

> My dad got diagnosed a couple of weeks ago. He got his

> treatment plan this week. The cancer is apparently a 9 on the

> Gleeson scale but seems to be contained to the prostate for

> now. The doctor says it can wait for treatment until Feb but

> I am really scared. Is it reasonable to wait this long?

>

> He has been told he can't have surgery because the prostate is

> too badly effected, so the proposed treatment is radiation

> (via three pellets surgically impanted) combined with hormone

> therapy.

>

> Should we be trying to push faster? (I know it is xmas)

Sam,

I'm assuming that your Dad is not yet known to have metastatic

cancer and that the treatment he is getting is aimed at the

prostate. What I say in the following assumes that. If that's

wrong, then what I say below doesn't apply.

When a doctor combines radiation and hormone therapy, he or she

usually administers the hormone therapy first. That is usually

done with Casodex or similar pills, followed by an injection of

Lupron or some similar drug.

Has that been done yet? If not, you could push for that. It

doesn't even require a doctor's visit. He can get your Dad a

prescription for the Casodex pills and schedule an appointment

(often done 1-2 weeks after the Casodex starts and has taken

effect) for the Lupron (or whatever) injection.

Once the drugs begin, the treatment has started. The drugs will

suppress and even shrink the cancer for a considerable period of

time, so your Dad will probably not get worse before February.

In fact, the opposite will likely be true. The cancer will be

damaged somewhat by the drugs and the prostate will be shrunken

so that when the radiation starts it will have more cancer

killing power than it would if it were administered now. In

other words, radiation in February will be more effective than

radiation now and your Dad will not get worse while he's

waiting.

The treatment you described sounds a little odd. You or your

Dad may not have gotten the details accurately. When

radioactive seeds are used there are usually many more than

three, though sometimes only about three seeds are used when

they are not radioactive but are used instead as x-ray

location targets for external beam radiation. For Gleason 9

cancers, some external beam radiation is usually used because it

can treat the area around the prostate as well as the prostate

itself.

As you probably know, Gleason 9 cancers are very serious. Your

Dad's chances of a " cure " may not be better than 50/50. But

even if the treatment doesn't cure him, hormone therapy can be

used to hold the cancer in check for some time. How long it

works depends on the particular cancer. Each patient is

different.

The only real question I have for you is whether your Dad is

comfortable with the doctor who will be treating him. It is

important to get a good radiation oncologist who has a lot of

knowledge and experience with prostate cancer. If your Dad has

any doubts, and maybe even if he doesn't, it wouldn't be a bad

idea to ask about a second opinion. Once the hormone therapy

starts he'll have some time to think things over and take the

best course he can.

In the meantime, if you or he want to learn more about prostate

cancer, there are some very good introductory videos at Dr.

Gerald Chodak's website at:

http://www.prostatevideos.com/

And lots of good information at:

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/prostate

http://www.yananow.net/

http://www.prostate-cancer.org/

and elsewhere on the web.

Best of luck to you and your Dad.

Alan

December 19, 2008

wrote:

> My dad got diagnosed a couple of weeks ago. He got his

> treatment plan this week. The cancer is apparently a 9 on the

> Gleeson scale but seems to be contained to the prostate for

> now. The doctor says it can wait for treatment until Feb but

> I am really scared. Is it reasonable to wait this long?

>

> He has been told he can't have surgery because the prostate is

> too badly effected, so the proposed treatment is radiation

> (via three pellets surgically impanted) combined with hormone

> therapy.

>

> Should we be trying to push faster? (I know it is xmas)

Sam,

I'm assuming that your Dad is not yet known to have metastatic

cancer and that the treatment he is getting is aimed at the

prostate. What I say in the following assumes that. If that's

wrong, then what I say below doesn't apply.

When a doctor combines radiation and hormone therapy, he or she

usually administers the hormone therapy first. That is usually

done with Casodex or similar pills, followed by an injection of

Lupron or some similar drug.

Has that been done yet? If not, you could push for that. It

doesn't even require a doctor's visit. He can get your Dad a

prescription for the Casodex pills and schedule an appointment

(often done 1-2 weeks after the Casodex starts and has taken

effect) for the Lupron (or whatever) injection.

Once the drugs begin, the treatment has started. The drugs will

suppress and even shrink the cancer for a considerable period of

time, so your Dad will probably not get worse before February.

In fact, the opposite will likely be true. The cancer will be

damaged somewhat by the drugs and the prostate will be shrunken

so that when the radiation starts it will have more cancer

killing power than it would if it were administered now. In

other words, radiation in February will be more effective than

radiation now and your Dad will not get worse while he's

waiting.

The treatment you described sounds a little odd. You or your

Dad may not have gotten the details accurately. When

radioactive seeds are used there are usually many more than

three, though sometimes only about three seeds are used when

they are not radioactive but are used instead as x-ray

location targets for external beam radiation. For Gleason 9

cancers, some external beam radiation is usually used because it

can treat the area around the prostate as well as the prostate

itself.

As you probably know, Gleason 9 cancers are very serious. Your

Dad's chances of a " cure " may not be better than 50/50. But

even if the treatment doesn't cure him, hormone therapy can be

used to hold the cancer in check for some time. How long it

works depends on the particular cancer. Each patient is

different.

The only real question I have for you is whether your Dad is

comfortable with the doctor who will be treating him. It is

important to get a good radiation oncologist who has a lot of

knowledge and experience with prostate cancer. If your Dad has

any doubts, and maybe even if he doesn't, it wouldn't be a bad

idea to ask about a second opinion. Once the hormone therapy

starts he'll have some time to think things over and take the

best course he can.

In the meantime, if you or he want to learn more about prostate

cancer, there are some very good introductory videos at Dr.

Gerald Chodak's website at:

http://www.prostatevideos.com/

And lots of good information at:

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/prostate

http://www.yananow.net/

http://www.prostate-cancer.org/

and elsewhere on the web.

Best of luck to you and your Dad.

Alan

December 19, 2008

Thank you for your advice.

I realise this is Dad's (Bruce's) issue to deal with in his own way

and we may well have the details on the treatment a little off (from

your messages perhaps it is 3 glass vials of pellets?).

It is all pretty scary and happened quickly. (He was in for a hearing

check and described some symptoms in passing (that he had checked by

another doctor) when his ear specialist asked for permission to sent

him to the prostate specialist next door.) He seems very comfortable

with the doctor, and grateful that to date things have moved quickly.

His doctor is a prostate specialise and wants to send him to a

bladder specialist late in Jan followed by treatment early Feb.

9 of the core samples taken had cancer in them (I am not sure how

many were taken, but I think it was 11 or 13)

The full body and bone scans showed no signs yet of cancer elsewhere.

As to my spelling... I was always better at maths, sorry.

Sam

December 19, 2008

Sorry to hear about your Dad, . You’ve

got some good advice so far from others on this site.

In answer to your specific question <snip>

Should we be trying to push faster? <snip> The answer is that although it

is difficult to be certain, because we are not your father’s doctors and

we do not have any detailed information of his diagnosis, it is unlikely that

there will be any substantial change in your Dad’s condition between now

and February, especially if he is having the ADT (Androgen Deprivation Therapy)

[which is the technical term for hormone therapy] before his radiation therapy.

Here are three suggestions for you, which

may help to calm your worry a little:

Go

along to my website YANA – You Are

Not Alone Now at http://www.yananow.net

which is specifically set up for newly diagnosed men and their family and

go through the site, page by page. That will get you some basic facts,

which I am sure will help oyu.

Your

Dad, if he doesn’t use a computer, might lke to read the booklet I

wrote, which I called A Strange Place which yo can find on the site here http://www.yananow.net/StrangePlace/index.html

As you will see there is a pdf version for easy printing, but I also have

some hard copies which I am happy to mail out if that would be easier for

you.

Finally,

you might find it helpful to join the special Ladies

Only Forum at http://www.ladies-prostate-forum.org/ladies/ for the

womenfolk of men with prostate cancer. It is closed to men so I

can’t verify the quality of the discussions, but from all reports

the women who go there get tremendous support, and you’ll probably

find some other daughters there.

But in any event, please

post some details of your Dad’s diagnosis – Age, PSAs leading up to

the diagnosis, Gleason Score and Staging (these terms are all explained on the YANA site) and any questions you might have. Just

remember – there are no dumb questions. We all started off where you are

now, but we’ve collectively learned a lot over the years.

All the best

Terry Herbert

I have no medical

qualifications but I was diagnosed in ‘96: and have learned a bit since

then.

My sites are at www.yananow.net and www.prostatecancerwatchfulwaiting.co.za

Dr

“Snuffy” Myers : " As a physician, I am painfully aware that most of

the decisions we make with regard to prostate cancer are made with inadequate

data "

From: ProstateCancerSupport [mailto:ProstateCancerSupport ] On Behalf Of

Sent: Saturday, 20 December 2008

10:32 AM

To: ProstateCancerSupport

Subject:

new to group and a question

Hi,

My dad got diagnosed a couple of weeks ago. He got his treatment plan

this week. The cancer is apparently a 9 on the Gleeson scale but seems

to be contained to the prostate for now. The doctor says it can wait

for treatment until Feb but I am really scared. Is it reasonable to

wait this long?

He has been told he can't have surgery because the prostate is too

badly effected, so the proposed treatment is radiation (via three

pellets surgically impanted) combined with hormone therapy.

Should we be trying to push faster? (I know it is xmas)

very worried

Sam

December 19, 2008

Sorry to hear about your Dad, . You’ve

got some good advice so far from others on this site.

In answer to your specific question <snip>

Should we be trying to push faster? <snip> The answer is that although it

is difficult to be certain, because we are not your father’s doctors and

we do not have any detailed information of his diagnosis, it is unlikely that

there will be any substantial change in your Dad’s condition between now

and February, especially if he is having the ADT (Androgen Deprivation Therapy)

[which is the technical term for hormone therapy] before his radiation therapy.

Here are three suggestions for you, which

may help to calm your worry a little:

Go

along to my website YANA – You Are

Not Alone Now at http://www.yananow.net

which is specifically set up for newly diagnosed men and their family and

go through the site, page by page. That will get you some basic facts,

which I am sure will help oyu.

Your

Dad, if he doesn’t use a computer, might lke to read the booklet I

wrote, which I called A Strange Place which yo can find on the site here http://www.yananow.net/StrangePlace/index.html

As you will see there is a pdf version for easy printing, but I also have

some hard copies which I am happy to mail out if that would be easier for

you.

Finally,

you might find it helpful to join the special Ladies

Only Forum at http://www.ladies-prostate-forum.org/ladies/ for the

womenfolk of men with prostate cancer. It is closed to men so I

can’t verify the quality of the discussions, but from all reports

the women who go there get tremendous support, and you’ll probably

find some other daughters there.

But in any event, please

post some details of your Dad’s diagnosis – Age, PSAs leading up to

the diagnosis, Gleason Score and Staging (these terms are all explained on the YANA site) and any questions you might have. Just

remember – there are no dumb questions. We all started off where you are

now, but we’ve collectively learned a lot over the years.

All the best

Terry Herbert

I have no medical

qualifications but I was diagnosed in ‘96: and have learned a bit since

then.

My sites are at www.yananow.net and www.prostatecancerwatchfulwaiting.co.za

Dr

“Snuffy” Myers : " As a physician, I am painfully aware that most of

the decisions we make with regard to prostate cancer are made with inadequate

data "

From: ProstateCancerSupport [mailto:ProstateCancerSupport ] On Behalf Of

Sent: Saturday, 20 December 2008

10:32 AM

To: ProstateCancerSupport

Subject:

new to group and a question

Hi,

My dad got diagnosed a couple of weeks ago. He got his treatment plan

this week. The cancer is apparently a 9 on the Gleeson scale but seems

to be contained to the prostate for now. The doctor says it can wait

for treatment until Feb but I am really scared. Is it reasonable to

wait this long?

He has been told he can't have surgery because the prostate is too

badly effected, so the proposed treatment is radiation (via three

pellets surgically impanted) combined with hormone therapy.

Should we be trying to push faster? (I know it is xmas)

very worried

Sam

December 19, 2008

>dear samantha,

learnedn about the condition of the father, nothing to worry about

prostate cancer, two years before i was daignosed with prostate

cancer glycen score of 7 and PSAwith 48ng then i decided to go for

IMRT i had it with zoladen injections and every thing has come to

normal if psa is increased we can think of orchidectomy even after

normal i preferred orchidectomy to reduce the testosteron content in

the body go for radiation first and many other ways to fight

prostate ca so dont worry i am living there is no worry for any

thing . worry kills us not deseaase.

fegards have faith on god.

> Hi,

>

> My dad got diagnosed a couple of weeks ago. He got his treatment

plan

> this week. The cancer is apparently a 9 on the Gleeson scale but

seems

> to be contained to the prostate for now. The doctor says it can

wait

> for treatment until Feb but I am really scared. Is it reasonable

to

> wait this long?

>

> He has been told he can't have surgery because the prostate is too

> badly effected, so the proposed treatment is radiation (via three

> pellets surgically impanted) combined with hormone therapy.

>

> Should we be trying to push faster? (I know it is xmas)

>

> very worried

> Sam

>

December 20, 2008

Sam: Your spelling is a lot better than my math. With 9 of 12 samples

positive and a Gleason 9 your dad does have a pretty serious

condition. Thank goodness it was discovered as early as it was. Much

advancement in PCa in just the last several years and at this point he

does have a real good shot at a cure and many years ahead. One thing

as to the timing of treatment: most times after a biopsy it's

necessary to wait a month or six weeks to let the gland heal and to

let the hormone treatment take its course. I was diagnosed in Nov. and

had surgery in Feb. No hurry. Hard to enjoy the holidays for sure.

Here's hoping for a successful outcome!

December 20, 2008