Re: Don M. --Update

[Guest guest]

Interesting posting.  Sounds like you have a plan and are acting on it.  You are remembered in my prayers.  All the best to you.

Coy

 

Hey Everyone,

Well here is an update since my last post. It's bee a little of a roller coaster ride. Just a recap, I was diagnosed at 42 with PCA in 2009. I went to LLUMC (all protons/45 treatemtns) and completed by treatment August 2009. My lowest psa post treatment has been 3.2 (pre treatment 8.6/GS 7, 4+3). First, I want to say choosing proton beam radiation was a personal choice which I don't regret. If I had to do it all over again I would probably still choose protons, especially since we now have a 13 month old baby boy which was total blessing and he wouldn't be possible if I had surgery. In my case it's been confirmed protons didn't kill all the cancer in my prostate. My psa has been bouncing around from the 4-6 range. I had numerous scans including prostascint, pelvi mri, dexa, ct bone scane and there were no signs of cancer. I even had another biopsy wich all came back negative. I was referred initially to my local urologist to Seattle Cancer Care. All they wanted to do is put me on ADT (which is not curative). I then flew backto LLUMC and spoke with my doctor who treated in June (Dr. Bush). After revieiwng my records he believed I had reoccurance. He also suggested I get an endo recto mri. It's a special mri where they insert a coil in the rectum so it gives a better image of the prostate and pelvic region. It's new technology. Anyways, my urologist did his residency at the National Institude of Health (NIH) which is just outside of Washington D.C. in Bethesda, land. My doctor was able to make some calls and before I knew it I was on a flight to NIH with family in tow. Dr. Pinto at NIH team peformed the endo recto mri. The following day the images showed suspicious areas of my prostate. Whats great about this technology is they can perform a guided biopsy directly to the suspicious areas vs a standard biopsy. His team performed the biopsy and a week later back in the Seattle area I get the phone call from Dr. Pinto. Out of 18 cores 8 came back positive. The cancer was still contatined within the prostate (this is a good thing)per the pathology report. However, my gleason score is anywhere from an 7 to 9 (scary). He ordered another nuclear bone scane which came back negative. Dr. Pinto and my decision is to have the prostate, seminel vesicles and lymph nodes in the pelvis removed. I'm ready, no more playing around. I feel this is my only chance for a curative solution. I'm hoping and praying this works (or basically screwed for lack of better words). Again, nothing against protons. It just didn't work for me but then again i'm blessed with a beautiful little boy which would never of happened if I initially had surgery. So i'm hoping i'm taking the longer road for an curative approach..LOL! Any prayers, please send my way. My doctor (Dr. Pinto) at NIH has a very positive outlook which is assuring. Which by the way, if you never been to NIH it's very impressive and I feel i'm going to one of the best facilities in the world. Per my local urologist, Dr. Pinto is a top surgeon in the country so this helps with my optimism. So were off to NIH for 2 weeks. I've been doing alot of running and crossfit help with my recovery time. My surgery is scheduled for October 6th. I'm accepting all prayers , so please don't be shy and send them my way.

Best,

Don M.

[Guest guest]

Thanks for sharing, and your positive outlook!I will pray.maryTo: ProstateCancerSupport Sent: Sunday, September 18, 2011 12:25 AMSubject: Don M. --Update

Hey Everyone,

Well here is an update since my last post. It's bee a little of a roller coaster ride. Just a recap, I was diagnosed at 42 with PCA in 2009. I went to LLUMC (all protons/45 treatemtns) and completed by treatment August 2009. My lowest psa post treatment has been 3.2 (pre treatment 8.6/GS 7, 4+3). First, I want to say choosing proton beam radiation was a personal choice which I don't regret. If I had to do it all over again I would probably still choose protons, especially since we now have a 13 month old baby boy which was total blessing and he wouldn't be possible if I had surgery. In my case it's been confirmed protons didn't kill all the cancer in my prostate. My psa has been bouncing around from the 4-6 range. I had numerous scans including prostascint, pelvi mri, dexa, ct bone scane and there were no signs of cancer. I even had another biopsy wich all came back negative. I was referred initially to my local urologist to Seattle Cancer Care. All

they wanted to do is put me on ADT (which is not curative). I then flew backto LLUMC and spoke with my doctor who treated in June (Dr. Bush). After revieiwng my records he believed I had reoccurance. He also suggested I get an endo recto mri. It's a special mri where they insert a coil in the rectum so it gives a better image of the prostate and pelvic region. It's new technology. Anyways, my urologist did his residency at the National Institude of Health (NIH) which is just outside of Washington D.C. in Bethesda, land. My doctor was able to make some calls and before I knew it I was on a flight to NIH with family in tow. Dr. Pinto at NIH team peformed the endo recto mri. The following day the images showed suspicious areas of my prostate. Whats great about this technology is they can perform a guided biopsy directly to the suspicious areas vs a standard biopsy. His team performed the biopsy and a week later back in the Seattle area I get the phone

call from Dr. Pinto. Out of 18 cores 8 came back positive. The cancer was still contatined within the prostate (this is a good thing)per the pathology report. However, my gleason score is anywhere from an 7 to 9 (scary). He ordered another nuclear bone scane which came back negative. Dr. Pinto and my decision is to have the prostate, seminel vesicles and lymph nodes in the pelvis removed. I'm ready, no more playing around. I feel this is my only chance for a curative solution. I'm hoping and praying this works (or basically screwed for lack of better words). Again, nothing against protons. It just didn't work for me but then again i'm blessed with a beautiful little boy which would never of happened if I initially had surgery. So i'm hoping i'm taking the longer road for an curative approach..LOL! Any prayers, please send my way. My doctor (Dr. Pinto) at NIH has a very positive outlook which is assuring. Which by the way, if you never been to NIH it's

very impressive and I feel i'm going to one of the best facilities in the world. Per my local urologist, Dr. Pinto is a top surgeon in the country so this helps with my optimism. So were off to NIH for 2 weeks. I've been doing alot of running and crossfit help with my recovery time. My surgery is scheduled for October 6th. I'm accepting all prayers , so please don't be shy and send them my way.

Best,

Don M.

[Guest guest]

Don,

Congratulations on the baby. You'll be in my prayers for successful surgery.

Mike

Subject: Don M. --UpdateTo: ProstateCancerSupport Date: Sunday, September 18, 2011, 12:25 AM

Hey Everyone,Well here is an update since my last post. It's bee a little of a roller coaster ride. Just a recap, I was diagnosed at 42 with PCA in 2009. I went to LLUMC (all protons/45 treatemtns) and completed by treatment August 2009. My lowest psa post treatment has been 3.2 (pre treatment 8.6/GS 7, 4+3). First, I want to say choosing proton beam radiation was a personal choice which I don't regret. If I had to do it all over again I would probably still choose protons, especially since we now have a 13 month old baby boy which was total blessing and he wouldn't be possible if I had surgery. In my case it's been confirmed protons didn't kill all the cancer in my prostate. My psa has been bouncing around from the 4-6 range. I had numerous scans including prostascint, pelvi mri, dexa, ct bone scane and there were no signs of cancer. I even had another biopsy wich all came back negative. I was referred initially to my

local urologist to Seattle Cancer Care. All they wanted to do is put me on ADT (which is not curative). I then flew backto LLUMC and spoke with my doctor who treated in June (Dr. Bush). After revieiwng my records he believed I had reoccurance. He also suggested I get an endo recto mri. It's a special mri where they insert a coil in the rectum so it gives a better image of the prostate and pelvic region. It's new technology. Anyways, my urologist did his residency at the National Institude of Health (NIH) which is just outside of Washington D.C. in Bethesda, land. My doctor was able to make some calls and before I knew it I was on a flight to NIH with family in tow. Dr. Pinto at NIH team peformed the endo recto mri. The following day the images showed suspicious areas of my prostate. Whats great about this technology is they can perform a guided biopsy directly to the suspicious areas vs a standard biopsy. His team performed the biopsy and a week

later back in the Seattle area I get the phone call from Dr. Pinto. Out of 18 cores 8 came back positive. The cancer was still contatined within the prostate (this is a good thing)per the pathology report. However, my gleason score is anywhere from an 7 to 9 (scary). He ordered another nuclear bone scane which came back negative. Dr. Pinto and my decision is to have the prostate, seminel vesicles and lymph nodes in the pelvis removed. I'm ready, no more playing around. I feel this is my only chance for a curative solution. I'm hoping and praying this works (or basically screwed for lack of better words). Again, nothing against protons. It just didn't work for me but then again i'm blessed with a beautiful little boy which would never of happened if I initially had surgery. So i'm hoping i'm taking the longer road for an curative approach..LOL! Any prayers, please send my way. My doctor (Dr. Pinto) at NIH has a very positive outlook which is assuring.

Which by the way, if you never been to NIH it's very impressive and I feel i'm going to one of the best facilities in the world. Per my local urologist, Dr. Pinto is a top surgeon in the country so this helps with my optimism. So were off to NIH for 2 weeks. I've been doing alot of running and crossfit help with my recovery time. My surgery is scheduled for October 6th. I'm accepting all prayers , so please don't be shy and send them my way.Best,Don M.------------------------------------There are just two rules for this group 1 No Spam 2 Be kind to othersPlease recognise that Prostate Cancerhas different guises and needs different levels of treatment and in some cases no treatment at all. Some men even with all options offered chose radical options that you would not choose. We only ask that people be informed before choice is made, we cannot and should not tell other members what to

do, other than look at other options. Try to delete old material that is no longer applying when clicking replyTry to change the title if the content requires it