Prostate Cancer

[ChattanoogaTn]

Once again asking for help. Have become friends with older gentleman that is moving into retirement home and now after buying his Villa learned today that he has been diagnosed with Prostate Cancer and was at a loss for words in what to say. As all of us males have a hidden fear of this "inevitible" dreaded disease I was wondering if there is someone that can help in maybe discussing his options of if one procedure is better than another.

I was told I had it after having PSA of 8 last year and after more test was told "they were wrong" and that I did not have it. Believe me that will certainly make you realize how we all take life for granted and "appreciate" waking up each new day.

I realize this may not be the "forum" or the correct place to ask for help in answering questions for my new friend but since I will be leaving next week and closing on our new home next week, I would like to see if anyone can help in hopefully talking and answering questions to him.

Maybe he won't talk to anyone but I know I would like to hear advice and hear from others that might can suggest options. I hope he will also.

Thanks again.... Bad things always seem to happen to the best people :shrug:

[chachacha]

this is not as fun a topic as decorating...i am sorry about your friend. one good thing about getting older is that our cells do not multiply as fast and sometimes prostate cancer in an older gentleman grows so slowly as to not be life threatening...on the other hand, if his doctor says he must do something about it, i am of the slightly educated opinion that the seeding procedure is a good substitute for surgery. a friend of mine had radiation which hit the wrong area and caused him more harm than the cancer itself...so i hope he will consult a few specialists and weigh all his options.

[F16 1UB]

Just talked to my neighbor today. He said results came back from the va that he too had a "low level form" of prostate cancer. They will call him back for more blood work and make a decision on what to do in the next 3 months. He said his numbers all looked great. :undecided:

[babbs455]

so sorry to hear of your friend. my father had Prostate cancer about 10 years ago only his was pretty advanced before they found it. The cancer pretty much stayed in the prostate area however was just starting to go up over the wall and out of the area. he had surgery and is still clean today with low psa levels but do not let it wait. the longer you wait the more it will get out of hand and the chance you lose more functions of other things...if you know what I mean. best of luck for your friend...
prayers going out to him
barbara

[rshoffer]

There is a very active prostate ca support group here in TV. I have the info at my office and will pass it on Wed.

[graciegirl]

All of you have given excellent advice. ChaCha hit the nail on the head. I am not a health professional but I think I remember reading lately that PSA levels were not as helpful as once thought in diagnosing prostrate cancer. I think Dr. Hoffers information on a support group is excellent, a way to gain support and information.

I am sad to hear of your friends diagnosis. One of the few down sides of an otherwise perfect time of life is the onslaught of illness that appears just because we have lived a long time.

New research is happening all of the time. I hope I live long enough to see Cancer beat!!

[ChattanoogaTn]

Thank you all for the information and I wasn't aware of the "Support Group" as I am sure that would be beneficial as would cover most topics.

Can't believe how "The Villagers" stick together and come thru in helping others. Too bad it took my wife so long to retire....

Can't wiat to meet others, enjoy life for the 1st time and get involved. Like they say having grandchildrem "first" I wished that we had started out "here" first and then started working. I am sure it would have made me a better person.

I will share your information concerning what you had mentioned in your articles as well as the support forum. Thank you again for your help.

[Bogie Shooter]

Thank you all for the information and I wasn't aware of the "Support Group" as I am sure that would be beneficial as would cover most topics.

Can't believe how "The Villagers" stick together and come thru in helping others. Too bad it took my wife so long to retire....

Can't wiat to meet others, enjoy life for the 1st time and get involved. Like they say having grandchildrem "first" I wished that we had started out "here" first and then started working. I am sure it would have made me a better person.

I will share your information concerning what you had mentioned in your articles as well as the support forum. Thank you again for your help.

I had the surgery last July, all went well and recovery was excellant. I would add there is a wealth of information on the internet.

[jose esteves]

have operation 6 month ago !! prostate remove.all working normal only light
dripins. psa went to 5.6 before operation after .003. cancer was 20%
and was encapsulated.I am lucky

[dadspet]

I went to RCOG in Atlanta Ga. The experience was very positive and in many ways unbelievable for both me and my wife. They do a combination of seeds and radiation with results published in medical journals that are equal or better then John Hopkins "Gold Standard" with less complication.

You can get more information and a DVD and booklet at

http://www.rcog.net/

They track you every 6 months on everything from PSA, sexual issues and complications.

[iaudit]

I also had seeds and radiation done five years ago, but mine was done by Dr. Michael Dattoli in Sarasota. I currently have an undetectable PSA and am followed on a yearly basis by Dr. Dattoli and also by Dr. Charles Myers.

Here are some links for prostate cancers sites:

Dr. Dattoli
http://www.dattoli.com/

Dr. Charles Myers in Charlottesville, Virginia - top guru specializing in prostate cancer.
http://www.prostateforum.com/about-dr-myers.html

Prostate Cancer Research Institute
http://prostate-cancer.org/

Dr. Stephen Strum - another guru specializing
http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2004/dec2004_profile_strum_01.htm

My main recommendation is to go to an expert facility that does nothing but prostate cancer. The top radiation sites are:

Dr. Dattoli in Sarasota
Dr. Hamilton Williams (formerly with RCOG) in Atlanta
http://www.radoncatlanta.com/

RCOG in Atlanta

Top surgeons are:
Johns Hopkins - Dr. Ballantine Carter & Dr. Walsh
Chicago - Dr. Catalona
New York - Dr. Scardino

Hope this helps.

[ChattanoogaTn]

Thank you Thank you Thank you as I will go to the Savannah Center and print out each letter. I know he will appreciate them and ..... all the +++ comments as to recovery. I know it made "me" feel better

Thanks

[CaribbeanAl]

I had a Radical 1997- 2 mo recovery-
Now- Testing MR. ZERO !!!
Have a friend that recently had it done Laproscopically or Robodically (sp?)
Cut & back to work in a week
Last SEPT I went to a MAN TO MAN PC Support group in TV-
Meets once a month
Fabulous "Life Changing" support & discussion on vitamin therapy for PC:
CQ10, Selenium, E, etc
Will be in TV Aug & Sept & will go again
Good luck !!!

[CaribbeanAl]

Once again asking for help. Have become friends with older gentleman that is moving into retirement home and now after buying his Villa learned today that he has been diagnosed with Prostate Cancer and was at a loss for words in what to say. As all of us males have a hidden fear of this "inevitible" dreaded disease I was wondering if there is someone that can help in maybe discussing his options of if one procedure is better than another.

I was told I had it after having PSA of 8 last year and after more test was told "they were wrong" and that I did not have it. Believe me that will certainly make you realize how we all take life for granted and "appreciate" waking up each new day.

I realize this may not be the "forum" or the correct place to ask for help in answering questions for my new friend but since I will be leaving next week and closing on our new home next week, I would like to see if anyone can help in hopefully talking and answering questions to him.

Maybe he won't talk to anyone but I know I would like to hear advice and hear from others that might can suggest options. I hope he will also.

Thanks again.... Bad things always seem to happen to the best people :shrug:

When deciding which course to take, the big dicision point is the AGE of your friend-
PC is slow growing - Current thinking is to not even be PSA tested later in life, I think it's 75

[LELANDJANE]

When deciding which course to take, the big dicision point is the AGE of your friend-
PC is slow growing - Current thinking is to not even be PSA tested later in life, I think it's 75

Not all pc is slow growing. Some types are very aggressive. Doctors know after initial testing.

[TCLaD]

Had the robotic surgey 2 years ago, wouldn't do it any other way. I was back to golfing, and work in 10 days. All is well now, PSA is undedectable. I am 61 now and look forward to cancer free years for anoth 60 years.

[Freeda]

All of you have given excellent advice. ChaCha hit the nail on the head. I am not a health professional but I think I remember reading lately that PSA levels were not as helpful as once thought in diagnosing prostrate cancer. I think Dr. Hoffers information on a support group is excellent, a way to gain support and information.

I am sad to hear of your friends diagnosis. One of the few down sides of an otherwise perfect time of life is the onslaught of illness that appears just because we have lived a long time.

New research is happening all of the time. I hope I live long enough to see Cancer beat!!
Illness does not come just as an inevitability because of our having lived a long time. Our bodies were designed to be able to live long, and in good health, with a sudden, quick decline at the natural end of life's span. Illness (with our symptoms being only the eventual outward manifestations of a once-silent, chronically progressing process of tissue damage, just as an iceberg, once unseen, eventually appears above sea level) comes because of lack of adequate nutrient intakes to keep tissues healthy, or to allow them to heal themselves if they have become unhealthy. The more damaging influences we expose our bodies to, the higher level of nutrients necessary to neutralize the damage, and to allow tissue healing to occur; thus, it is important to not only nourish the body, but to avoid toxins and other damaging exposures, which is more and more a challenge in our modernized world; hence, the large number of oncologists, cardiologists, allergists, etc, in our area. The body has an inherent ability to heal itself, given sufficient wherewithal with which to do it.

[hdh1470]

Anyone that can tell me the type of treatment they had and how it went,also when the support group meets in tv. I will be down 8/13-8/19 to look for homes. Thanks for your help

[bigbill]

Had a radical in 1999. Iwas 51 at the time I will agree with everything Caribean Man has stated as to length of recovery etc.
For everything that I have read robotic surgery is the way to go if that is what you choose. Have never been a fan of radiation treatment but it is a personal choice.At the time and considering my age surgery seemed the right choice and I have no regrets. .01 PSA since 1999.

[joannej]

Thank you Thank you Thank you as I will go to the Savannah Center and print out each letter. I know he will appreciate them and ..... all the +++ comments as to recovery. I know it made "me" feel better

Thanks
_________________________________
Rather than printing out each comment individually, copy & paste each comment into a WORD-type program document file or any document file program you may use. You will not waste so much paper and everything will be condensed into one file. :icon_wink:

[hdh1470]

Had robotic surgery 9/22/09 and have been back to normal for a few weeks I would say better then before no getting up all night

[RVRoadie]

A friend of mine went through radiation treatment in 2008, and blogged about it here (http://prostatecancer-imrt.blogspot.com/search/label/IMRT%20experience).