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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Prostate Cancer / July 2006PSA Result, 5 years after seeding
Just got my 5 year PSA result, 5 years after seeding..... <0.1. It took me 2.5 years to get to <0.1, and I have held there for the last 2.5 years. My urologist said "you won, you're home free!" I still have to get yearly PSA tests, up to now I had one every 6 months. I think I'll celebrate! I was diagnosed Jan, 2001 as T1c, Gleason 3+3=6, at age 59. I had 111 Pd103 seeds implanted by Dr. Daniel Clark at INOVA, Alexandria VA, on 5/17/01. On reexamination of my biopsy slides, Dr Clark judged my cancer to be Gleason 3+4=7. I had no other treatment, ie, no EBRT or hormones. Paul Ketterer Yeah, but Paul, now you're six years older. :-) Way to go guy. Cheers Lee O. > Just got my 5 year PSA result, 5 years after seeding..... <0.1. It took me > 2.5 years to get to <0.1, and I have held there for the last 2.5 years. My > urologist said "you won, you're home free!" I still have to get yearly PSA > tests, up to now I had one every 6 months. I think I'll celebrate! > > I was diagnosed Jan, 2001 as T1c, Gleason 3+3=6, at age 59. I had 111 Pd103 > seeds implanted by Dr. Daniel Clark at INOVA, Alexandria VA, on 5/17/01. On > reexamination of my biopsy slides, Dr Clark judged my cancer to be Gleason > 3+4=7. I had no other treatment, ie, no EBRT or hormones. Side Effects?  SignatureGlowing in the Dark I felt great for the first 5 days or so after my seeding. Then I had discomfort sitting for the next few weeks, alleviated by a steroid (Decadron) that I took for about 6 weeks. I urinated frequently, with urgency, from about week 3 to week 7. I had no incontinence, colon or rectal burning or impotence. The seeding regimen at Inova is designed to alleviate side effects as much as possible. For about a week I was on Cipro, Ranitidine and Pyrimidium Plus, and for about a month I was also on Colace. I also took Flomax for 6 months. I was on a strict diet for the first month, then a less restricted one for 2 more months, intended to eliminate urinary irritants. I have been free of side effects altogether since about 2 months after seeding. >> Just got my 5 year PSA result, 5 years after seeding..... <0.1. It took >> me [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > > Side Effects? Congratulations Paul. That is great news. Wishing you undetectables from now on. David S. > Just got my 5 year PSA result, 5 years after seeding..... <0.1. It took me > 2.5 years to get to <0.1, and I have held there for the last 2.5 years. My [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > Paul Ketterer Congratulations, Paul! I'll hoist one on your behalf in celebration. SignatureJerryW Please respond to group; email address is not valid 2/11/04 PSA 2.6, Suspicious DRE (age 62) 2/23/04 Biopsy: Gleason 3+4=7, T2a, left lobe 5/18/04 RRP, Path: Gleason 4+3=7, T2c, both lobes 7/13/04 PSA <0.1 10/12/04 PSA <0.1 1/18/05 PSA <0.1 4/26/05 PSA <0.1 10/13/05 PSA <0.1 3/28/06 PSA <0.1 > Just got my 5 year PSA result, 5 years after seeding..... <0.1. It took > me 2.5 years to get to <0.1, and I have held there for the last 2.5 years. [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > Paul Ketterer Yea! Another great brachytherapy! Paul, I do wish you the rest of your life free from PC. Isn't it a wonderful feeling? It's a wonderful choice for those who fit the criteria. Bev > Just got my 5 year PSA result, 5 years after seeding..... <0.1. It took me > 2.5 years to get to <0.1, and I have held there for the last 2.5 years. My [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > Paul Ketterer Great Paul. Wonderful news. Ron B. Chicago Paul, could I ask you what your psa was when you were diagnosed and before treatment? Thanks. My PSA was 4.4 in June 2001 and 4.3 in Aug 2001. I had no further PSA's > Paul, could I ask you what your psa was when you were diagnosed and before > treatment? Thanks. Correction, those PSA's were in 2000. I was diagnosed in Jan 2001 and seeded in May 2001. > My PSA was 4.4 in June 2001 and 4.3 in Aug 2001. I had no further PSA's >> Paul, could I ask you what your psa was when you were diagnosed and >> before treatment? Thanks. That's fantastic, Paul. You are very likely in the clear! SignaturePSA 16 10/17/2000 @ 46 Biopsy 11/01/2000 G7 (3+4), T2c RRP 12/15/2000 G7 (3+4), T3cN0M0 Neg margins PSA .1 .1 .1 .27 .37 .75 EBRT 05-07/2002 @ 47 PSA .34 .22 .15 .21 .32 Lupron 07/03 (1 mo) 8/03 (4 mo), 12/03, 4/04, 09/04, 01/05, 5/05, 10/05, 2/06 PSA .07 .05 .06 .09 .08 .132 Non Illegitimi Carborundum > Just got my 5 year PSA result, 5 years after seeding..... <0.1. It took > me 2.5 years to get to <0.1, and I have held there for the last 2.5 years. [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > Paul Ketterer > Just got my 5 year PSA result, 5 years after seeding..... <0.1. It took me > 2.5 years to get to <0.1, and I have held there for the last 2.5 years. My [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > Paul Ketterer Excellent news Paul. It does indeed appear that you've won. You didn't mention your PSA at the time of diagnosis. Could you tell us what it is? I've read that brachytherapy as a monotherapy is now only given to men with Gleason <= 6 and PSA <= 10. You apparently were a bit outside those parameters with G=3+4, but it looks like your radiation oncologist did an excellent job. Alan Thanks Allen. During my research, I read that the skill and experience of the doctor was paramont, whatever the treatment. I interviewed several doctors and spoke to men who were treated by them. My first choice was surgery, but the surgeons I spoke to did not want to treat me, based on my heart condition. Since I was a candidate for brachytherapy, I investigated that, and learned that the success rates were comparable to surgery, with fewer side effects and easier recovery. My family doctor was helpful in making my decision, since he had recently investigated PCa treatments for his father. He recommended seeding, put me in touch with patients of his who had surgery or seeding, and was available to answer questions and discuss my choices. My PSA before treatment (Aug, 2000) was 4.3. >> Just got my 5 year PSA result, 5 years after seeding..... <0.1. It took >> me [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > > Alan > Thanks Allen. During my research, I read that the skill and experience of > the doctor was paramont, whatever the treatment. I've read the same thing. There are hospitals in India now that do nothing else except heart bypass surgery for prices that are a small fraction of the cost in the West. I've read that the surgeons have developed so much skill and experience that they rival the best institutions in the U.S., Europe and Japan, and do much better than what you can get in ordinary community hospitals in the "advanced" countries. People, especially uninsured people, from the advanced countries are flocking to Bangalore and similar places to have these surgeries done. > I interviewed several > doctors and spoke to men who were treated by them. My first choice was [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > who had surgery or seeding, and was available to answer questions and > discuss my choices. It sounds like you got good treatment from your family doctor too. No one ever suggested to me that I consult with local patients to find out who to see for treatment. My HMO had a short list of doctors under contract that I could choose from, with no way to figure out who was best. > My PSA before treatment (Aug, 2000) was 4.3. Another good move by your family doctor. He caught it early. Alan > Just got my 5 year PSA result, 5 years after seeding..... <0.1. It took me > 2.5 years to get to <0.1, and I have held there for the last 2.5 years. My [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > Paul Ketterer What was your PSA doing during the 5 years. I was diagnosed T1c, PSA 11, Gleason 4+3=7 at 58. 5 weeks of IMRT followed by 97 palladium 103 in October 2004 also at INOVA. They gave me Lupron for 8 months (the seeding was the 3rd month of the Lupron). My 3 month and 6 month PSA's were <.1 but as the Lupron wore off, my PSA's were: seeding - 0 months. <.1 - 3 months <.1 - 6 months, 2 months after the end of the 4 month Lupron period 0.4 - 9 months, 5 months after the end of the 4 month Lupron period 1.0 - 12 months 1.2 - 15 months 2.2 - 18 months I'm due for the 21 month PSA and am hoping it starts down. My side effects were textbook as were yours. Some urgency and frequency for about a month after seeding, then pretty much normal by the 6'th month. I have unaided erections now and even a half teaspoon of ejaculate. I'm mulling over the whole "bounce" thing. I'm guessing that my rise to 2.2 is a combination of the Lupron wearing off at the same time that the radiation inflamation has its second peak. In fact, just about the time of the 2.2 (18 months), I starting having a "stinging" when pee'ing in the morning. kh asked: What was your PSA doing during the 5 years? Here is my PSA record from before diagnosis to the present. Date -- PSA 02/14/96 -- 1.8 07/22/98 -- 4.3 04/05/00 -- 4.3 10/31/00 -- 4.4 01/02/01 -- Diag., 1 core pos, T1c, Gleason 3+3=6 (reread 3+4=7) 05/17/01 -- seeding, INOVA, 111 Pd103 seeds. 08/02/01 -- 0.5 11/15/01 -- 0.3 03/15/02 -- 0.2 11/19/02 -- 0.1 05/15/03 -- 0.1 11/06/03 -- <0.1 05/13/04 -- <0.1 11/16/04 -- <0.1 05/18/05 -- <0.1 11/18/05 -- <0.1 05/16/06 -- <0.1 >> Just got my 5 year PSA result, 5 years after seeding..... <0.1. It took >> me [quoted text clipped - 45 lines] > In fact, just about the time of the 2.2 (18 months), I starting > having a "stinging" when pee'ing in the morning. > kh asked: What was your PSA doing during the 5 years? > [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > 11/18/05 -- <0.1 > 05/16/06 -- <0.1 Wow! Very nice. Very nice indeed. I'm going the other way and maybe it's mets. I hope not. We gave it our best shot. The good news from my end is that the machinery is working at 90% now. Unfortunately a 2.2 PSA at 18 months is at the high end for bouncing. INOVA has raised the possibility of going under the knife but I think I'd pass on it. Whatever I decide, I'll need to do it by next spring. I'm on COBRA and that runs out in about a year. We'll see. Hang in there kh, and don't assume the worst. I have 2 friends who were treated by seeding (one at INOVA and one in Seattle) who both had a much slower decline in PSA than I did, but who both ended up at <0.1. The doctors at INOVA told me it can take up to 4 years to reach a nadir. >> kh asked: What was your PSA doing during the 5 years? >> [quoted text clipped - 34 lines] > > We'll see. I'm going to cross my fingers for you that the slow increase you see is actually a decline but was originally artificially lowered from using the Lupron and that your next PSA is going to be less than 2.0. Bev > > Just got my 5 year PSA result, 5 years after seeding..... <0.1. It took me > > 2.5 years to get to <0.1, and I have held there for the last 2.5 years. My [quoted text clipped - 39 lines] > In fact, just about the time of the 2.2 (18 months), I starting > having a "stinging" when pee'ing in the morning. |
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