Different ISP - different thought similar on-line handle.
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June 2001 - appt with urologist #1 on referral from PCP
    PSA 10.1 - biopsy showed PCa in right node

Demanded that my PCP arrange for a 2nd opinion with another
urologist (Medicare allows 2nd and 3rd opinions)

Jan. 2002 - PSA 11.0 - identical biopsy report
Urologist #2 wanted immediate RT - I said "NO WAY!" before wedding
(April 20, 2002).

August 2002 - agreed to RT - uro wanted series of HT prior to RT.
Took 1 injection and had horrible SE's.  Searched rxlist.com and
fda.gov and discovered SE's include bone thining (I was already
-2 on DXEA bone density tests), arthritis (including ankylosing
spondylitis which I was dx'd with in 1976), shortness of breath,
and a few others.

Told the uro "NO MORE!"  He stated "OK, we can do RT without HT."
Refered to the hospital's cancer center, had CT (which they can't
interpret because of bone damage from AS), cast made for RT table,
and appointment made for 1st treatment on January 2 at 08:00.
Meanwhile I asked the rad doctor's nurse about support groups.
The bitch's reply was, "That's not our job.  You have to find
them on your own."  (But you can be sure they have dozens of
phamlets for breat cancer support groups.)

Arrived at 07:45, January 2nd, changed into one of those useless
paper gowns, and sat until 08:20 at which time some nut comes into
the waiting room and stated he didn't have me on his appointment
list and he already had someone else on the table.
Walked out, to never return.  The bastards aren't going to be
treating me in that manner.  Meanwhile the hospital fraudulently
billed Medicare and Tricare For Life for 3 non-existant appts.
Returned to uro #2, discussed situation, new PSA was 5.1.  We
agreed to watchful waiting for awhile.  PSA continued to be in
5 to 6 range.

December 2005, uro #2 retires and moves out of state.
Uro #3 takes over practice.  Can't locate any of my medical
records.  His PSA test showed 12.x and withoug any other data
- no Gleason, no Stage - tries to shove me into RT.  Told him
not at Grossmont Hospital and the only thing I'd accept is
seed implant.
Received phone call from Grossmont on referral from uro #3.
Told them to go to hell.  Received phone call from another
group.  Told them I was interested only in seeds.  Appt. made
for for mid-June.  Went in, doctor interested only in the new
(installed prior week) CyberKnife.  Haven't returned.  Next
appt with uro #3, asked him about support groups.  He was the
4th to reply that he knew nothing about local groups, and
suggested I research on my own.   (He also made a 2nd
referral to the Grossmont Hospital cancer center.  Can't
seem to get it though his head that I won't go back there.)

That's when I found this newsgroup - UsToo, NCI, and half a
dozen support groups in the community.  Meeting #2 I received
a recommendation to an oncologist.  I'm like, "what's the
difference between an oncologist and an urologist????"  Wife
and I immediately went to onc's office and made an appointment
for September 11 (yesterday).

That turned into a 3-hour appointment with blood work and lots
of discussion about past medical history.  The 1st doc to show
me charts, explaining Gleason and Stage numbers.  He called me
a PCa "survivor" since it's been 5 years from my 1st dx and 30
years from AS diagnosis - during which time I've lost 8 inches
in heighth and had a very successful THR(L) in summer 2000.

Waiting now for blood-PSA results and have another appt. in
2 months, during which time he'll do his best tracking down
the missing medical records and possibly obtaining the two
biopsy reports from the lab that performed the testing.
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BTW, I'll by 70 in November.  Retired ETCS from Naval
Reserve after 26 years.  10 years PD, 13 years FD.
10-1/2 years part-time instructor local community college.
Retired on disability since 1988 - limited chest expansion
due to fused ribs, very limited ROM due to neck being fused,
and doctors gave me a 10# lifting/carrying restriction.

When my first bone doc in 1983 instructed me to start using
crutches for walking (never recommended a single exercise)
I told him where he could stuff his crutches and joined a
square dance class (I'd dance 1948-1960.  Ex didn't dance
and I stopped.)  So, after a 23-year hiatus, I've began
square dancing again.  Sweet-talked my fiancee into coming
to classes in 2001 and she graduated shortly after we
returned from our honeymoon in 2002.

Maintained 150-155 weight 1976-1996, then it began to creep
up, 160, 165, 170, 175, 180, 190, 195.  I've had luck in
bringing it down to 168, but it's crept back up to 181.
Everytime a doc tries to calculate my weight-heighth ratio,
I ask if he's using my original heighth or the latest.

And how was your day, everyone?