The journey thr
ough the advanced prostate cancer diagnosis has taken us to one more physician, Dr. Julie Forstner at the Metro Cancer Center. She did an exam and asked dozens of questions to decide at what level and at what times the hormone treatments starts and ends. She also needs data to determine when the external beam radiation begins. The hormones stop the growth and the radiation kills the existing cancer; it is not that simple, but generally that’s how it works.
To be honest, I was a bit questioning of a young lady doctor for prostate cancer treatment, but damn, she attacked the problem full throttle. She set up a treatment regimen, four procedures in the first week. She is personally coordinating all aspects of the plan, not just handing it off to subordinates.
She took my case to a board of oncologists/radiologists the next morning and got a consensus on a battle plan. She talked directly with us, not to us, and developed a six-month program for direct treatment. I have total trust and confidence in Doctor Forstner; we get the feeling she cares and will move heaven and earth to do everything she can to help.
Spots in the upper leg and ankle bone were x-rayed in detail to judge if a biopsy or MRI was required to confirm or rule out whether the cancer has spread to the bone. The x-ray ruled out the ankle as just arthritis, and an MRI of the upper leg ruled out cancer there. Dr. Forstner got the MRI scheduled two days after the x-rays, and had the results of the MRI four hours after it was done; as an old soldier, I do admire and appreciate her hard charging strategy.
The hormone drugs have some possible side effects that are less than pleasant, but well worth it in my eyes. We asked Drs. Forster and DeHann to err on the side of being more aggressive in their treatment; for me, short-term discomfort and aggressive treatment is preferable to less aggressive longer-term treatment; my choice, yours may differ, but it is nice they give us the choice.
The real breakthroughs in cancer treatment have been in the last 10 years or so. Please be careful when researching on the net to check how current the information is that you are depending on, and consider the source.
The firmagon hormone is given to start the treatment; it is given with two injections in the stomach and lasts 30 days. It was less than pleasant and may or may not be for a bit of time, it differs with each person. The initial firmagon will be followed with long-term lupron injections, each shot lasting six months. Both drugs are chemotherapy type drugs and side effects may develop more over time, but because it will save my life it is fine with me. The possible discomfort is a small price to pay for extending my life for perhaps five to 10 years. Absent the treatments, we could be looking at far less time.
The hormones will continue for a time until the cancer’s growth is checked as shown by the Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) and testosterone tests; then they will nuke the cancer with external beam radiation, in addition to the drugs. The radiation treatments are short, only an hour in prep and the treatment, but they are five days a week for 8 ½ weeks (43 treatments). The hormone treatment will be needed in most cases up to two years, but the good news is I will be alive to receive them. If it all works perfectly there is a 40% chance they can cure the cancer. If not cured it will be knocked back a good bit, extending my life.
Two specialized procedures will need to be done at U of M in Ann Arbor and in Livonia; a bit of a trip, but investing a long day or two is much preferable to planning my own funeral. I look forward to the trips and will report to you on the procedures.
If I had gotten a PSA test, a simple blood test, five years ago, this disease could have been discovered and cured with a four-hour outpatient procedure and a short regimen of drugs. Please remember, 27% of all men will get prostate cancer and it will kill nearly five million men alive today. The PSA test is not perfect, but it saves men’s lives.
