WW update

[Guest guest]

Here is the updated history of my Watchful Waiting saga (so far). I am a 50 year old engineer diagnosed with prostate cancer. I was 47 when diagnosed. 2/28/03 During blood work due to a medication change my PSA was discovered to be 4.25. I was referred to a Urologist. 3/21/03 I met with the Urologist. He recommended a biopsy. I requested a repeat PSA. 4/21/03 I met with the Urologist. The repeat PSA was 4.59. He recommended a biopsy.. 5/8/03 Biopsy reveals prostate cancer. Tumor comprises 10% of right mid prostate and 5% of left prostatic apex biopsy. Gleason is 6 (3+3) in both sides. The nurse calls me at work and tells me at 2 pm. I get very upset and go home for the day. 5/21/03 I met with the urologist about the results. He recommended a radical prostatectomy. We also discussed other options: radiation therapy, watchful waiting and cryotherapy. I decided to investigate other options. 5/24-5/31/03 Vacation in Virginia. Nothing to do with pc but good fun and stress relief. I adopted a "use it before you lose it" philosophy. My wife agrees. 6/03 I intensified my study of treatment options. I started taking Vitamin C, E, Selenium and "Prostate Complete" (including Saw Palmetto). I(mostly) quit working overtime. I started eating more fish and processed tomatoes. I started to drink green tea. 6/13/03 I met with a radiation oncologist. He recommended radiation seed therapy. 7/11/03 I decided to try Watchful Waiting and joined w@.... I sent my first e-mail to the org. Over the next several days I got many replies. Terry Herberts' was especialy helpful. I started looking for a Doctor to assist me. 7/25-8/2/03 Vacation in New Orleans. Nothing to do with pc but great fun and stress relief. My best vacation ever. Our hotel was in the French Quarter only 2 blocks from Bourbon Street. We even had a balcony. Drank and smoked cigars on the balcony. Thank God for time-shares. I tried Viagra. It produced a little of the desired result but it produced too much nausea to be enjoyable. Successfully tried to avoid the "p" word. 8/6/03 I met with an oncologist. He recommended a radical prostatectomy with hormones. I told him I wanted to Watchful Wait. He said he did not have the means to assist me and recommended another urologist. 8/18/03 I met with another urologist. He recommended a radical prostatectomy. I told him I wanted to Watchful Wait. He said he would not assist me. He also said "you won't find a doctor to help you (with WW) in this town (Savannah, Ga.)". I heard there was a Doctor in Brunswick Ga. who was assisting someone WW. I started to investigate doctors in Brunswick Ga. 9/2/03 I met with the urologist recommended by the oncologist. He recommended a radical prostatectomy. However, he agreed to assist me with WW or in anything else I decided on. He said he would sometimes "nag" me about getting treatment. The WW will consist of a PSA test every 3 months. The nurse took blood for my PSA test. 9/4/03 PSA results (drum roll): 4.1 I am very pleased. 12/9/03 PSA results 6.1. The Doctor says I have to make a treatment decision before our meeting on 12/11. 12/11/03 Meeting with Doctor. I decided to check my PSA again to see if this is a "spike". My Doctor reluctlently agreed. We scheduled another PSA for March 11, 2004. I also discovered that I am the only man in my age range he is "WW" with. He is providing no advice about diet, excercise or any thing else.

3/19/04 PSA results 5.3. Not bad.

7/19/04 PSA results 6.4. Some increase but it doesn't seem too scary to me.

10/27/04 PSA results 4.5. Very good!

1/24/05 Had my blood sample taken for psa test and met with my urologist. He told me I should get treated because the pca could metastasize. I refused. I think the risk of metastasis is low based on the studies I have seen.

2/14/05 PSA results 4.9.

5/27/05 PSA results 6.0. My PSA doubling time is about 5.6 years based on this measurement and my 4/28/03 measurement. This is within Klotz's WW guidline: Max PSA DT of 3 years.

9/12/05 PSA results 6.1.

1/24/06 PSA results 5.1. Pretty good.

Any comments out there?

Tim in Savannah