Don M. --Update

[Guest guest]

Hey Everyone,

Well here is an update since my last post. It's bee a little of a roller coaster

ride. Just a recap, I was diagnosed at 42 with PCA in 2009. I went to LLUMC (all

protons/45 treatemtns) and completed by treatment August 2009. My lowest psa

post treatment has been 3.2 (pre treatment 8.6/GS 7, 4+3). First, I want to say

choosing proton beam radiation was a personal choice which I don't regret. If I

had to do it all over again I would probably still choose protons, especially

since we now have a 13 month old baby boy which was total blessing and he

wouldn't be possible if I had surgery. In my case it's been confirmed protons

didn't kill all the cancer in my prostate. My psa has been bouncing around from

the 4-6 range. I had numerous scans including prostascint, pelvi mri, dexa, ct

bone scane and there were no signs of cancer. I even had another biopsy wich all

came back negative. I was referred initially to my local urologist to Seattle

Cancer Care. All they wanted to do is put me on ADT (which is not curative). I

then flew backto LLUMC and spoke with my doctor who treated in June (Dr. Bush).

After revieiwng my records he believed I had reoccurance. He also suggested I

get an endo recto mri. It's a special mri where they insert a coil in the rectum

so it gives a better image of the prostate and pelvic region. It's new

technology. Anyways, my urologist did his residency at the National Institude of

Health (NIH) which is just outside of Washington D.C. in Bethesda, land. My

doctor was able to make some calls and before I knew it I was on a flight to NIH

with family in tow. Dr. Pinto at NIH team peformed the endo recto mri. The

following day the images showed suspicious areas of my prostate. Whats great

about this technology is they can perform a guided biopsy directly to the

suspicious areas vs a standard biopsy. His team performed the biopsy and a week

later back in the Seattle area I get the phone call from Dr. Pinto. Out of 18

cores 8 came back positive. The cancer was still contatined within the prostate

(this is a good thing)per the pathology report. However, my gleason score is

anywhere from an 7 to 9 (scary). He ordered another nuclear bone scane which

came back negative. Dr. Pinto and my decision is to have the prostate, seminel

vesicles and lymph nodes in the pelvis removed. I'm ready, no more playing

around. I feel this is my only chance for a curative solution. I'm hoping and

praying this works (or basically screwed for lack of better words). Again,

nothing against protons. It just didn't work for me but then again i'm blessed

with a beautiful little boy which would never of happened if I initially had

surgery. So i'm hoping i'm taking the longer road for an curative approach..LOL!

Any prayers, please send my way. My doctor (Dr. Pinto) at NIH has a very

positive outlook which is assuring. Which by the way, if you never been to NIH

it's very impressive and I feel i'm going to one of the best facilities in the

world. Per my local urologist, Dr. Pinto is a top surgeon in the country so this

helps with my optimism. So were off to NIH for 2 weeks. I've been doing alot of

running and crossfit help with my recovery time. My surgery is scheduled for

October 6th. I'm accepting all prayers , so please don't be shy and send them

my way.

Best,

Don M.