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Stopping all treatment. A new era.

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Prostate Cancer
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Posted 9/8/2009 12:19 PM (GMT -5)
My story of Intermittent Hormone Therapy (IHT) begins...

Well it's been just over 2 and a half years since I started treating prostate cancer.  After surgery failed, I started hormone therapy and radiation.  Radiation was done in August '07.  Hormone therapy?  I officially will not take the Casodex starting today.  The Lupron will wear off over the coming weeks.  I am a bit nervous about this, but I knew this day was coming.  I won't see my oncologist until October, but he will run a battery of tests including measuring DHT, T, PAP, PSA, PCA3, and the usual CBC stuff.  I will continue taking Alendronate (Fosamax) until my T levels reach a normal level.  We will decide on a maintenance drug like Finesteride or Dutesteride in October.  

My target is a PSA of 2.  If my PSA climbs it will be at 2 to move forward with going back on HT.  If it does not drop to the nadir of undetectable we will add chemotherapy with Taxotere unless something more effective comes out.

I mentioned being nervous, but I am not scared.  This is in God's hands and I do believe that.  I will keep on keepin' on with my work in advocacy for the cause of prostate cancer.  Also, I am approaching my 3rd year here at HW.  I have many great friends here, and I meet so many more as time move along.  I am very thankful for that. 

May peace always be with you...

Tony

Posted 9/8/2009 12:23 PM (GMT -5)
Tony, you know yourself better than anyone and your plan makes sense to you, so I think you will be at peace with the results, either way. You have a great faith and it will sustain you, as I hope our prayers for you will do, also.
Posted 9/8/2009 12:38 PM (GMT -5)
Tony, Good luck with the off part of the intermitent HT. I hope and pray that it lasts for many many years. Greg
Posted 9/8/2009 1:13 PM (GMT -5)
Tony,
I wish you well and this new part of your treatment. I'm just getting started on this journey and will have my first post surgery PSA on October 17th. It seems that the closer that day comes the more nervous I become! So I guess its just normal when we have to face a change!

Larry
Posted 9/8/2009 1:43 PM (GMT -5)
Tony,

May the blessings and prayers of all be with you during this period.

I am absolutely a believer in the power of prayer. Yes, I know I have PC and am just starting this journey for myself.

My belief has been made stronger by seeing the prayers of myself, family and friends answered that keeps my wife with me. As I have mentioned before she has been dealing with her own cancer since November 2005. She has had more than her share of issues in dealing with it. Stroke, infections, drugs, chemo, radiation and a respiratory failure that almost took her from me this summer.

Please know that I always say my prayers for my new found acquaintances on this form. I will double my efforts for you and your family.

Sonny
Posted 9/8/2009 2:11 PM (GMT -5)
 

Tony,

My thoughts and prayers are with you on this next step.

Jerry1

Posted 9/8/2009 2:21 PM (GMT -5)
Hi Tony,

 

Just a quick note to let you know that I'm thinking about you and that I wish you all the luck in this next step in your battle. I wish that I had something more positive to say other than wishing you all the best in this next step and I'm hoping that you can keep the beast at bay for many years to come. New treatments seam to be in the works all the time and hopefully one of them will do the trick to finally help you win the battle.

All the best to you my friend.

 

Magaboo

 

 

Posted 9/8/2009 2:26 PM (GMT -5)
Tony,

You've been a great help to me and plenty of other guys here. Keep us posted on how things go.

DJ
Posted 9/8/2009 3:27 PM (GMT -5)

 Tony you are such an anchor to this site and it's many members......good luck to you and yours on this next step and know you have many, many people sending prayers up, postive karma or whatever their own beliefs may be, it's all good........we're all here for ya' just like you've done for us. Hang tuff, as I know you will.......sir, you're a man amoung men, with that I send my prayers your way. Good luck Tony

Posted 9/8/2009 3:52 PM (GMT -5)
Tony, I am with you all the way. Your body needs the break from all you have been through, and I for one, and hoping praying that you get and keep good results for many years to come. You are one of the major rocks here, and I deeply aprreciate you and your efforts.

David in SC
Posted 9/8/2009 4:19 PM (GMT -5)
Tony, just to add my congrats also. But would like one small clarification...did you mean your PSA not to be above 2.0 or 0.2

The decimal point is confusing. I would think that without a prostate the 2.0 benchmark is a little high...but maybe not. Just would like a clarification as you are at the <0.1 mark now.

Thanks for all you do here at Healingwell
Posted 9/8/2009 4:22 PM (GMT -5)
Tony,
Sounds like you've got a handle on this and it looks like a good plan. I have a good feeling that everything will work out.
JT
Posted 9/8/2009 4:34 PM (GMT -5)
You have led us in telling so many who come here
learn -- think -- decide
Here again you continue to set an excellent example.
I will keep you in my prayers.
Posted 9/8/2009 4:37 PM (GMT -5)

Tony,

I wish you continuing success with your treatment. Hopefully it will be a long time before you will need to consider alternatives.

Don

Posted 9/8/2009 5:16 PM (GMT -5)
Tony,

Enjoy your time off HT turn and let us hope it is a long and maybe permanent one.
Posted 9/8/2009 5:18 PM (GMT -5)
Greetings, Tony.  Lots of good, positive comments here and you deserve all of them.  You are following your own good advice - have a plan, follow it and don't look back.  Here is wishing you the very best as you enter this next non-treatment phase of your journey.  I have every confidence you will do great.  We continue to pray for you and all the others on this site as we battle this disease.  Your leadership in the fight is appreciated.  David

Posted 9/8/2009 5:50 PM (GMT -5)
Tony, what a truely beautiful attitude to have.  We are proud of you mate, and with your determination nothings going to beat you, not even this beast.  .............Kev
Posted 9/8/2009 5:55 PM (GMT -5)
Tony

You have been such and inspiration to all of us here. Keep the faith and keep up the good fight.

Mika
Posted 9/8/2009 7:39 PM (GMT -5)
hi Tony, well..you are starting on a new path in your journey and you have everything good going for you. Keep fighting the good fight! God bless you....kat
Posted 9/8/2009 9:38 PM (GMT -5)
Hey gang,
I was with customers most of the day, but I was checking messages on my cell phone. At various points today I was smiling as I read these wonderful messages.

Les (LV-TX): I chose 2 as the PSA to take action with after studying what was the best way to proceed with IHT. (not 0.2). I chose that number as a compromise of what many doctors and studies said. If I relapse, it isn't local disease. By monitoring the PSA doubling time (PSADT) we can set the next options accordingly. There won't be many, but we can try to manage this for years. If something else comes out we can change the plan. My hope is still there that it won't rise at all, and if it does it will take years before it does. My cancer had escaped the prostate and we know that with grade 4 cells if it comes back it will be a fight.

I love all you wonderful people...

I am a lucky man...

Tony
Posted 9/8/2009 9:56 PM (GMT -5)
Tony-
I don't know of anyone who deserves a vacation more :) Your body and soul have been through so much these past three years. I will continue to hope and pray that your PSA stays undetectable forever. It's always good to have a back up plan..or two or three as we have unfortunately had to deal with. However, I am hopeful and prayerful that you will be another Milken. Thank you for blazing a trail for so many to follow and for cheering us on along the way. You are a dear friend and an inspiration to many. Fight on and enjoy the HT vacation...may it be a permanent one.
Posted 9/8/2009 11:14 PM (GMT -5)
Tony I wish you well with your plan, seems like a good one to me, I probably will be going down the same path in the future.

All the very best. Mal.
Posted 9/8/2009 11:40 PM (GMT -5)
Tony: You are an inspiration to all of us. My Peace be with you in your quest. Thanks again for all that you have done for each of us.

Jeff T
Cajun Country
Posted 9/9/2009 12:18 AM (GMT -5)
Fight on good buddy!!!!

Ending cancer treatment is a new beginning - sort of like graduation where we face a new world. Now fear is the enemy but it is vanquished by concentrating on the next clean test. Each day that we are fortunate enough to greet is a battle won. And the war is won one battle at a time.

Let's get well together,

Jim
Posted 9/9/2009 5:56 AM (GMT -5)
Glad to hear you are getting a break from this stuff. I took my last casodex July 26th and my last Lupron shot March 30th. I was hoping that my libido would have rebounded by now but no such luck. One thing that is a pleasant surprise is how much energy I have now and my mental accuity is improving.
God bless you Tony and I to pray you have many many years of PSA test below 2.

peace and love
dale
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