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Starting salvage radiation 1/27...

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Posted 1/25/2010 12:19 AM (GMT -5)

Hello All,

Well,  I will be routinely posting once again on the HW forum...

After watching my PSA creep up to 0.13 nearly 3 years after DaVinci removal,  it is time to start the salvage radiation treatment journey...    Took me awhile to get out of a depession spiral and back to a positive mode and the willlingness to once again battle this dang PCa disease (3 months)...  That has been accomplished and I am back on track...   Thank You Jesus!

I have had all the scans and pre-tests done last week,  but no discussion of those results yet.  That will be this Tuesday at Viginia Mason Hospital (Seattle) when they also run me thru a "dry run"  of the actual salvage treatment.   Initial talks where about a 7 week 35 treatment scenario.   First actual treatment is scheduled Wednesday.

The commute factor is a big hassle...  We had since moved to Winthrop 200 miles away...  but what the heck...  I have some friends that live in Carnation near Seattle and I spent 34 years commuting 40 miles each way to Seattle for my job before I retired...

I will keep you all posted on my thoughts, feelings, and physical/mental developments as I go through this phase of the PCa battle.     One that I thought I would not have to go thru...     But at least with PCa,  we have alternatives that many others do not.

Take Care and God Bless,

pasayten

Posted 1/25/2010 12:57 AM (GMT -5)
Sorry to hear you have to do battle once again. But look on the bright side, you had three years when you didn't.

If you have been visiting here lately you know that I just finished 7 weeks, 35 treatments, a little over a week ago. I only got a three month reprieve after my surgery. Would have traded for a 3 year break in a heart beat.

Good luck brother. Keep us posted on your travels down the path.

Sonny
Posted 1/25/2010 1:03 AM (GMT -5)
Sorry to hear that you've got to go a second round, but glad to hear your head space is positive.

Your PCa was obviously knocked down, but not out. Time to give it the knock out blow and be done with the nasty, pesky creature.

My former business partner had the same experience ---- that was 18 years ago and the PCa hasn't bothered him since. May you follow in his footsteps.

Sheldon AKA Sleepless
Posted 1/25/2010 5:48 AM (GMT -5)
Good luck Pasayten and your positive atititude will help you thru radiation tx. There are quite a few of us on here going thru radiation right now and Sonny and David recently completed their own journey into that tx. We wish you the best and keep us posted.
Michael
Posted 1/25/2010 6:45 AM (GMT -5)
Good luck Pasayten. Keep with the positive attitude. Let us know how you progress.

Skeener
Posted 1/25/2010 9:26 AM (GMT -5)
Sorry you are having to go through SRT. I just completed 39 high dose treatments in November. I had a rough time, but mine was an unsuual case. I had to have mine within 9 months of surgery.

Hope you do well with yours, the having to go and do it every day part takes a while to get use to, but you will get into a pattern, and soon it will be over.

David in SC
Posted 1/25/2010 11:04 AM (GMT -5)
 

Sorry to hear you are joining the SRT group but you did have a nice run with 3 years.  I am now in my second week of radiation and was just over a year from my surgery.  Good luck with your treatments.

Jerry1

Posted 1/25/2010 1:33 PM (GMT -5)
Hi Pasayten,

Well you have a lot of company and support here as myself and others on HW just began our radiation voyage. Nice that you will be able to visit your old haunts in Seattle. Having lived there for three years, I always enjoy return visits. Based on the majority of recent radiation experiences, I think you will feel up to being a carefree Seattle tourist for a couple months.

Our best to you,
Jake
Posted 1/25/2010 1:35 PM (GMT -5)
Week two begins for me in 40 minutes Pasayten. Cant go by quick enough. Hope all goes well for you.
Michael
Posted 1/25/2010 3:05 PM (GMT -5)
pasayten, really hate to read that you gotta fight this thing some more. I hoped you would be one of those who could just fade into the sunset or ride off into the background or whatever. Glad you came back to us to share your bad news, I hope we can be a support to you during your soon-to-be trials. Keep us informed...
Posted 1/27/2010 1:21 AM (GMT -5)
Thanks all for the words of encouragement...

Today,  we ran thru the simulation...  Wednesday (tomorrow) will be the first dose.

The have me set up for 32 IMRT visits @ dose of 200,000 / visit...  For a total of 64 gys at end.

I had forgot to drink liquid for a full bladder for the simulation...  will not forget this for the real thing tomorrow.  A full bladder helps lift it out of the target zone and causes it less stress I was told...

Previous week's catand bone scans all came back clean...  

So off and running to burn those pesky remnants of PCa...   which should be locally located in the prostate bed area...

Mentally fine with all this now and looking upon it as a little adventure...  strange as that may seem...

BTW,  if anybody is/has been struggling with depression thru any of their journies,  I have been thru some major bouts with PCa and other issues and have finally got that part whipped...   Feel free to ask questions or whatever if you feel the need.   

pasayten 

Posted 1/27/2010 2:10 AM (GMT -5)
Pasayten

I had my radiation therapy at VM in Seattle.  (I called mine "adjuvant therapy", since I had positive margins, and my surgeon wanted this within the first year.)  The techs at VM are great!  While I was happy to have my 32 treatments done, it was hard to say good-bye to them.  I live a ferry ride from Seattle, and they scheduled the treatments so well, I was home before noon.  It will be a bit more difficult now you're farther from Seattle, but the time will fly by.

My wife and I love to visit Winthrop in the fall on our anual eastern Washington "leaf tour" to see the foliage.  We stay at that hotel right on the river and enjoy the restaurant across the street.  (I can't remember names, just locations.)  For those who think we're nuts, they need to get away from the city and sit in a hot tub alongside a full running river!

Hang in there Pasayten

Posted 1/27/2010 2:24 AM (GMT -5)
Hey Hawkfan...

You will have to look us up next year in Winthrop then...    20 View Ridge Rd out the East Chewack Rd...

P.S.  We also have a hot tub....  :-)

pasayten

Posted 1/27/2010 2:31 AM (GMT -5)
Pasay,
You will do fine. Keep the faith. While it's good to see you back posting, I just wish it was for other reasons. But I believe we know this disease a lot better than when we showed up here. So not to wear out an old saying ~ stay positive!

Peace brother,

Tony
Posted 2/2/2010 1:20 AM (GMT -5)
Hello All,

This Monday Feb 1st was my 4th of 32 treatments.   These are going much easier than I thought as I have 5pm sessions and it is a kind of reverse commute ( I am staying with some friends 40 miles away)...  I thought traffic would be a big issue...

Biggest problem so far is to drink a bunch of water to have a full bladder for the treatments...    They want that to help lift the bladder out of the zap zone...   I got the timing down pretty good now...   drink a quart about 2 to 2 1/2 hours before the session.

No side effects yet,  but I realize that if any are to occurr,  it would be towards the last of the treatments when nearing the full 64 gys of treatment.

Mind frame is good....  The technicians are great...    Just counting down the treatment days...

Good thing is I will be done with sessions just as spring starts and the snows have melted away from our Winthrop house...    and will be looking forward to zero PSA's later this year...

pasayten

Posted 2/2/2010 1:45 AM (GMT -5)
Hi Pasay,

Good to "see" you again after such a long break.

I'm sorry to hear about the need for further treatments, but I'm impressed by your faith and determination.

Best wishes, thoughts, and prayers in your direction a positive treatment outcome!

Kind regards,

Barry (a.k.a. Idaho)
Posted 2/2/2010 9:35 AM (GMT -5)
Just to give you some hope.

I had salvage radiation about 21 months ago. I after a discouraging three readings where my PSA remained at 0.1, I have had four consecutive readings where it has been < 0.1 (the lowest they get). So it works.

I am allowing myself to entertain the possibiltity that maybe by George they got it.

(I still lurk around here from time to time)
Posted 2/2/2010 11:19 AM (GMT -5)
Like Brother Sonny above, I only got a 9 month break before needing salvage radiation myself, my 39 sessions ended last November, the jury is still out as to was it effective or not. Still need another reading or too. The distance would have given me fits in your case, as I only lived 15 minutes away from my treatment center. Hope you do well with yours, and they you only have minimal side effects if any.

David in SC
Posted 2/2/2010 1:22 PM (GMT -5)
Pasayten,
Best wishes! When I was going through salvage, it was hard to believe that invisible rays were killing off prostate cancer, but they were!
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