Posted 12/3/2016 4:34 AM (GMT -5)
Hello all, I would like to share with you our visit this past week with Dr. Zelefsky at MSKCC. As you may remember my husband had SBRT there in August and this is our first return visit. We had to arrive early (730AM) to get the lab requisition released from his secty. so he could have his early morning bloodwork there. Then we headed to his office for our visit. Initially we had a very kind physician who was working with Dr. Zelefsky. She came in, questioned my husband and did a physical exam. Dr. Zelefsky arrived shortly thereafter and promptly examined my husband (DRE) and was pleasantly surprised. He said the prostate was very smooth, smaller, with no hard, thickened areas. He said my husband was doing better than alot of patients which made us feel this was all worth it. My husband did ask if he thought the SpaceOAR had anything to do with the fact he never had any urinary or bowel issues. Dr. Zelefsky said that as they continue collecting data from his patients who have used the spacer, they are seeing a dramatic reduction in urinary and bowel side affects. He said they are using the SpaceOAR more and more now.
So the big question was still to be asked. What is the PSA reading? As you may recall, my husband's PSA pre-SBRT was 7.79 and half way thru SBRT Dr. Z drew another because of a concern and that one was 3.20 and now 3 months post-SBRT it is down to 1.60!
Oh, we were so happy. His Testosterone was 735.
So now, we come back for another check in 3 months, then 6 month visits til 2 years when he will have another biopsy. If that is clean then Dr. Z said he would then recommend yearly visits. Hopefully this will be our path and we can say 'bye bye' forever to the cancer. We understand though that we have to be vigilant and are aware of the possibility of re occurrence.
So I guess we are cleared for take-off for our new and improved life. Yeah!