Carlos
Golcher and Armida live in San Salvador, El Salvador. He was 55 when he was diagnosed
in October 1999. His initial PSA was 24.0 ng/ml, his Gleason Score was 4 and he
was staged T2c. The treatmdent he chose was Brachytherapy.
By chance, in the lab where I use to have cholesterol, triglicerids, glucose
etc, each year, they asked me if I wanted to make the PSA for the prostate ,and
I said Yes. My result was 24.0 ng/ml and immediately the urologist asked me for
the biopsy. That was positive and I was staged T2c with a Gleason of 4.0. Bone
scan,CAT scan and Ultrasound were also done.
This
was in my country El Salvador, then I made contact with UCLA in USA , and decided
for the Brachytherapy, among the other option that was RP.
After
one week I left the catheter and I returned to my country with excellent results
about incontinence and erection.
Two
years later, in last months of 2001 my PSA increased to 7.0 ng/ml and I went back
to California at UCLA. I had another biopsy, which was negative and the treatment
chosen was Hormone Therapy (Androgen Deprivation Therapy). They shut me with Lupron
and a daily dose of Casodex and I went back to my country.
My
PSA decreased immediately to 0.02 ng/ml the first month but 10 months later my
PSA was 7.0 ng/ml again. They asked me to continue with the hormone, and I have
had four years altogether with this after the effect of the seeds ends.
My
sexual life during my first year with hormone was regular, (Viagra or similar
helped me), but the last year has been hard for me , because my libido is gone.I
don't want to continue using the Hormone and two weeks ago I learned about HIFU,
with a new urologist that I visited in El Salvador. He says HIFU is the new procedure
done for men like me, with recurrence after Brachytherapy , localized cancer in
prostate, (my last Ultrasound show encapsulated with no signs of metastasis in
organs or bones)and history of TC2 and Gleason 4.0.
I'm
looking for information about HIFU with persons that already receive the treatment,
because I have to decide for this option as soon as possible.
I
appreciate a lot your help.
Last
Saturday, 1st April I received my HIFU in Costa Rica with the staff from USA.
"Dr. George Suarez Dream Team", including Dr. Arieh Grunhaus and La Cima Hospital
- lovely people. Monday I went to the Shopping Center and I return today to El
Salvador without my prostate and feeling really good. My catheter in the bladder
will be remove next Monday.
I'm
very happy because no longer will need to use the hormone, if God Blesses me.
After
I don't use the cateter from the eleventh of April , I have been at the beach
with no problem at all. In 3 months I'll make my next PSA and I'll let you know
what is about me.
Carlos
is back on hormone therapy and his PSA is now 161 ng/ml.
Carlos'
e-mail address is: cgolc@hotmail.com
