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Chris R lives in Western Australia. He was 59 when he was diagnosed in September, 2013. His initial PSA was 30.00 ng/ml, his Gleason Score was 7b, and he was staged Unknown. His initial treatment choice was ADT-Androgen Deprivation (Hormone) (Monotherapy) and his current treatment choice is Chemotherapy (Other). Here is his story.

THERE WAS NO RESPONSE TO AN UPDATE REMINDER IN 2018 SO THERE IS NO UPDATE.

My diagnosis resulted from a "general" pre-60 overall checkup. All other markers were good. I was fit, active and after a 23 year career as a school principal had just returned to the classroom ... A job I love.

it was all a shock but some signs were there...frequent urination and less volume of sperm (I did ask my GP about this). I just assumed my fitness was going to insulate me from everything.

After the biopsy I had a full bone scan. PCa had metasticised to my skeleton...5 or 6 places. The Urologist immediately started me on Degarelix. Site soreness and 2 or 3 days of feeling "ordinary" with the monthly injections. Reached PSA nadir in Oct 2014. There was a noticeable rise from 4 to 7 in June 2015 and the Dr immediately prescribed Cosudex. Have been on these for a month (in addition to Degarelix) and waiting on blood test results to discuss with the Oncologist next week (July 21 2015).

I have gained 20 kg and don't have the drive to exercise I used to have. The oncologist is concerned by my weight. I had dental tests as the Oncologist is also suggesting I have monthly Xgeva injections. We will discuss this on July 21.

UPDATED

March 2016

During the last 4 months, with the encouragement of my daughter, I have changed my diet radically. To date I have dropped 21 kg of the gain from my meds. The paleo diet is sensational for me and I feel so good. Just walked the golf course in 35 deg heat! No problems. Also my recovery from my monthly degarelix shot is much quicker. Had a shock over the long weekend just gone though. Had my monthly needle on Friday with my (very good) GP. Told him I had a blood test the previous afternoon in preparation for my visit to the Oncologist on Tuesday. Being the good guy he is (he gets a copy of test results) he phoned the Path lab to get my PSA. He was very careful to spell my name to the person on the phone and twice give my DOB. He didn't look happy and told me I had jumped from 1.3 to 7.1! As you can imagine this was not good news. It was a long weekend here...but I tried to think of positives and kept busy. When I sat down with the Oncologist he was delighted that my PSA had dropped to 1.2!!! The Path lab worker had given my GP a wrong figure! As you can imagine my GP (and friends) were not impressed.

UPDATED

May 2017

After 39 radiotherapy treatments that targeted a large slow growing tumour that grew out of my prostate and invaded my bowel (seemingly the only symptom was constipation). I was re CT scanned and bone scanned.

Three and a half years of Degarelix eliminated 4 skeletal lesions and shrank the fifth! Great bone scan results. CT not so good.

Lesions found in my lungs and liver. Placed on docetaxel and after first infusion had horrible 4 weeks of every side effect on the list. Felt like dying was a better alternative! Docetaxel 2 to 4 were better but failed. Switched to Cabitaxel which also didn't work. Liver and lung biopsy taken. Chemos didn't work because I have lung cancer! Not as a secondary but as a new primary. Oncologist could not explain! Started chemo for aggressive small cell lung cancer next day. Still continuing with ADT. On two types of antibiotic! Feel constantly washed out.

According to Oncologist the best outlook is we halt the lung cancer with the chemo but even with that it could be months not years.

Try to main a positive attitude in all this. Do things you enjoy. Get some sun and company. You never know what's around the corner.

Chris's e-mail address is: christor13 AT yahoo.com.au (replace "AT" with "@")

NOTE: Chris has not updated his story for more than 15 months, so you may not receive any response from him.


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