My story briefly


This was written for the website Yana, which profiles the treatment experiences of prostate cancer survivors:


I live in Delray Beach, Florida, USA. I was 55 when diagnosed in March 2008.  My initial PSA was 6.6 ng/ml, Gleason score 7, stage T2c.  I had Image Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT) over 45 sessions.  Here is my story...in a nutshell.

On my annual regular checkup in December 2007, my PSA had spiked from one to 6.6 ng/ml. Having had a history of urinary tract infections, my urologist put me on 6 weeks of antibiotics, after which the PSA dropped into the mid-5’s and a biopsy was recommended.  The pathology report came back with a prostate filled to the brim with prostatitis, BPH and a tiny cluster of cancer—Gleason score 7 (3+4), grade T2c.  I was 55. 

My urologist convinced me I needed to have a major treatment (being a surgeon, he recommended surgery), as opposed to active surveillance, because of my relatively young age and he said the cancer was borderline aggressive. After looking into surgery and radiation options, I opted for Image-Guided Radiation Therapy. (IGRT). Compared to surgery, I thought high-dose, targeted radiation would give me equal chance of survival and less chance of serious side effects (incontinence and impotence) down the road. 

One note before moving on:  For a decade prior to the diagnosis, I suffered with frequent and worsening urinary tract infections, likely caused by chronic prostatitis (inflammation), which was never diagnosed.  A long distance runner, I often had blood in my urine as well. I was put on rounds of antibiotics numerous times and that often cleared up the infections, but they inevitably returned until I was finally hospitalized, the urethra completely squeezed shut and unable to pass urine (acute prostatitis). A catheter in the ER broke the dam. Based on research I found through Johns Hopkins and others, prostatitis and prostate cancer almost always co-exist, and one may lead to other, just as chronic inflammation in other organs like the liver and esophagus can lead to cancer.  I mention all this because I’m very interested on this site about how many men diagnosed with cancer also had prostatitis.

For four months after treatment, I experienced severe rectal burn and hemorrhoids, but that cleared up.  One year after the radiation, I began having bouts with Overactive Bladder Syndrome (peeing 10 to 20 times a day), likely caused by radiation burn my urologist said, that last anywhere from a week to a month or longer.  I have mild ED, helped by Viagra and Cialis; my penis has shrunk, my morning boners fewer.

After 45 sessions of IGRT, my PSA dropped to a nadir of .09 within 12 months. Two years after treatment, I may’ve experienced the phenomena of the “bounce” to 1.9, before it settled back to 1.0, within months. More recently, the PSA has risen to 1.3 and 1.5 in quarterly tests, which has alarmed my urologist, who believes three consecutives rises may necessitate a biopsy.

Despite the scare, my PSA floated back down to 1.2 ... and we'll see what comes next.  I'm moving on to another urologist.