Prostate Cancer (personal)

Yesterday I drove down to the University Hospital of Malaga Carlos Haya for my appointment with my oncologist. He assured me that with an original PSA value under 10 that the cancer had not spread anywhere else, but having seen my sister die a few years earlier from metastasis (originating from the Esophagus) and a friend dying when I was a just starting my radio therapy treatment it is obviously difficult not to worry about the spread of the disease when you have symptoms that could be cancer.

Cancer gives you no symptoms or signs that exclusively indicate the disease. Every complaint for cancer can explain a harmless condition as well. If you have symptoms, however, you should see a doctor for further evaluation. Some common symptoms are : Click this link

A couple of weeks ago visiting friends asked me about my attitude and I said cautious. I did not want to be positive to the point of being over optimistic. I recognize that I could be on borrowed time and that this has been a "wake up call".

(In the United States, cancer of the prostate is a common malignant cancer in men, second only to lung cancer. About 200,000 new cases are diagnosed each year, and about 30,000 men die of the disease each year).

I have never smoked and maybe had a glass of wine a day, but now I hardly drink and am eating more healthily. I appreciate being alive and really would love to see the trees that I have lovingly grow much larger. There is a particular plant that I have vowed that I will plant in my garden, one for every further year that I am allowed to enjoy here "Cotinus Coggyria (Royal Purple)". On reflection maybe I should have written a blog during my 40 sessions of treatment? The treatment was not painful, but the after effects have only just receded, the treatment having finished on 5 December 2006.

The staff at the University Hospital of Malaga Carlos Haya were marvelous, as were my fellow patients, so much so that tears came to my eyes as I drove away after my last treatment as I listened to Nelly Furtado´s - In Gods Hands, - Wait for You and All Good Things (come to an end). They could not have given me a better Christmas present and I am so grateful to the Spanish Social Security. My treatment, as promised had started within 2 months of being diagnosed, ok one day earlier and since that date I have read that they are going to bring this down to one month in the future in their fight against this disease.

Whilst undergoing treatment I did quite a bit of research and decided to publish a page on the pomegranate and its use against prostate cancer.

Yesterday my oncologist was pleased with my progress the PSA having come down to 0,17% from 0,21% three months earlier so my next control will be in 6 months time. Obviously there will be a control for the next four and a half years.

Did I have any prostate problem symptoms? No it was just a regular annual blood test and keeping on top of my health that brought the problem to light. The highest PSA in 2005 was 8.4% but the tumor was not malignant.

With 3 months medication it had been brought down to 4% but after 3 months without medication it had risen to 6.3% by July 2006 - T2a and a Gleeson Value of 5 were the results of a biopsy. All were surprised by these results known in August 2006.

I quickly made the decision to have radio therapy and hormone treatment rather than the operation. I appreciate life far more today.

links

My page on Prostate Cancer
Cancer Symptoms Glossary of Medical Terms
Prostate Cancer Overview
More links on University Hospital of Malaga Carlos Haya