Prostate Cancer/Health Support

Rod

Well-known member
Prostate Cancer/Health Support

Have you or a loved one been affected by prostate cancer?

Are you looking for support or answers to specific questions?

Most of us are not doctors, but we can support one another and lead each other in the general direction for answers.
 
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Re: SuperFoods -- Delicious and Nutritious Disease Fighters

Prostate Cancer Hits One in Six Men, Fuels Angst Over Testing

Aug. 8 (Bloomberg) -- One day in Chicago, Dave Bigg is about to drink a few beers with his buddies and divvy up Cubs baseball tickets when his cell phone rings. It's the doctor, and he doesn't like what he sees. Bigg's biopsy looks bad. The cells from his prostate are warped and buckled. It's cancer.

Bigg can't believe what he's hearing. He's 46 years old. He doesn't look sick. He doesn't feel sick. Hell, he feels great -- he's training for a triathlon. ``It was like a punch in the stomach,'' Bigg recalls.

Bigg phones his wife, Melissa. She's about to have lunch with friends at the Cherry Pit Café, near their home in Deerfield, Illinois. She sits in her car and screams. Cancer? How can my husband have cancer?

``You can't wrap your mind around it,'' she says. ``You look at this healthy, energetic guy, and you can't believe it.''

This year, more than 230,000 men in the U.S. will get bad news like Bigg's, according to the American Cancer Society. And, like him, these men will face difficult choices about what to do next. Out of the blue, a diagnosis of prostate cancer will throw them into the middle of a raging medical debate over how to treat this disease -- or whether to treat it at all.

For some, the decisions they make will determine whether they live or die. For others, their choices will mean the difference between an active sex life and impotence.

One man in six in the U.S. will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime, the ACS says. After age 40, the danger grows with each passing year. If you live long enough, the question becomes when, not if, you're likely to get this cancer. Autopsies show that 30 percent of U.S. men over 50 have at least some malignant cells in the gland. For men older than 80, that figure climbs to 80 percent, according to the ACS.

Read the rest here... :)
 
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Re: SuperFoods -- Delicious and Nutritious Disease Fighters

I got diagnosed with prostate cancer 2 weeks ago. Early stage-so early they said I didn't need a body scan. The diagnosis didn't knock me off my feet like I expected but it was a surprise. Always get the blood (PSA) and physical exam (I have the past 14 years). My father who is 82 (I'm 53) and got diagnosed in November of 2006 (I was in the room when he got the phone call). 3 1/2 months later I had my biopsy (I requested it). I got it in time and am reviewing options.
(More then likely I am going with radioactive seed treatment.). I eat healthy and am active- successfully completed a swim from Alacatraz in 1995 and I could do it again (and yes I have completed Triathlons)- but that doesn't matter if you’re Tarzan and eat vegen-a persons genes-DNA can't be changed. You find out your PSA and get that physical exam done. And if your PSA is high get a biopsy. It doesn't hurt -but it is uncomfortable. I am amazed how many men I talked to the last 2 weeks my age who have not had physicals (too busy) or are-I believe- to scared to find out if anything is going on.

Cancers little helpers and handmaidens are ignorance, sloth, laziness and procrastination.
Those little assassins and ninjas are cancers allies that disable your defenses until it's too late. Those little secret agents show up before Cancer comes into view.
Best chance with any cancer is early detection.

FWIW my fathers PSA was normal-real low -but the physical prostate exam revealed something. My PSA was high-but the exam showed nothing-I was curious and requested the biopsy.

The day I got my diagnosis I made $2000 in the "I" Fund-best day ever.
It was one of those days. :laugh:
 
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Re: SuperFoods -- Delicious and Nutritious Disease Fighters

I hope all goes well w/ you Tempest.

My Dad battled prostate cancer back in 1999 and WON b/c he caught it in time w/ an early, elevated PSA reading.

His father, and 3 brothers were not as lucky.

Dr. William Catalona, the chief pioneer of the PSA test, and surgeon who operated on Joe Torrey, operated on my Dad. He urged my brothers & I to ensure we get a PSA / DRE (Digital Rectal Exam) annually- we were all in our 30's at the time. He urged a PSA/DRE bi-annually once we are in our 50s.

He said the key indicator w/ a PSA is to watch out for elevated levels over a period of time. He suggested a biospy with a PSA of 2.5 or higher.
I believe my Dad's was around 14, with cancer contained to the prostate.

My PSA since 2001:

2001: 1.10
2002: 0.70
2003: 0.63
2004: 0.66
2005: 0.79
2006: 0.70

I receive mine every Aug- the month of my Dad's birthday to help remind me.

Ensure you abstain from sexual activity at least 48 hours prior to receiving a PSA, since that can elevate the level.

More on Dr. Catalona and his Genetic research on prostate cancer which my family was asked by him to take part in since we have such a high rate of prostate cancer:

http://www.drcatalona.com/

In my PSA Study, the median PSA value for the age group of men without clinical evidence of prostate cancer is 0.7 for men in their 40s, 0.9 for men in their 50s and 1.4 for men 60 years of age or older.

In any case, I recommend an initial biopsy if the PSA is persistently higher than 2.5 ng/ml.

If the PSA is higher than 4 ng/ml, a PSA velocity higher than 0.75 ng/ml/year should prompt a biopsy, even if a previous biopsy has been negative for cancer.

PSA measurements are best made at least 48 hours after a prostate examination or ejaculation because either can raise the PSA level slightly.

Also, some medicines can affect PSA. Finasteride (marketed as Proscar or Propecia) and dutasteride (marketed as Avodart) can falsely lower PSA levels. Herbal preparations can also affect PSA levels, especially dietary supplements that are advertised “for prostate health.”


Repeated biopsies can actually induce PSA elevations, so once a patient has had adequate biopsy sampling of the prostate, a moratorium on repeat biopsies should be called for one year to allow the prostate gland to heal from all of the previous biopsies.

http://www.drcatalona.com/quest/quest_fall06_1.asp

He is one of the top surgeons in the country. So, don't be shy with contacting w/ any questions. He does answer his email.

God Bless:)
 
Re: SuperFoods -- Delicious and Nutritious Disease Fighters

I got diagnosed with prostate cancer 2 weeks ago. Early stage-so early they said I didn't need a body scan. The diagnosis didn't knock me off my feet like I expected but it was a surprise.
Sorry to hear that. Let's hope all goes well.
 
Re: SuperFoods -- Delicious and Nutritious Disease Fighters

Ah Rod, you might want to consult with your doctor first if you plan on taking pomegranate juice. I've read that it lowers PSA numbers and since you are undergoing clinical study for prostate, the numbers might turned out skewed. :)
 
Re: SuperFoods -- Delicious and Nutritious Disease Fighters

Ah Rod, you might want to consult with your doctor first if you plan on taking pomegranate juice. I've read that it lowers PSA numbers and since you are undergoing clinical study for prostate, the numbers might turned out skewed. :)

I'm not doing it yet personally... I missed the family reunion last year which Dr. Catalona's assistant was supposed to attend and withdraw blood from all willing males.

But thanx!
 
Re: SuperFoods -- Delicious and Nutritious Disease Fighters

Thanks ebbnflow, tsptalk and Rod for your response. I am being very proactive about this. My diet over the last couple of years has been way less meats (BBQ and lunchean). I have owned and used a Champion Juicer and VitaMix for 3 years. The only juice I don't make myself is pomergrante. Way too messy (don't ask me how I know). So I have been buying it the last 2 years. I eat all the healthy foods (I'm not a total food fanatic I do have my 'sin days'). But along with good nutrition comes physical detection.


Rod you have something going for you as a defense-you don't just know about prostate cancer-you comprehend it. It has touched your family. Your VERY alert. That's good. You let your medical physical be a first priority.

I have every intention of making money in my TSP and blowing it all as an old geezer.
I eat right, stay in good physical shape (you recover from medical procedures and heal faster) and am always on the look out when I think I'm going to get a self-pity attack (happened once early in the morning - then I got up- mad at myself and did the laundry). I'm going to beat this.

Remember-education, good nutrition, physical fitness and a good physical examination
can keep from getting or forstalling cancer or at the least have the odds in your favor to successfully fight it once it is detected early.
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A word on biopsy for the prostate. It's not painful-but uncomfortable. They give you a pain killer. Whole procedure from undressing to leaving the doctors office was 45 minutes. It's a bit more uncomfortable then the regular prostate exam. I can honestly say the anticipation of the event was worse then the biopsy itself.
That uncomfortable 45 minutes added years to my life.
 
No problem
if you want to PM me at anytime I will be updating my e:mail.
For your info-my first name is Rodney-but I go by Rod.
 
No problem
if you want to PM me at anytime I will be updating my e:mail.
For your info-my first name is Rodney-but I go by Rod.

Mind if I call you Rodney on the forum so it doesn't seem like I'm talking to myself???:D
 
My Dad goes in March 12 for another consult on his prostate. His PSA was ok I believe, but was diagnosed with prostate cancer with a DRE with a colonoscopy follow up.
 
My father got a DRE and that confirmed his cancer. He will be seeking radioactive seed treatment. He is 82 and very active. Myself I go in Thursday for info on seed treatment. Made up my mind that is the way to go-there are just variations of it.
weatherweenie don't forget when you have your physicals be proactive since you have history of prostate cancer in your family.
 
My father got a DRE and that confirmed his cancer. He will be seeking radioactive seed treatment. He is 82 and very active. Myself I go in Thursday for info on seed treatment. Made up my mind that is the way to go-there are just variations of it.
weatherweenie don't forget when you have your physicals be proactive since you have history of prostate cancer in your family.

Have had a couple DRE's myself, inspite of being in my late 30s.

Fortunately the doc with the 2" wide fingers has retired. ;)
 
My father got a DRE and that confirmed his cancer. He will be seeking radioactive seed treatment. He is 82 and very active. Myself I go in Thursday for info on seed treatment. Made up my mind that is the way to go-there are just variations of it.
weatherweenie don't forget when you have your physicals be proactive since you have history of prostate cancer in your family.

I'm sure your father would not qualify for prostate surgery at his age, if it was needed. So, I hope the seeds work.

Do you know if the cancer was contained within the prostate?

I hope it was.
 
Yes my fathers cancer was contained. I know they did a scan on him. I suppoose they will do that for me for whatever procedure I select. I will have more details Thursday. I was really surprised the different ways they can treat prostate cancer. In the old days when they didn't have PSA tests I suppose they had more advanced cases and your selection was limited.
I'm not happy what I have-but I am glad I found it early.

I didn't hear anything positive about surgury to remove the prostate from 2 people I talked to.
Your right about his age.
 
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