Comments on: Overview of the Prostate Cancer Treatment Options

By: Joe

Joe — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 15:48:25 +0000

I was diagnosed with prostate cancer at the age of 50 and had it removed along with several lymph nodes, one of which was considered positive. They wanted to immediately start me on hormonal therapy since it spread. and I said no, not until my body had enough time to recover. My PSA before the surgery was 10.1 with 90% of the prostate being cancerous. When I went for my first PSA test post surgery it dropped to 1.0 so we took the watchful waiting result. Three years later the doubling time increased so my oncologist recommended a clinincal study he was running. I enrolled in a clinical study at Johns Hopkins where I have been continuing since. I am now 55 and living a normal life, but still go to Hopkins monthly for routine blood tests and get my next supply of the drug. The baseline for participating in the study was again up to 10.1. After the first PSA test 6 months into the study it dropped to 3.7. So guys, explore your options before letting the doctors convince you otherwise. There are options out there for you. Also I encourage ALL males to get the DRE and PSA test done if necessary. Mine was picked up in a routine physical.

By: Wilson Pickett

Wilson Pickett — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 14:50:48 +0000

@ Rob,
You must of missed the Radiation Therapy section, “while the internal form of this therapy includes introduction of radioactive components into the surroundings of tumor or directly into it”.
I believe this refers to the “Seed” implants.
Regards,
WP

By: Stephanie

Stephanie — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 13:46:35 +0000

I’m glad Rob brought the radiation seed therapy up. I’ve worked closely with a radiation Doctor at a reputable radiation clinic in Georgia, Radiotherapy Center of Georgia, and copied thousands of breast and prostate cancer patients charts for research. I feel that method has the best results from the information I saw (also after talking with certian patients). I am trying to talk my father in law in to at least looking in to it before he misses his window of treatment. If you would like the name of a wonderful doc from some one who worked directly with him, Phillip Shrake is an excellent kind man with great bed-side manner.

By: Rob

Rob — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 02:00:09 +0000

One of the best and effective prostate treatments isnt even
mentioned ??? Im glad this isnt a doc giving me options for
treatment; guess thats why 2nd opinions should always be
considered !!!
I refer to Brakey seed implants; this is also being used for womens breast cancer treatments. I had seed implants ten years ago with excellent results; its outpatient, arrive in
the a.m. and go home early p.m. Zero side effects. Better
check it out before you let them slice and dice you, to me
that would be the last resort choice !! Rob

By: Bob Harris

Bob Harris — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 16:35:31 +0000

Another form of treatment is Proton Beam Therapy. This is a form of radiation except is extremely accurate and the beam is aimed only at the tumor and spares any nearby tissue. Because of this, proton beam therapy is much preferred to treat tumors in children. There are no substantial side effects and treatment is painless. Senator Ted Kennedy received proton beam therapy for his brain cancer. Treatment is available at Loma Linda University, Boston General (Harvard U.), University of Indiana (Bloomington), M.D. Anderson Cancer Center (Houston, TX) and University of Florida (Jacksonville, FL). Others that are building are Hampton University, VA, University of Pennsylvania, PA, and several others.