Get Serious About PSA testing for Prostate Cancer

Today I read an new article about a local musician in Dyerbgurg TN. He passed away from prostate cancer at the age 52 today. He was diagnosed stage 4 prostate cancer in 2010 and it had already spread to lymph nodes and his bones. It caught him as a surprise in the prime of his life. Here is the story. http://www.stategazette.com/story/1747556.html

I was lucky. I started PSA testing when I was 52 and by chance completing a full blood panel of tests at that time. My first PSA was 1.2 in 2006. Clinically that fits the norm range up to 4.0 not to be concerned. I continued to monitor and had 2 more bumps to 2.9 6 months later. In 2007 my PSA tripled to 5.8. I was concerned changed my attending physician as there was no concern at that time. My new physician confirmed at my age It would be a killer if I discovered cancer and not treated. I made an appointment after that with a urologists in October 1 2007.

The tests came back the next day and indeed I had cancer and you may read the story here.

A day does not go by that I am so thankful to still be alive and in just great health due to this marvelous treatment called proton beam therapy. I was so lucky to have done such a simple test back in 2006. I am sure today undiscovered it would have been my demise and I would not be writing how well I am doing and promoting proton therapy.

Do yourself and your family a life saver and get tested with a simple PSA test. Ignoring this test may cost your life and take heed that clinically it can not be determined how aggressive the cancer is. So get treated! Don't gamble with your life and rob you friends and family of your companionship.

So Happy to be alive and Cheers!

Sexual Health in Men Declines After Prostate Surgery

Hopefully you have found this blog in your due diligence and research for treatment of prostate cancer. Proton therapy with its minimal side effects as it was for me is the option to consider as these types of reports come in frequently. Please read this article:
Sexual health is worse than expected in nearly half of all men who undergo surgery for prostate cancer, according to a poll.

Sexual function was shown to have decreased while incontinence problems increased.

Prior to the surgery, some men in the study expected to have better sexual and urinary function a year after surgery than prior to it. That belief is not realistic, Daniela Wittmann, sexual health coordinator at the urology department of the University of Michigan, told Reuters.

"Men have unrealistic expectations of urinary and sexual function after prostatectomy despite preoperative counseling," Wittmann and her colleagues wrote. more:

Permanent nerve damage experienced during prostate cancer surgery

I created this blog as the start of my prostate cancer journey. My treatment of choice was proton beam therapy. It is information like the following that just makes sense to consider the advantages of proton beam therapy in treating your cancer:

Permanent nerve damage experienced during surgery: When nerve damage occurs anywhere in the body, the tissues to which the damaged nerves supply impulses usually experience atrophy or breakdown. This can often be seen in paraplegic, wheelchair bound people in whom the loss of nerve signal causes a significant decrease in the size and muscle mass of the legs. The same can be said of the penis after nerve damage during prostatectomy. If permanent nerve damage occurs, the lack of impulses to smooth muscle of the penis leads to an atrophy or breakdown of the tissues responsible for erections and causes the penis to shrink both in length and girth.

Read on: http://myprostatedoc.blogspot.com/2011/06/shortening-of-penis-after-prostatectomy.html

Prostate Cancer Symptoms - Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF)

Prostate Cancer Symptoms - Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF)

I am posting these symptoms from the Prostate Cancer Foundation for the benefit of first time visits to this site and those starting the journey with diagnosis of prostate cancer.

Not everyone experiences symptoms of prostate cancer. Many times, signs of prostate cancer are first detected by a doctor during a routine check-up.

Some men, however, will experience changes in urinary or sexual function that might indicate the presence of prostate cancer. These symptoms include:

A need to urinate frequently, especially at night
Difficulty starting urination or holding back urine
Weak or interrupted flow of urine
Painful or burning urination
Difficulty in having an erection
Painful ejaculation
Blood in urine or semen
Frequent pain or stiffness in the lower back, hips, or upper thighs

You should consult with your doctor if you experience any of the symptoms above.

Because these symptoms can also indicate the presence of other diseases or disorders, such as BPH or prostatitis, men will undergo a thorough work-up to determine the underlying cause.

Proton therapy of cancer: Potential clinical advantages and cost-effectiveness

I came across this study by Medical Management center in Stockholm Sweden. It approaches the topic of cost effectiveness proton beam therapy vs other modalities for cancer treatment. I present this as there is an underlying question "is proton worth the costs". For me as a cancer survivor treated successfully with no side effects it is just makes sense to consider proton therapy for treatment as you will see as you review my blog. I put a lot of value of leading a normal life while not suffering side effects. So to me it was worth the costs.

Unfortunately it is so difficult to evaluate all the options that are available in treatment of cancer. While medical professionals provide their best advise based on there area of expertise, it is you who will have to make the final decision in selecting the treatment. Time is not on your side as clinical reports come in over the years. I, like you did not or do not have the luxury to debate this issue.

The following study goes like this: "Proton therapy may offer potential clinical advantages compared with conventional radiation therapy for many cancer patients. Due to the large investment costs for building a proton therapy facility, however, the treatment cost with proton
radiation is higher than with conventional radiation. It is therefore important to evaluate whether the medical benefits of proton therapy are large enough to motivate the higher costs."

"The results of this study indicate that proton therapy may be a cost-effective treatment if appropriate risk groups are chosen as targets for proton therapy, and that an investment in a proton therapy facility may be cost-effective compared to using conventional radiation": Click here to see the complete study.

Prostate surgery leaves another one impotent

I read this article today:

'I'm a ladies' man who can never make love': Andrew Lloyd Webber reveals prostate cancer battle has left him impotent

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1371379/Andrew-Lloyd-Webber-reveals-prostate-cancer-battle-left-impotent.html#ixzz1IIm1rDzj

Become your own advocate do your research and consider proton beam therapy for prostate cancer. I see this happening every day as this story including friends who think the physician has there best interest at heart when it comes to prostate surgery. They say the may spare the nerves but the statistics are clear that only 11% retain any type of sexuality and it is not what I would consider acceptable. It does not have to be this way. Your cancer can be treated without the loss and many side effects that other treatments leave. Please review this blog as it provides many details about proton beam therapy. I am three years out from my proton beam therapy treatment and have not loss a day of work, wore diapers, had a catheter or loss my sexuality. No ED! What a peace of mind to continue life normally and have the cancer successfully treated.

Comparison Tables proton, photon(xray, IMRT) Prostatectomy

The following link should be reviewed by all newly diagnosed with localized and cancers including prostate cancer. It clearly demonstrates outcomes and side effects in comparison to proton, photon and prostatectomy. Comparison Tables proton, photon(xray, IMRT) Prostatectomy.