The Fight! How much are you willing to do to live?
I have had surgery, chemo, immunotherapy, many years of hormone therapy, 106 sessions of radiation in 5 places in my body and many different drugs through the years. In 2023 I had a tumor removed from my brain and 2024 I had a tumor that wrapped around my spinal cord removed. There was a little bit of tumor left in both places because the surgeon couldn't get it all. So I have had it in my prostate cancer in my prostate, lymph nodes, skull, brain and spinal cord. I have been fighting for 20 years this coming September. I have been stage 4 for 19 years. Not sure what is next but God knows.
Hi
. I know that you have been through a lot. I don't know if you have seen the bio or any of the articles from our contributor Tony who has been stage 4 since 2017 (here's his bio page: https://prostatecancer.net/community-advocates/tony-collier). Obviously not as long, but another person battling. I recall that your PSA was undetectable a number of years ago. I'm sorry to hear if there was another recurrence. Wishing you the best and you are always welcome here. Richard (Team Member) Sam-Collins - I am 68yoa. I had my prostatectomy in 2011. Clean margins. 8 years later, the PSA climbed again. Had radiation at pelvic floor and a nearby lymph node in 2022. Started ADT, and PSA was undetectable. Stopped ADT in 2023. PSA started to rise again mid-2024. Several scans PSMIs and MRIs later, they still have not found where it's coming from. Staying off the hormone deprivation drugs in hopes that a radiatable tumor will reveal itself. Now at .92.
You are a fighter and I am taking my inspiration from you for the road ahead.Thank you. I meant PSMA. I was told that a PSMA is warranted once the PSA gets to .5. We did ont then and it was negative. We are waiting to cross 1.0 before the next one. We did an MRI then too, which was also negative. In June, I was at .99. In late August, I had dropped to a .92. I'm not on any meds. (My testosterone had dropped too.) Labs and next visit with oncologist will take place 11/4/25. No new diagnostics set yet. Hope I'm not just waiting too long for both tests and treatment. Hi
. Totally understand the struggle with waiting, but it does seem like you and your medical team are being diligent and doing what you need to do with the tests, especially given that the PSA has leveled off. Hoping the things continue to stay steady for you. Best, Richard (Team Member)
