What does this all mean for my life expectancy?
Nov 2017 after 5.8 PSA had a biopsy, positive. 4+5 Gleason 60% tumor. Prostatectomy 2/18. 3/18 PSA doubling. 9/18 PSA 7.2. 40 days of radiation plus lupron. PSA down for a couple of months then back up. Since then more lupron PSA up and down as they try different doses. I'm tired of side effects. Fatigue, no sex interest, brain fog. Keeping at it for my 11 and 13 yo daughters but very depressed now. Do I have any options to feel better? I'm about ready to give up. Lantz
Hi
. I'm sorry to hear you're struggling. Talking about what's going on is an important step, one not everyone is able to take. It's very common in our community for folks to find these side effects entirely overwhelming, and depression can be both a reaction to the side effects and a side effect itself. Plus the constant worry about your two young daughters. I'm going to reach out to the Facebook community with this Q&A. Sharing this story about PCa and raising kids, though the author is dealing with different treatment: https://prostatecancer.net/?p=4573. Best, Amylyn (Team Member) This will sound aweful but my wife told me last year she is "sick of me being sick". Intellectually I get that. This has been hard for my whole family, but I don't talk to her about anything related to my cancer now. My daughters are so young but they are very supportive but there's only so much I can discuss with them. I guess that's why I have been reaching out lately. It's been good. I like this site. I guess I'll just tough it out as long as I can.
Thanks for sharing your story with us, Lantz, and for the recent update. I can't answer your question about life expectancy, and I won't underestimate how many challenges your facing right now, but I can share what has worked for me through heart disease, a heart attack, cervical spine degeneration and surgery, and prostate cancer and surgery. One, I've done what you're doing: spoken openly and honestly with friends, family and on PC.net and Heart-Failure.net about my health struggles. It really helps, especially with depression. Two, I have fought mental and physical fatigue like an athlete training for the Olympics. I make myself exercise, even if it's just walking. Three, I've tried really hard to find the good in every day, to stay as present as possible. Four, I work with my doctors to improve my health. I hope you will continue to communicate with us on this platform. To one degree or another, we've been where you are and we want to support you as much as we can. Try hard to control the things you can. Sometimes, that's the best we can do for ourselves and our loved ones. Wishing you all the best, Will
Thanks. I'm doing my best. Thank goodness for my girls.
Best
LantzHi
- as promised, I posted your question to our Facebook community. I wanted to share with you a response we got.
"Lantz, I also had a Gleason 9 (5+4), which came back after my prostatectomy. And I have a good friend whose PCa makes mine look like a cakewalk. In my case, I got severe depression, which I’m still fighting 5 years later. I’m a firm believer that the only way to deal with depression is with a psychiatrist. I’m taking 2 antidepressants daily, and they make a giant difference for me. (Clinical depression is due to an imbalance of hormones and/or various chemicals in our brains. It’s virtually impossible to overcome clinical depression without medical treatment.) But my friend has been thru about every treatment I think there is. (He just had his second injection of Xofigo, which is radioactive and kills PCa that’s metastasized to the bones (his PCa is in 6 ribs).). I can’t begin to list all the treatments he’s had, but he’s been fighting an aggressive PCa for about 7 years. We go to support groups together, doing dinners and lunches together. But what most impresses me about him is his continuous upbeat attitude. Please don’t give up, and use the doctors to take the fight to the PCa. All the best to you! Len Smith ProstateCancer.net Moderator"
Thanks for being part of our community, Lantz. Take care. -Amylyn, Team MemberYou are welcome,
, that's why we are here. I am glad to hear you are taking the next steps for yourself; the first step always seems to be talking about it (check). We have heard of people being able to get telehealth visits with a psychiatrist, on a personal note, I do virtual visits with my therapist twice a month. It's incredible how technology can serve us in different ways through these very bizarre and uncertain times. Please keep us posted as you explore your options and consider treatment. We are thinking of you. - Amylyn (ProstateCancer.net, Team Member) Hey, My shrink called and is doing a telemed session with me this afternoon.
Thanks for checking up,
Lantz
