September and what it means to me.

Starting the journey with prostate cancer

Hi I'm back for another year. 18 years now and just turned 74. I was 56 when I started my journey with PC in 2005. I have now been stage 4 since 2007. I shared my story a few times on here. Just wanted you to know that there is hope for a longer life if you are wanting to fight for it. I'm not saying everyone will make it this long, I didn't think I would. You will never know until you try. It's not easy I know that for sure. I started with Surgery, then had 35 sessions of radiation for salvage. Well, it didn't work.

Prostate cancer progression

I was changed from stage T2c to stage 4. It had gone to my lymph nodes in between my kidneys and at the base of my neck. 25 sessions of radiation to each one of those areas for a total 50 sessions. Then it ended up in the base of my skull.

Another 11 sessions of radiation. After that I went into remission for 3 years and then it came back. That is a total of 96 sessions of radiation in 4 different places in my body. They checked my PSA about 122 times are so now. I lost my right kidney, and have spasms in my neck from radiation treatments. I had 6 sessions of chemotherapy, hormonal therapy for 13 years, Provenge ( immunotherapy ), Casodex, Flutamid, Ketoconazole that maybe gave me neuropathy in my feet. Then I started Xtandi and put on Palliative care. Many other drugs through the years and many different types of scans. Mri's, X-Rays and much more. I told the doctor that I would fight and I have, but it hasn't been easy. I fight like hell and talk to God. I think about living but I'm ready to die if it is my time. If I always just think about the cancer and dying I will forget to live the time that I have left.

Prostate cancer journey

It's been a roller-coaster ride but God has been there for me all the way. I would have never guessed I would still be around but here I am 18 years later. There many things that I use to do that I can't do now but that is OKAY. I do other things that I can and just keep living a day at a time. I hope in some way this has encouraged someone to fight like hell and talk to God. Live one day at a time. God bless Sam Collins