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Craig Pynn
- Male
- Brentwood, CA
- United States
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exercise
11 members
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Hormone Suppression
73 members
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Radiation
81 members
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I strongly second Peter's advice (although I'm no personal trainer myself). I hired a very competent trainer earlier this year, who "got it" about limitations created by radiation and ADT. He concentrated on having me learn core exercises using most…
support for men who want and need to exercise after diagnosis - either to maintain or modify their existing regime or start a new one.
I'm into month 5 of a two-year course with the LHRH agonist, Vantas, which is implanted in my left bicep--and will be dug out next March and replaced with a second one-year supply. (Beats monthly or bi-monthly shots, though & allows me to stay away…
How to manage side effects. Is there a survival benefit to early suppression versus delayed? Discussion about the latest research on intermittent deprivation and testosterone replacement therapy in the treatment of PCa.
Hi all:
Completed treatment #42 yesterday (6/5) and I'm outta there! Hooray! Fatigue has not been as bad as threatened and post-treatment naps really helped. RO diagnosed proctitus and urethitis. The latter became quite painful during the last 2 we…
The gold implants go in the same way as the biopsy samples came out--but there are only three or four of 'em.
Hi Phil: A great start! I'm 24 down with 18 to go (25 on IMRT followed by 17 on IGRT). Side effects have been far less awful than many of the dire warnings. Obviously it's different for each guy, but I've found that following the diet guidelines I'm…
Profile Information
- Have you been diagnosed with prostate cancer?
- Yes
- What brings you to the New Prostate Cancer InfoLink social network?
- Google search and a desire to hear other guy's stories.
- Would you help us grow the network? Would you tell others about it?
- Sure, especially if it proves helpful.
- About Me:
- I'm a 62-year old electrical engineer with an MBA who spent 30+ years marketing electronics test equipment. I've been married to Susan for almost 40 years and we divide our time between the San Francisco Bay Area and Massachusetts (almost, but not quite Cape Cod). Two adult children; two grandkids, a marketing consulting business and a hobby of nature photography that you can check out at my website.
I was diagnosed with PCa in January 2009.
I've faithfully had annual PSA tests and DREs since turning 55 PSAs always ran in the <2.0 range (except for a bout of prostatitis in 2002, but PSA came back down.) PSA at my last physical in early 2008 was 1.53. Went to the urologist 6 months later after blood appeared in my urine. One thing led to another resulting in a biopsy with 11 out of 12 cores cancerous, Gleason 8 with the added bonus of PCa having migrated to my urethra (confirmed via urethral biopsy), classifying me as stage cT4.
Per my urologist, "surgery is not an option for you--and I'm a surgeon," so at least I’m spared having people holding knives hovering over my body.
Have been fortunate that the same uroloigst reads the literature so he started me on 150mg Casodex (3X the FDA-approved dosage, but used in Europe & the UK) at time of diagnosis, resulting in PSA now at 0.38. Have now started ADT (Vantas) and begin radiation on April 7–-so I’m a long way from knowing the long term outcome, much less the joyous side effects yet to come.
- Website:
- http://craigshots.com
Craig Pynn's Blog
Week 2
4 radiation sessions down. Still a radiation neophyte and no meaningful side effects beyond the ADT-induced hot flashes which are steadily increasing in daily number. Met Friday with the rad onc doc who confirmed that yes, I was scheduled for 79 Greys of radiation across 42 sessions, and yes, the first 25 sessions cover a fairly broad area of the pelvis (~11 x 12cm front & back and ~11x 16cm on the sides). So, yes, I'll doubtless experience the full panoply of side effects. He said if I like… Continue
Posted on April 13, 2009 at 11:16pm —
An Experiment
Needless to say, I'm curious about the cumulative effect of Vantas + radiation on my general well-being and the impact of increasing fatigue due to the chemical and photonic assaults on my body. Currently, I work out 50 minutes at the gym 5 days a week (treadmill + weight machines). Due to the bone/muscle loss implications of the ADT it's certainly in my best interests to keep at resistance training, if not cardio, as much as possible.
So, my plan is to log what I am able accomplish each day, t… Continue
So, my plan is to log what I am able accomplish each day, t… Continue
Posted on April 6, 2009 at 12:50pm —
Comment Wall (8 comments)
- At 11:58am on September 11, 2009,
Karen Ann Bigby said…
- Dear Craig,
Good morning! My first message may not have gotten through. I'm your long lost cousin to the north and I so wanted you to know, not a night goes by that I don't include you in my prayers. Judging by this website, you sound like a high-tech dragon slayer of nasty diseases. I've learned a lot just reading your comments and your upbeat positive attitude must be such an encouragement to others. Love from all of us to you, Your cousin, Karen
- At 5:22am on August 11, 2009,
Jean-Jacques MERMOD said…
- Hi Craig
I am interesed to read about your routine execises
can you give more details on what you do and how you set the level
I am also under ADT since 2 years following 2 radiotherapies-
you cou can read a summary in the Art Therapy section if interested
cheers
jj
- At 1:19am on August 9, 2009,
Rick D. said…
- hello craig -
interested to hear where you are getting your treatment. i was found to have a T-score of -2.4 in my spine when I got my baseline test on starting lupron (28-month regime). ialso had 4+4, so kaiser agreed to give me one annual shot of zometa but no more frequent.
i exercise daily and my T-score fell to -1.9 after 12 months, so i understand how important the exercise component of our treatment is - sign on to the exercise we just started!
we also run a terrific support group although it's a ways from you - Marin General Hospital Medical Library every Tuesday, 7 - 8.30. We get 25-40 attendees from all over the bay area - as far away as san jose and healdsburg
onwards and upwards, rick.
- At 1:37am on April 8, 2009,
George A. Brown said…
- Hi Craig,
One Rad treatment down. I didn't notice anything until 1/2 way through and that was when my urinations burned. They have an excellent sort of dye pill for this which really helps but turns your urine bright orange and if you start dripping it really stains your shorts. The bowel problems come a little later with what I have called explosive bowel syndrome. This usually happens if they radiate more than 14 square centemeters of the back rectal wall. However this clears up and Imodium is the best treatment. All and all I am 4 months out from Rad and I can handle what I presently have which is some uncomfortableness. The ADT I have been on a year and the hot flushes sort of come and go from 5 a day to 20. Some days ok some days bad. If depression sets in don't try to fight it on your own. I did and I almost lost. Effexor 75 mg sort of helps with the hot flashes and with the depression. The metobolic syndrome sort of sneeks up on you. I deal with this through a great endo doc. who helps with the lipids and Insulin resistance. Cognitive loss sort of fools you so just be aware. Like don't put the butter back in the microwave - its goes in the refrig. Stay in conversation here on the site and we can sort of moniter each other. You will make it through all of this. I had a wide angle spread on the radiation also. Sound like you got some great Rad docs. Remember - work out with the weights. Get made at them and become strong as an ox but not as dumb. Take care with #2 tomorrow.George
- At 4:12pm on April 4, 2009,
George A. Brown said…
- Hi Craig,
On the Osteopenia, my Doc said exercise and take more tums. That Reclast must be nasty stuff. I hope I can stay away. Now here is the scoop on the Vantas. I had it implanted in October 2008 and it has been in since. Prior to that I received a 4 month shop of Lupron in May 08 which almost did me in. I think you can have a alergic reaction to Lupron, I sure did, was sick and depressed in a bad bad way. So they tried the Vantus which is sort of mellow. Hot Flushes, Metabolic Syndrome, Sweats, cognitive loss. This is the strange one. Get in the car and drive, suddenly don't know where I am going.Put the butter back into the microwave. Forget to close garage door. No more munti tasking. In February my testosterone is 47 and Doc wants it below 20. So to test the Vantus he gives me, against my desires, a 30 day shot of Lupron and my T drops to 27. And my depression goes to 99.78 % for a month. Coming down to a normal anxiety today though. Once again sick as a dog. So... now he still wants my testosterone to go below 20 so now he wants to give me a shot of Degarelix (New one, just out) Next week is the execution of this one. So Craig that is my update on Vantus which is still in with some residue of Lupron and now (Unless I run away) DEGARELIX If you go to the sister site = main page, left side look for red writing and click go to blog. At this site go to top and click questions at the next site click "Ask Arthur" and scroll down to near the bottom to see my delimia. Keep in touch. George
- At 4:47pm on April 3, 2009,
E. Michael D. ("Mike") Scott said… - Hey Craig: Focus on you and wife first. We are a distant third, and more here to help you than anything else. We are, however, always intereested in how people are doing as they travel through MedicoAdventureLand.
:O)
- At 6:35am on April 3, 2009,
E. Michael D. ("Mike") Scott said…
- Dear Craig: I am sorry to hear bout your diagnosis. That is a real bummer when you have been so assiduous about regular testing. However (for the benefits of others who may read your profile over time) it also characterizes a key problem with prostate cancer -- it is not always a slowly growing disease.
Please feel able to ask questions as things transpire. There are a variety of ways to help manage some of the side effects of hormone therapy as (and if) they transpire. Men have a very wide range of reactions to hormone therapy, and a small subset actually report few seruious adverse events (other than the almost inevitable loss of potency).
- At 12:40am on April 3, 2009,
George A. Brown said…
- Hi Craig,
Welcome aboard and thanks for sharing. No surgery for me also. I am a T3b with a Gleason 7. Completed 33 sessions of IMRT EBRT last November 08. I have been on Casodex 50 mg, Avodart .5 mg and a Vantas (Histrelin) one year implant in my bicept. ADT3. The Vantas is a lot easier on me than Lupron as I have been on that also. On Hormone therapy for 11 months with some hot flushes, metabolic syndrome, cognitive loss and no sex drive. The side effects of the radiation are sort of off and on. Finally able to pee normally, my bowel was a problem and that is probably my most anoying problem. Otherwise I have osteopenia so watch the calacium and Vit D levels. Craig the best thing I found for the hormone treatment and osteopenia is weight lifting. I now go 5 days a week. Lots of muscle loss on hormone therapy and a big fat 10lb tire around the midsection, sort of creeps up on you. But you habg in there and use this site for support, friends, and info. We take care of each other like brothers. I shall check back with you. George
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