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Willis Forrester
- Male
- Covington, GA
- United States
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Willis Forrester's Groups
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Radiation
81 members
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ED and incontinence post…
139 members
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PSA Persists After RP
71 members
Willis Forrester's Discussions
Radiation or Not?
Replied Nov 19
Unfortunate Thing about ED discussion Forums
Replied Nov. 29, 2008
Forrester Dot Life: 10 year survivor and going strong.
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Bruce, I did not undergo radiation when I had RP in August 1998 - I was on Casodex for 18 months when the PSA began an upward creep 5 years after the surgery. The PSA dropped to less than 0.1.
However, the PSA has now climbed above 0.7 and the doct…
Seems to me a good question Phil - I'm trying to decide whether to undergo "salvage" radiation but am not convinced that the benefit potential is good enough for me. I'd like to hear what your doctor has to say, but it seems to me that there would b…
I'd like to add a note to this post with an additional question. I am on warfarin for heart conditions, and I wonder if the rectal bleeding would be made worse because of the warfarin? I have opted, at least for the present, to forego salvage radiat…
Profile Information
- Have you been diagnosed with prostate cancer?
- yes
- What brings you to the New Prostate Cancer InfoLink social network?
- Read about it in a magazine.
- Would you help us grow the network? Would you tell others about it?
- Yes.
- About Me:
- 10 year survivor here - now 69 years of age but am experiencing some gradual increase in the PSA results, but still under 1.0. I feel great and do most anything I want to do.
I maintain a personal website as a hobby and there is more about me and my life at the site.
Comment Wall (15 comments)
- At 7:31am on May 12, 2009,
David S. McLarty said…
- Hi Willis,
I was just wondering how you are doing by now? I finished my SRT on 01/14/09 and are waiting to see the results on a ultra sensitive assay. I had a regular test at a health fair a few weeks back and it came from 0.1 in September to 0.0 on that one. Not ready to claim a victory but am encouraged! I hope you are doing well and I will be checking back to see how you are progressing.
David
- At 8:42am on February 12, 2009,
Thomas Day said…
- HI Will , its been 3years now that i had external beem radition at u of michigan hospital. My medical oncologist told me even befor rp i would most likely have to have radiation post surgury so i accepted it.The problem with this is in most cases the cancer is not in the prostate bed any longer therefor the proses is useless.That said i would not have it done.My side affects were mimamal but if not done at the right hospital it might have negitive problems
Best of luck, Tom
- At 10:40pm on February 2, 2009,
George A. Brown said…
- Hi Willis,
I meant to say more than "Hi Willis" but I touched the wrong button. As for radiation, the treatment wasn't bad itself. I got rather fatigued, but I began increasing exercise at about the half way point. I started to get that burning feeling when urinating. You can get ride of this with some pills that turns your pee bright orange.My under pants were stained every day for about 2 weeks. I was off and on these pills for a while, and then it cleared up. I am on flomax and that really keeps me in good shape. When I had about 3 session left, I had a bad time, buy that, I was tired of being cooked. But I finished and followed this by a great workout. Urination is cleared up now. Had a few times where I had an instant urge to go, but practiced holding this for 10 to 15 minutes. It worked. As for the bowel, this is where I am still having some struggles. I had what I described as Explosive Bowel Syndrome for a while. My QOL was ok as long as I was only 10 minutes away from a toilet. This has slowly improved to happening once a month. The best person to tell you how to deal with bowel problems is the Radiation Doc. My urologist oncologist was useless here.I finished my last radiation on October 20, 2008. So today, 100 days after, I has a combination of constipation, gas, and very little diarrhea, some cramps, but I can live with this today. I have an appointment with the Radiation doc this month and will try to get some ideas to get this to even out. My PSA in .09 from a 3.0 in April 2008.. Let me say this, if you go to a excellent radiation facility, your side effects are really minimal. After 100 days I can comfortably accept the few remaining side effects. Let me know how you are doing PSA wise. George
- At 10:14pm on February 2, 2009,
George A. Brown said…
- Hi Willis,
- At 8:30am on January 12, 2009,
David S. McLarty said…
- Hi Willis, I can't say that I blame you with your decision. There is a lot of ifs with these decisions at best. You have had great success with your plan up to now so I would probably continue along that line myself. I know you will make the right choices! Keep us updated with things as we are concerned and I will do likewise. The best of luck to you and all my friends here!
David
- At 7:43am on January 9, 2009,
David S. McLarty said…
- Hi Willis, Just wondered how your Drs visit went? I am down to 4 treatments, including the one for today, and I will be finished Wed. the 14th. I still have no major SE from all this. My Radiation Dr. said he would have me back in for a check in 4 weeks, not a PSA but just a check to see if I had any complications.
Take care.....David
- At 11:23am on January 4, 2009,
George A. Brown said…
- Willis,
Keep me posted as to how things go Tuesday.
George
- At 10:03pm on January 3, 2009,
George A. Brown said…
- Willis,
That adds an important factor. What about a second opinion on trying to identify and locate a turmor. Splashing around radiation is not the best thing you can do for your overall health. The way these moderen up to date Radiation Oncologists operate today, there are not very many major and lasting side-effects from the treatments. Its pretty focused. But..... I sure would get a second opinion. Let me know what is you decision. I will keep you in my thoughts. George
- At 9:02pm on January 3, 2009,
George A. Brown said…
- Willis,
I happened to see your discussion on salvage radiation. I perhaps can answer some of your questions as I completed primary radiation therapy and did not have a RP. The tattoos can be real or paste on. Mine were pasted on and used to line up th beam with a CT every day. After about 3/4 of the 30 treatments my urination burned so they gave me some pills which really helped. Urination cleared up about 5 weeks after and today after 7 weeks I am left with some bowel cramps that are tolerable and told that they shall go away. You really get tired and the day I finished I went to the gym and earnestly worked out every other day which really helped. I am looking forward for the bowel to clear up. When I had three treatments to go I was really weary.
If I can say anything else let me know. George
- At 3:38pm on December 29, 2008,
Jack H said… - Willis,
Thanks for your note. It seems as though you too have done quite well over the years. I am sure you will continue to do well. I wish you luck in your next course of treatment.
It seems that lately, there have been quite a few stories of promising, potential treatments for this problem. If we can stay healthy for a couple of more years, we'll have even more choices of treatment from which we can benefit!
Yes, I agree I am quite young for this. I suspected I would have to deal with it eventually, but I figured maybe at around age 60 or 65, the age when my father was diagnosed. (still alive a 83 btw) I remember a few years ago reading a Reader's Diigest (or something like it) piece about a guy who was 42 and had Pca. The story made it seem as though he was a medical oddity. I know now, it's not that uncommon after all.
Of course it's difficult to live with the uncertainty of what could happen in the future. However. other than this, my body's been good to me so I won't complain too much.
Question, with your rising PSA, have you altered your diet at all? Have you researched Pomegranate juice? There may be something to it.
Take Care.
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