Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2008/11/08

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Subject: [Leica] Off Topic - Prostate
From: stasys1 at cox.net (stasys1@cox.net)
Date: Sat Nov 8 08:47:04 2008

---- Rick Floyd <rickfloyd@comcast.net> wrote: 
> Don:
> 
> I've been a member of this group for a long time and often feel like I  
> take more than I give.  So, let me try to relate my experiences with  
> prostate cancer.  At the age of 50, I started noticing more frequent  
> trips to the bathroom.  Nothing screamingly different, but enough in  
> the night to get my attention.  When I discussed this with my doctor,  
> he felt that PSA testing wasn't reliable enough to depend upon.  He  
> couldn't detect anything with a digital exam, so I just let it go.
> 
> After a couple of months, the symptoms were not going away.  My trips  
> to the bathroom were becoming more frequent.  By chance, a local radio  
> station was having a mens screening day with free PSA testing.   
> Results from that test showed an elevated PSA level of 7.6.  My father  
> was diagnosed with prostate cancer at the age of 67.  I went back to  
> my primary physician and demanded further testing.  They repeated the  
> PSA which was now at 10.6.
> 
> He gave me a referral to University of Michigan to see a urologist.   
> The urologist repeated the PSA which had now risen to 10.8  
> (statistically, not significant, but sent a panic through me).  The  
> urologist then performed the biopsy with 16 sites collected.  The  
> results of the 16 samples revealed 15 clear and 1 with cancer.  That  
> one had about 20% cancerous cells and showed a Gleason score of 7 (4  
> over 3).  The urologist sent me to the UofM urology oncology  
> department were I discussed my treatment options.
> 
> First I met with a surgeon - what a jerk.  Then I met with a radiation  
> oncologist.  I was really torn and decided to seek a second opinion  
> from a surgeon.  My wife is on staff at UofM and got me a meeting with  
> the head surgeon of the urology oncology department.  I will tell you  
> I was really torn.  But, ultimately, I decided on radiation as my  
> course of treatment.  UofM uses the Calypso System to ensure accurate  
> treatment of the prostate.  You can go here if you would like to read  
> more:
> 
> http://www.med.umich.edu/opm/newspage/2007/calypso.htm
> 
> I received 42 treatments over the course of 8+ weeks.  The treatments  
> were simple - lay on the table, be positioned, and receive the  
> treatments as the machine worked its way around the nine positions.   
> Each treatment lasted about 55 minutes.  About 36 treatments in, I  
> became very weak and didn't think I could make it to the end.  My  
> radiation therapist became my cheerleader and helped get me through  
> the process.  I am now 54 and my most resent PSA was 0.6.  I am tested  
> every 3 months and my levels have been between 0.2 and 0.6 during all  
> those tests.
> 
> I can remember my frustrating time being wishing someone would just  
> tell me the best path to proceed.  I discovered each person must make  
> those decisions for themselves.  So, I won't tell you what to do, only  
> what worked for me.
> 
> I will suggest that you go to the livestrong website (Lance Armstron's  
> site) and order the free Survivor Workbook.  If you email me your  
> address, I will gladly send you a copy I have.  I found it really  
> helpful in organizing my appointments, medication, thoughts, worries,  
> and everything that went into my treatment plan.
> 
> Don, all in all, it sounds like you are asking the right questions.   
> If I can do anything to help, please let me know.  I agree it is  
> interesting to see peoples reactions to the news of you having  
> cancer.  My sister couldn't talk with me at all until the treatments  
> are over - very weird.  I will have to find the photos my son took of  
> me for his photography class with my M6 + 50 Summicron.  They are so  
> special in meaning to me.  I'll post them and send you the link.
> 
> With all my thoughts and prayers,
> Rick
> 
> 
> 
> --- On Thu, 11/6/08, Don Lawrence <DLawrence@fkp.com> wrote:
> 
> > From: Don Lawrence <DLawrence@fkp.com>
> > Subject: [Leica] Off Topic - Prostate
> > To: lug@leica-users.org
> > Date: Thursday, November 6, 2008, 9:26 AM
> > Having been reading this list for years and being an
> > infrequent poster,
> > I feel a bit like part of the extended LUG family.
> > Therefore, I feel comfortable and hope no minds me asking
> > for advice on
> > an important topic totally unrelated to photography.
> > I was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer.
> >
> > One of the advantages of living in Houston, is that we have
> > MD Anderson
> > Cancer Center here. Frequently rated number one or two in
> > the USA for
> > cancer care, they have been a client of mine for years. I
> > was able to
> > speak to some friends and got an appointment very quickly.
> > They are also
> > one of only three sites in the USA with a proton radiation
> > therapy
> > machine, a form of therapy that uses particles rather than
> > photons. This
> > is a breakthrough, as it can reduce the risk of collateral
> > tissue damage
> > during the course of therapy.
> >
> > I am 53 years old and my father died of prostate cancer
> > metastatic
> > disease at the age of 70.
> > Since there a probably many of you here near my age or
> > above, I thought
> > some of you might have been through this experience.
> > Everyone in my family has advised me, and I have had first
> > and second
> > professional opinions on all the various treatment options.
> > Of course since day one, I have scoured the internet to
> > learn more.
> > Finding that people are right when they say the internet
> > can be a
> > torrential downpour of information, mostly unfiltered and
> > frequently
> > overwhelming.
> > Given all this, I feel fairly well versed in all of my
> > options.
> >
> > I am almost convinced to have a radical prostatectomy using
> > the DaVinici
> > robot, but if any of you have been through this mess of
> > treatment
> > options you know that each medical professional who
> > consults with you is
> > totally convinced that their specialty offers a great
> > chance of a total
> > cure.
> > Radiation oncologists are convincingly describing a 90%
> > chance of no
> > cancer in 5 years and surgeons give about the same odds.
> > It boggles the mind and makes it hard to come to a
> > decision.
> >
> > It is interesting to see how some people react when they
> > learn you have
> > cancer. A few are motherly and are willing to consult and
> > share
> > thoughts. But mostly people are strangely silent, as if the
> > subject is
> > taboo and too personal to speak about. Weird!
> >
> > So if any of you photographers here have been down this
> > road, I would
> > appreciate any advice or thoughts you are willing to share.
> > Contact me by private email.
> >
> > Thanks
> > Don Lawrence
> >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Leica Users Group.
> > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more
> > information
> 
> 
> Rick- Thanks for taking the time and effort for such a comprehensive 
> report of your ordeal. I think with more serious medical situations and 
> procedures- it is best to get a second (or more) opinion. When I had a 
> rotator cuff operation- I went for a second opinion-event though the 
> surgeon I was to use was a renouned (sic) doctor at UCLA. Since I'm left 
> handed and that is where the problem was- I wanted to be sure of my 
> condition before going under the knife. My sister who was 43 at the time 
> had a heart valve cleaning operation at U of M, and died a month later. 
> With medicine and operations- it's all risky. I just had an operation 3 
> weeks ago- eyelid surgery and eyebrow lift- and I'm recovering (my scalp 
> is still numb!). I'm a young 65 (so people tell me). Best, Stasys
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Leica Users Group.
> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information


In reply to: Message from rickfloyd at comcast.net (Rick Floyd) ([Leica] Off Topic - Prostate)