G'day,   I don't wander in here often either, after initially telling my story, but I do have a look from time to time. Anyways...I guess I'm technically still a patient, I underwent a radical prostatectomy seven years ago at age 52. It wasn't entirely successful and my PSA never fell to anywhere near zero. I then underwent salvage radiotherapy, I think it was 34 sessions, in early 2016. PSA then fell enough to allow my follow-ups from 2017 to be spaced out to annually. My PSA nadir was  0.04 in mid 2018. It has been rising since, I am now on 3-monthly blood tests and follow ups and officially have what is called a biochemical recurrence. I have undergone two PET scans since early 2021 which showed nothing, and my latest PSA reading is 0.43, which is still a small number but is a 10-fold increase in 4 years. The last two results have actually shown that the reading is plateauing, but it is still rising. I am now facing the prospect of starting hormone therapy in 3 or 6 months time, depending on my next reading and possibly another scan, although I can insist on starting it anytime I wish. I am symptom free, but live with the common side effects of the surgery and the radiation. ... View more

I hit 124.5 kgs last November, the heaviest that I've ever been. By coincidence , I was contacted by a PHD candidate looking for cancer survivors to participate in an exercise program so I signed up rightaway. I have had 4 weeks of the preliminary program and I'm pleased to report that I'm feeling much better, my weight has dropped to 117 kgs and  my general fitness is gradually improving.   My  medications had converted muscle into fat and my sense of "invalid" had  virtually relegated me to coutch potatoe. This peer supervised exercise program has kick started me into a more outdoors/active lifestyle.   My blood tests are going well with PSA still sub 1 & testosterone creeping back to normal  which is the best possible scenario post radiation &  ADT.   But like Job in the Bible, life is not all beer & skittles. I was diagnosed with Polymylaglia Rheumatica (PMR)  just before Christmas which is a particuluarly nasty form of rheumatism  and I'm on the medication trip again except this time my life expectancy is not adversely impacted but PMR can last anywhere from 2 years to a lifetime. ... View more

Hi, I have brain cancer and have been off work for 1 1/2 years, Centrelink has refused me 3 times. The first time the lady interviewing me said her son had a brain tumour as well, he had benefits paid.. but I wasn’t able to even get sickness allowance. The second time I applied the guy said it would be easier if I had never had a job and was on the dole, then they would pay... Absolute outrage of a system! Last week my Uber driver told me his entire family was on benefits and in gov funded housing because they were new to the country!!! ... View more

Hi Michael glad your surgery went well sorry to hear your Gleason score is higher. My husband is doing well he has just finished radiation which was only 5 sessions not 35 it's a newer type of one as his was in a lymph node which was unable to be removed during his surgery. He also needs to do a PSA test in a few months to determine if radiation has worked,so it's a waiting game as well. We are also not dwelling on the Gleeson score as you just have to focus on the positive things. So next week we are taking a holiday. Hope you get better results at your first blood test ... View more

Greetings, hey, hi and hello. Thanks for the comments and the continued support. Appreciated. Very. All continues to go well for me, as I have now under three weeks' of radiation to go. Other than feeling tired, and that varies day to day, I'm travelling good albeit slightly slower. I have been so lucky in my experience. I received my diagnosis in November. I was sad, distressed and angry. And why not? After planning, scrimping and saving for three years, we were off to England for a five month bucket list -- Europe on tour, Wales, Ireland and Scotland by car. Scotland was important because I intended to scatter my mother's ashes there. So, as you can imagine, to have the C word blow up in your face, well, disheartening is a good word. But, as luck and prayer would have it, my "team" has indicated that we are going and we're on the plane in April. Excitement abounds. Finally. Now, sure, not everyone can bucket list their emotions and go on a trip. But having spoken to many people who are on the C journey, the secret seems to be finding a major distraction. And a big help, so I've found, in addition to trip planning, is to involve and interest yourself/ ourselves/myself in the welfare of others. When we move outside of ourselves and lock on to something other than ourselves, well, life offers us a richer tapestry than the often bland colours that our situation and circumstance can bring. It works for me. Maybe for you, too. I wish YOU the best. George. ... View more

Hey Zol, Thank you for taking the time to offer your personal (and beneficial) account of your journey. Your sharing is greatly appreciated. I have a Gleason score of 7. I've met today with my urologist, and tomorrow I meet my radiologist, with the suggestion we will move to radiation (external). I read everywhere that radiation is done for five days at a time, yet my urologist is suggesting it will probably be for three days. I queried that, but he thinks three. I sure hope so. The distance from here to there -- home to hospital-- is a far drive. A packed lunch drive if you get my meaning. All my scans are back -- the cancer is localised in the prostate. So I am very, VERY relieved. Again, Zol, thank you for sharing. I wish you well on your journey. The very best to you, George. ... View more

Are you on androgen therapy? The purpose of androgen therapy (hormone therapy) is to supress testosterone which drives the prostate cancer. If as you say: "PSA at 4.9 dropping but still affected by remnants of cancers cells and Testosterone at 14.5 and I am not on any hormone treatments" You should have a talk with your radiation oncologist re your PSA & testosterone levels and the risk, if any, of cancer having escaped beyond the prostate capsule. In my case the radiation oncologist recommended 18 months of androgen therapy as a safety measure in case minute amounts of cancer had escaped which was not detectable by bone & soft tissue scans. Also your GP should be capable of advising you on any post radiation risks. Cheers Zol ... View more