OK, saw the urologist yesterday and nothing new.

Something that surprised me was that one of the first things he talked about was the fact that they would have given a world leader very thorough medical exams at least annually and couldn't possibly have "just found out" he had cancer considering its advanced stage. He was pretty mad about it.

That's OK... if I were in charge of that leader's medical information, I wouldn't have announced it either until he was out of office and it didn't matter. It wouldn't have had any effect on his performance, and there was no reason to upset anyone when he was in office. Considering the speed with which prostate cancer develops, maybe they DID just find out... it's quite possible.

"No doubt the universe is unfolding as it should." -- Desiderata.

I've got enough problems myself with being weak and unsteady, an effect of some combination of various medications and the fact that I recently fell and broke two ribs. I really should have taken my walker or wheelchair to see the doctor, and he pretty much demanded I do that, using them even at home. I was exhausted by the time I got home. It's much better now after a long sleep.

Got a couple of kittens exploring the computer room. Not the first time they've been in here, but the first time they've spent any time exploring.

Hook

Edited May 20, 20251 yr by LHookins

I was diagnosed with it at 52 years after rising PSA values and an MRI/Biopsy. I was told back then I would be dead in 6 years if not treated. I was offered removal, external radiation or  Interstitial Brachytherapy where radiating titanium seeds are shot directly into the prostate. I opted for the latter. The cancer is gone but some side effects (probably similar to the treatment the OP describes) prevail until today.  Good luck to everyone who is diagnosed with any form of C.

i, too, am a member of the prostate cancer community. My lottery has, so far, been lucky with the relatively slow progressing kind. Next month is my 3rd MRI and 3rd biopsy. We shall see what, if any, changes have occurred in the last 2 years. 

Best wishes, @LHookins. Appreciate you taking the time to highlight.

Edited May 20, 20251 yr by hs118

1 hour ago, hs118 said:

Next month is my 3rd MRI and 3rd biopsy.

Thanks, @hs118 and thanks for posting.

I've been very lucky so far that I haven't needed a biopsy. Unfortunately they can't do an MRI as I have a pacemaker/defibrillator. They can still do cat scans (Hi Martin!) but I don't know if those are useful in this case. I started taking the Bicalutamide in March 2024.

The doctors haven't told me what the future holds, and certainly didn't tell me about the various side effects of the medication. Probably better that way all around, and any side effects didn't start until many months after starting the meds. I am very thankful that they've gone with non-invasive treatment.

As a side note, if your doctor recommends a defibrillator, trust him. At the time I figured he was bullying me to get it, but I went along with it, and at one point my heart stopped, I passed out, the defib fired, and I'm still here. I can now claim that "I died, but I got better." None of the horror stories about defibs firing applied, as I never felt it because I was already "asleep" at the time. The next time I visited that doctor, I thanked him. 🙂 

Given my one year experience with it, I believe that there are much worse things than prostate cancer treatable with hormone therapy.

Hook

I've removed a bunch of posts debating what is and isn't appropriate for the forum, aka "back seat moderating."

If you believe a topic is inappropriate, you can use the "report" feature to flag one post in the thread, and staff will review it and decide on the appropriateness or lack thereof.

That said, it's not in the purview of a forum user to dictate to other users what is or is not acceptable here.  Please refrain from that and leave those calls to the mods.

TIA