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Some good news for 2017

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User
Posted 18 Jan 2017 at 10:47
Posted this in the Guardian comments today:

Having been diagnosed with Stage 4 prostate cancer six months ago I decided that I would also do what I could to assist any medical interventions offered. My oncologist proposed the following treatment plan: firstly five weeks of tablet based hormone treatment, followed by tri-weekly chemotherapy (upto a maximum of ten cycles), with on-going tri-monthly hormone injections. From day one I adopted a vegan diet (for medical rather than ethical reasons) and took the following supplements daily: Turmeric 450mg, Coriolus (Turkey Tail) 300mg, and Reishi extract 500mg.

Upon diagnosis my PSA was >1000, after the five weeks of hormone tablets it had dropped to 156, after the first session of chemo session it was down to 153, and after the second chemo session it had dropped spectacularly to 0.417! I then developed a minor infection that delayed the third session for three weeks. Prior to recommencing the third chemo session my consultant asked for another blood test and this showed the PSA had dropped to 0.115. This was so low that he said further chemotherapy sessions would not be of any benefit and that I now only needed to come back in two months for a progress check. This meant that apart from regular blood tests and the tri-monthly hormone injections my oncologist was stating that I was, and I fully understand the implications of what he's saying here, effectively 'cured'. My family and myself have therefore gone from gloom and doom to joy and uplift in less than half a year.

I fully accept and acknowledge that the clinical interventions played a major role in my recovery. I cannot obviously say that the change in diet and/or the supplements played any part in my miraculous recovery what so ever; but I'm certain they had a psychologically effect but physiologically of course I'll never know. As each persons reaction to cancer, and its treatment, is so very personal I only highlight my own experience in the hope that it might help others.

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/jan/16/everything-you-want-to-know-about-diets-and-cancer#comments

Good Luck and Best Wishes

Boyd
User
Posted 18 Jan 2017 at 11:51

I admit to being a sceptic, so don't read on if you'd rather not hear.


If indeed your oncologist said you were 'cured' after six months of Stage IV PCa (and no evidence) they are a fool.


Secondly, don't underestimate the power of chemotherapy or hormones. Your fantastic experience has been shared by many: read the research.


But be clear, this isn't cure. It's possibly remission. Time will tell.


Meanwhile, I don't knock the placebo effects of untested herbs and spices, or the psychological benefits of a vegan diet. But your priority - if you wish to take advantage of the opportunity you've been given by medical science - is to ensure you have a full and balanced diet: If you can do that vegan-style, then great. But if in doubt, consult a dietitian. Your GP can refer you. The NHS has that covered too.


Sorry to be so brutal. But believing yourself to be 'cured' six months after a stage IV diagnosis is not a safe place to be. The future needs to be built on a solid base - not dreams and an incompetent doctor.

Edited by member 18 Jan 2017 at 11:54  | Reason: Not specified

User
Posted 19 Jan 2017 at 07:55

Boyd,


Knowledge is power. We gather knowledge from others. Using that knowledge gives us the chance of making the best possible judgements. I don't follow your diet at present but I'm listening and your knowledge will empower me in making my judgements.


David

User
Posted 18 Jan 2017 at 10:47
Posted this in the Guardian comments today:

Having been diagnosed with Stage 4 prostate cancer six months ago I decided that I would also do what I could to assist any medical interventions offered. My oncologist proposed the following treatment plan: firstly five weeks of tablet based hormone treatment, followed by tri-weekly chemotherapy (upto a maximum of ten cycles), with on-going tri-monthly hormone injections. From day one I adopted a vegan diet (for medical rather than ethical reasons) and took the following supplements daily: Turmeric 450mg, Coriolus (Turkey Tail) 300mg, and Reishi extract 500mg.

Upon diagnosis my PSA was >1000, after the five weeks of hormone tablets it had dropped to 156, after the first session of chemo session it was down to 153, and after the second chemo session it had dropped spectacularly to 0.417! I then developed a minor infection that delayed the third session for three weeks. Prior to recommencing the third chemo session my consultant asked for another blood test and this showed the PSA had dropped to 0.115. This was so low that he said further chemotherapy sessions would not be of any benefit and that I now only needed to come back in two months for a progress check. This meant that apart from regular blood tests and the tri-monthly hormone injections my oncologist was stating that I was, and I fully understand the implications of what he's saying here, effectively 'cured'. My family and myself have therefore gone from gloom and doom to joy and uplift in less than half a year.

I fully accept and acknowledge that the clinical interventions played a major role in my recovery. I cannot obviously say that the change in diet and/or the supplements played any part in my miraculous recovery what so ever; but I'm certain they had a psychologically effect but physiologically of course I'll never know. As each persons reaction to cancer, and its treatment, is so very personal I only highlight my own experience in the hope that it might help others.

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/jan/16/everything-you-want-to-know-about-diets-and-cancer#comments

Good Luck and Best Wishes

Boyd
User
Posted 18 Jan 2017 at 23:18

I am not sure that a doctor should be declared a fool or incompetent - it may simply be a language thing or that culturally, 'cure' has a different interpretation in Qatar. However positive the post is, I suspect Boyd is fully aware that his condition is incurable and that this is simply a lull in the progression of the disease.

Boyd, some men can get respite of some years at stage 4 - if their cancer is particularly responsive to the hormone treatment - while others only get a few months before the cancer learns to survive without testosterone. I hope that you have a very long and generally healthy journey but that your family do not get swept up in the appsrent good news and misled into believing the problem has gone away. And as I posted on your other thread before Christmas do keep in mind that sometimes a sharp and inexplicable drop in PSA indicates that the cancer has become extremely aggressive and prolific; my father-in-law's PSA dropped (apparently miraculously) from over 20 to 16 and then 2 and then 1.2 .... they realised too late that this was masking significant rapid spread and he died the day after they realised. Your Qatari doctors may or may not be aware of this possibility so do encourage them to offer you regular scans to monitor the mets.

"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard
User
Posted 19 Jan 2017 at 04:59
Thank you both for your replies. Please let me clarify: I do fully understand that I am not 'cured' but only in remission and that my consultant made that abundantly clear. So in a spirit of co-operation and friendship I'll keep posting my 'personal' experiences in the hope that they might be of some little assistance to anyone going through treatment for PCa.

I read recently, in an SAS survival manual, that the first rule of survival is 'a positive mental attitude' and if being a 'glass half-full' sort of guy helps me through then so be it; only time will tell.

Boyd
User
Posted 19 Jan 2017 at 07:33

I'm sure your posts will help others immensely Boyd

All the best

Bri

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User
Posted 18 Jan 2017 at 11:51

I admit to being a sceptic, so don't read on if you'd rather not hear.


If indeed your oncologist said you were 'cured' after six months of Stage IV PCa (and no evidence) they are a fool.


Secondly, don't underestimate the power of chemotherapy or hormones. Your fantastic experience has been shared by many: read the research.


But be clear, this isn't cure. It's possibly remission. Time will tell.


Meanwhile, I don't knock the placebo effects of untested herbs and spices, or the psychological benefits of a vegan diet. But your priority - if you wish to take advantage of the opportunity you've been given by medical science - is to ensure you have a full and balanced diet: If you can do that vegan-style, then great. But if in doubt, consult a dietitian. Your GP can refer you. The NHS has that covered too.


Sorry to be so brutal. But believing yourself to be 'cured' six months after a stage IV diagnosis is not a safe place to be. The future needs to be built on a solid base - not dreams and an incompetent doctor.

Edited by member 18 Jan 2017 at 11:54  | Reason: Not specified

User
Posted 18 Jan 2017 at 23:18

I am not sure that a doctor should be declared a fool or incompetent - it may simply be a language thing or that culturally, 'cure' has a different interpretation in Qatar. However positive the post is, I suspect Boyd is fully aware that his condition is incurable and that this is simply a lull in the progression of the disease.

Boyd, some men can get respite of some years at stage 4 - if their cancer is particularly responsive to the hormone treatment - while others only get a few months before the cancer learns to survive without testosterone. I hope that you have a very long and generally healthy journey but that your family do not get swept up in the appsrent good news and misled into believing the problem has gone away. And as I posted on your other thread before Christmas do keep in mind that sometimes a sharp and inexplicable drop in PSA indicates that the cancer has become extremely aggressive and prolific; my father-in-law's PSA dropped (apparently miraculously) from over 20 to 16 and then 2 and then 1.2 .... they realised too late that this was masking significant rapid spread and he died the day after they realised. Your Qatari doctors may or may not be aware of this possibility so do encourage them to offer you regular scans to monitor the mets.

"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard
User
Posted 19 Jan 2017 at 04:59
Thank you both for your replies. Please let me clarify: I do fully understand that I am not 'cured' but only in remission and that my consultant made that abundantly clear. So in a spirit of co-operation and friendship I'll keep posting my 'personal' experiences in the hope that they might be of some little assistance to anyone going through treatment for PCa.

I read recently, in an SAS survival manual, that the first rule of survival is 'a positive mental attitude' and if being a 'glass half-full' sort of guy helps me through then so be it; only time will tell.

Boyd
User
Posted 19 Jan 2017 at 07:33

I'm sure your posts will help others immensely Boyd

All the best

Bri

User
Posted 19 Jan 2017 at 07:55

Boyd,


Knowledge is power. We gather knowledge from others. Using that knowledge gives us the chance of making the best possible judgements. I don't follow your diet at present but I'm listening and your knowledge will empower me in making my judgements.


David

User
Posted 19 Jan 2017 at 08:24
Thank you Brian and David
Both your posts sum up my reason for posting my experiences.

With kind regards
Boyd
 
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