Scan this Wednesday

Today, I had my monthly blood test preliminary to renewal of my enzo prescription on Friday, and the third radiation session (third out of six) . Last month the PSA was 0.04. I mentioned this to the radiation technician and she advised me not to be surprised if I found my PSA rising during RT to then go lower after completion of the course. What is the experience of others on this issue; I tried to do some research but only found papers based on sampling trials quite a while back that were more confusing than enlightening. As for the RT, it is no great shakes although my daughter remarked that I was very pale; last week I had splitting headaches for a couple of days.

I get blood test 2 or 3 days prior to each prescription renewal. Next is one week after final fraction.

I feel less tired today, which is a blessing, 3 days after 3 rd fraction. After 1 st I was a bit under the weather for a day, after 2 nd a splitting headache for two days, so I anticipate 4 days of negative side effects following next week, but nothing unbearable if my mind is in the right place.  

Granita I hope your OH fares equally as well. I don't know what RT he will get over 6 weeks but mine was weekly for the sam eperiod at 6 GYs that is apparently a strong dose. As others told me, the effects are cumulative but not permanent.

There is another guy on this message board who received the same diagnosis as me - survival for 5 years and hormone treatment for the rest of his life. He was diagnosed in 2007!! (although he appears to had a whole host of other medical conditions over the past 14 years but I don't know if they are PC related).

Of course, we all bless our great doctors but formal treatment must be supplmented by personal action as the conscience on my shoulder keeps telling me (i.e. my older brother) - exercise and diet.

On diet of course everyone has an opinion and their own preferences . I have broadly continued on the diet I had been following for a year before diagnosis (no sweets, colas, chips and only occasional fry ups) but am eating more and more fish. So in Jan 2020 I was 97 kg, at diagnosis 91 kg and now 85.5 kg). Brother says I must reach 75 like him - no way!! And I refuse to contemplate walking the Cumbrian Way!

I stopped supplements during RT. Now will take tumeric, apricot kernels and a couple of others.

Take care

I had a telephone meeting with the oncologist. Basically, extremely happy with the outcome of the process so far with PSA not measurable. For those like me that respond so postively to treatment, the next few years will be based on 3 - monthly blood tests and continuation of zolodox and xtandi. I asked about the mets and he said that wherever the PC cells are in the body they act in the same way, so any increase in PSA would be the signal for investigation. I asked about treatment holidays and he said no as the current practise is to maintain prescriptions. 

I feel better by the day after my final fraction 16 days ago, although ropey for the first 11. Yesterday at the behest of my brother I walked 7 km (after 3.5 km on each of the previous 2 days) and struggled greatly for the final km. I did however recover quicky so did not curse him too much and managed 2.5 km today. Now to get into the weighs to build upper body and stamina.