Great news this month, being the time of my annual imaging fest. This is now the fourth cycle for using various imaging techniques to try to understand what is going on. Through the rest of the year I am just relying on blood tests, due to wanting to economize and limit radiation exposure. This week’s pelvic MRI showed continuing improvement in every aspect of the situation: bones more clear, prostate shrinking back to normal size, and just one 2 cm spot just above the prostate that does not seem to be affecting nearby tissues. I will also have a report from a chest x-ray, but that has not come in yet and I expect it will have no new info.
In treatment, I have quadrupled my intake of a saw palmetto formula, to see if that helps in the rebuilding process. I am currently trying Prostavar brand. Also I have added the herb vitex berries, hoping to reduce my prolactin level which has been creeping up while I am continuing with testosterone-reducing pills casodex; this is a known side effect of casodex. In men, too-high prolactin levels makes for sore swollen chest effects comparable to female puberty; I have been having this progressively since March or so. I am continuing the casodex even with these side effects, and still intending to not go back on the much stronger injection hormone therapy (degarelix, replacing the lupron that I used for 9 months in 2010-2011).
Meanwhile I am continuing with strict diet, supplements as suggested by the Mederi clinic in Ashland, OR, and ozone treatments daily. Also in May I did a month of intensive liver/colon detox and related additional strategies, as suggested by my oncologist. I tried an experimental process with TM (tetrathiomolybdate), suggested by Mederi, for a month (reduces copper and blood supply to affected areas) but I ended up discontinuing that because of the need for more frequent blood tests. Every other month is more than enough lab visits for my taste.
All in all, I am feeling well with minimal symptoms, my PSA is down to 3.09 (below the warning level of 4), the MRI results were good, and it’s summertime completing the third year of the whole adventure. Three years is notable in that by government stats this would be the back end of the median longevity rate for my particular configuration.
Thanks so much to everyone who is supporting me with well-wishes and other kinds of support. I think part of my experience is that I have not ever felt alone in taking on this challenge, and the task seems easier as a result.