Re: Advice / Experience Requested

Ray, sorry to hear your cancer is back. I had Prostate cancer in 2003, at that time I was 68 years old and in Jan 2002 I lost my wife of 49 years to cancer. I was going to marry a friend that i had know since 1973, (just a friend for all those years. Now on the knowledge of me having prostate Cancer, I discussed it in depth with Ann, who I was going to marry. I had different treatments to chose frome, these were radation, chemo, iceotones (spelling), and removal of the prostate, Every treatment expect removal of the prostate had a chance of returning. After a long discussion with Ann we told the Dr. Remove the Prostate.
What we discussed was what would happen with the prostae removed. One was the sexual drive would not be there In otherwords, I would have ED. Also i would have problems with holding my pee and peeing.

But I am cancer free, of that cancer but have the skin cancer caused by agent orange. In fact I am going tomorrow to have another growth removed.

Ray, If you want to talk about you decision give me a call

Ed McKinnie
228-586-2405

Re: Advice / Experience Requested

Ray Norton;32648 wrote: Almost five years after surgery for prostate cancer, my PSA is up and I am being sent to radiation therapy.

If anyone has experience, advice, and/or guidance about this, I would appreciate a contact or post through this message board.

SF

Ray sure am sorry to hear of the Cancer Returning! Always will have you in my thoughts and Prayers as you decide. Thanks to Ed for his straight forward talk thats great and a good Friend. So take him up on the phone call and certainly do keep me on the list. God Bless and Semper Fi Both of you . JJ

Re: Advice / Experience Requested

Jerome HALL;32665 wrote: Ray sure am sorry to hear of the Cancer Returning! Always will have you in my thoughts and Prayers as you decide. Thanks to Ed for his straight forward talk thats great and a good Friend. So take him up on the phone call and certainly do keep me on the list. God Bless and Semper Fi Both of you . JJ

Ray,

I received proton beam therapy for my prostate cancer last fall, but there are a lot of other treatment options available. A book, "You can beat prostate cancer" by Robert Marckini, was most helpful in deciding what was the best option for me. The book discusses all of the treatments and their possible side effects. I wish you the best. Semper Fi!

Marty Lyman

Re: Advice / Experience Requested

Prayers and positive thoughts your way, Ray!
Semper Fidelis

Re: Advice / Experience Requested

Jerome HALL;32665 wrote: Ray sure am sorry to hear of the Cancer Returning! Always will have you in my thoughts and Prayers as you decide. Thanks to Ed for his straight forward talk thats great and a good Friend. So take him up on the phone call and certainly do keep me on the list. God Bless and Semper Fi Both of you . JJ

Now here I am and I need the thoughts and prayers! My psa was high and some other blood work has given way to concern. Now this week I will be getting Ex for Sevice connected for My Heart condition. Sure has me up in the air,CUZ I just don't trust the Suckers! :eek::p

Re: Advice / Experience Requested

marty4040;32694 wrote: Ray,

I received proton beam therapy for my prostate cancer last fall, but there are a lot of other treatment options available. A book, "You can beat prostate cancer" by Robert Marckini, was most helpful in deciding what was the best option for me. The book discusses all of the treatments and their possible side effects. I wish you the best. Semper Fi!

Marty Lyman

First I want to ask How you're doing ? Give the old set up talk to boost my sprits. You did get the word on the Reunion too ,right?

Re: Advice / Experience Requested

:eek:Had the OLD testerroo!!! more blood work to come to see what may be going on. Ed ,Marty and Ray How you ALL doing? Does it really seem that Agent Orange plays a part? What ever does work on it ,one thing does seem the AGE 65 give or take a few years.:confused::(

Re: Advice / Experience Requested

In my case, surgery 2006, cancer returns 2011, radiation therapy completed 2011. In January 2012, a PSA test shows an increase and climbing at an increasing rate.

It would not be so bad except for a letter I just received from VA demanding yet another exam to try to reduce my benefits.

Jury is out, but I would think the radiation would make PSA go down not up.

Any and all advice welcome.

Re: Advice / Experience Requested

Ray Norton;35134 wrote: In my case, surgery 2006, cancer returns 2011, radiation therapy completed 2011. In January 2012, a PSA test shows an increase and climbing at an increasing rate.

It would not be so bad except for a letter I just received from VA demanding yet another exam to try to reduce my benefits.

Jury is out, but I would think the radiation would make PSA go down not up.

Any and all advice welcome.

RAY:rolleyes::( WHAT! did you say Reduce ?:eek:
Send a Under cover E If you want . JJ

Re: Advice / Experience Requested

More news concerning agent orange and prostrate cancer from military.com:

Researchers Link Agent Orange to Prostate Cancer
May 14, 2013
UPI

U.S. researchers say they found a link between the herbicide Agent Orange used heavily during the Vietnam War and aggressive prostate cancer.

Dr. Mark Garzotto of the Portland Veterans Administration Medical Center and Oregon Health & Science University said prior research suggested exposure to Agent Orange might increase men's risk of developing prostate cancer, but it was unclear whether it specifically increased their risk of developing the lethal form of the disease.

"This is an important distinction as the majority of prostate cancer cases are non-lethal and thus do not necessarily require detection or therapy," Garzotto said in a statement. "Having a means of specifically detecting life-threatening cancer would improve the effectiveness of screening and treatment of prostate cancer."
Nathan Ansbaugh designed and conducted analyses on a group of 2,720 U.S. veterans referred by multiple providers for initial prostate biopsy.
Biopsy results and clinical information were compiled for analysis by Garzotto.

The study, published online ahead of the print edition of the journal Cancer, found Agent Orange exposure was linked with a 52 percent increase in overall risk of prostate cancer detection by biopsy. Exposure to the herbicide did not confer an increase in risk of low-grade prostate cancer, but it was linked with a 75 percent increase in risk of the aggressive prostate cancer, the study said.

In addition, Agent Orange exposure was associated with more than a two-fold increase in the most lethal cancers.

Re: Advice / Experience Requested

paul sheehan;37789 wrote: More news concerning agent orange and prostrate cancer from military.com:

Researchers Link Agent Orange to Prostate Cancer
May 14, 2013
UPI

U.S. researchers say they found a link between the herbicide Agent Orange used heavily during the Vietnam War and aggressive prostate cancer.

Dr. Mark Garzotto of the Portland Veterans Administration Medical Center and Oregon Health & Science University said prior research suggested exposure to Agent Orange might increase men's risk of developing prostate cancer, but it was unclear whether it specifically increased their risk of developing the lethal form of the disease.

"This is an important distinction as the majority of prostate cancer cases are non-lethal and thus do not necessarily require detection or therapy," Garzotto said in a statement. "Having a means of specifically detecting life-threatening cancer would improve the effectiveness of screening and treatment of prostate cancer."
Nathan Ansbaugh designed and conducted analyses on a group of 2,720 U.S. veterans referred by multiple providers for initial prostate biopsy.
Biopsy results and clinical information were compiled for analysis by Garzotto.

The study, published online ahead of the print edition of the journal Cancer, found Agent Orange exposure was linked with a 52 percent increase in overall risk of prostate cancer detection by biopsy. Exposure to the herbicide did not confer an increase in risk of low-grade prostate cancer, but it was linked with a 75 percent increase in risk of the aggressive prostate cancer, the study said.

In addition, Agent Orange exposure was associated with more than a two-fold increase in the most lethal cancers.

Agent orange has played a large part. I was dia. with type II and heart problems about 15 yrs after returning and had at that time none of the indicators. the VA finally agrees that there was a problem because of Agent orange. All you have to do is prove you in Nam between 65 and 75 By the way the heart problems are secondary to type II and has since progressed to congestive heart failure and am now 100% . When you start be prepared to wait a long time in my case well over 5 years