I have an update.
I finished chemotherapy on Nov. 25th, and have mostly recovered from the side effects. Â Strength and stamina are slowly coming back. I can taste ham again!
On Dec. 31st I had my follow-up CT scan and whole-body bone scan. Â Yesterday (Jan. 6th) I met with my oncologist to learn the results:
- No new tumors on my bones, and the ones already present are smaller now.
- No new tumors in my lymph nodes, and the ones already present are smaller now.
- My prostate gland is back down to normal size.
- My PSA level continues to decrease, it is now well into the "normal" range.
Next steps are basically "watch and wait."Â PSA testing will continue:Â a test in six weeks (mid-February) followed by one in twelve weeks (late March). Â If the PSA level remains low, then the next test after that won't be for another twelve weeks (so, mid-June). Â If the PSA level starts to increase, then we'll have to plan what to do about it. Â Unless and until that happens, the only treatment on the calendar is another injection of leuprolide (a.k.a. Lupron) in late July to keep my testosterone level and PSA level low.
So in conclusion, pretty good news. Â I'm not cured, and I'm not in remission, but the cancer is much subdued and we hope to keep it that way.
2020 is off to a much better start than last year.
Thanks for all the good wishes and support.