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Vol. 8, No. 1 |
Winter 2009 |
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Jerry Bylander, Editor jerryby@cableone.net |
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I have just found that my PSA has gone from 0.2 to 0.5 over a six-month period. I am on androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) since my cancer is systemic. And the new PSA results mean that the cancer is non-ADAT sensitive and growing. I estimate from past PSA results that my PSA will be 10 in two years and 40 in three. Not good. My urologist at first wanted to add Casodex to my list of drugs I am now taking for various aliments - total of six plus the ADT drug Trelstar. I had used Casodex as part of a protocol study by M. D. Anderson and found I developed a rash on my scalp and neck from its use. My doctor then suggested Eulexin for a month which would be followed by a check of the PC. If the PC went down or stayed constant the drug could be continued. I went to Target to pick up the drug and found they did not carry it. They called around to all the local drug stores except CVS and Walmart, but at this point I asked them to please order it. I went home and looked at the possible major side effects on the Internet, and I found they were mainly liver problems and diarrhea. I became concerned that none of the drug stores carried Eulexin. Was it killing patients? And were the drugstores leery of carrying it? Here is where our great resource Henri Plunkett came to the fore. A call this Saturday morning to Henri helped a great deal. “The stores don’t carry Eulexin because the doctors all like Casodex. It is just one pill once a day, whereas Eulexin is four pills twice a day. However, it is cheaper than Casodex.” He also advised me that the jaundice is a result of raised liver enzymes which is typical of the ADT drugs. He further advised me to consider Taxotere chemotherapy while the cancer is small (a PSA of 0.5 for a non ADT sensitive cancer, if it is all in one place, is about the size of your last little finger joint). I can’t tell you what a value Henri is to us and to me. Don Riedl and Tom Nuckols also fall into this category. Please feel free to use these resources as needed. I recall one patient who called me from East Texas who had some ethical issues with her medical community there. Tom, who is an ordained minister and Professor Emeritus, was able to give her comfort and support. Don has been to two national cancer meetings and is up to date on the latest therapies. Please feel free to use these great resources. See you in February when we learn about how diet can help with PC therapy. Jerry Bylander, Managing Director, USToo! Texoma |
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Date: Tuesday,
February 17, 2009 Speaker: Don Riedl, USToo! Texoma Board Member Topic: PC Diet - a CD Presentation from Don's Fall 2008 Trip to Los Angeles Program:
Don Riedl will
show the CD and take your diet questions related to PC therapy.
Apparently there is no consensus on the
value of diet, but it should be clear that a healthy diet will help with
immunotherapy for cancer. The speaker
on the CD is a recognized authority on diet for PC control. Don will explain any confusion about the
talk. |
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Date: Tuesday,
January 20, 2009
Speaker: Dr. Larry Barker, MD
Topic:
An
Oncologist's Role in Prostate Cancer Therapy |
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Attendance: |
14 |
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Your organization's meetings listed here. Contact the Editor at jerryby@cableone.net. |
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Material posted here is intended for educational purposes only and must not be considered a substitute for informed medical advice from your own physician. Jerry Bylander, Editor |