Wishing you best of luck. Cancer sucks.
The only thing that tells the whole story is the pathologist with the whole organ. Won't apply to you. Ask the radiologist why you have to have so many treatments. It's a fascinating story about cancer cells nucleus.I dont know. They said PSA of 23 for such a small amount of cancer was concerning and feeling the biopsy isnt telling the whole story.
You have zero "out of pocket" before anything kicks in?I would not recoment DaVinci. I had it 12 years ago and inspite of the surgeon saying after the surgery I would not be impotent-he lied. Maybe its better now. But I would NOT risk it (thats just ME)
I am happy with my Advantage plan. I am located near a major Medical Facility that has a Cancer Hospital. I don't forsee any bills say over $25. I am paying total $150 a month and we get $800 back on OTC stuff.
I was Paying 9300 per year for me and m y wife with the Supplemental.
Over all these years the supplemental cost $130,000 more than the Advantage.
God speed alarmguy with your cancer!!
Well, I think a chance of impotence (which is dramatically reduced with the DaVinci robot, but not eliminated) is still considerably better than death, no? Of course a lot of this comes down to the surgeon who is using the equipment and some are clearly better than others. Unfortunately, due to the scarring, laparoscopic isn't an option for the OP anyway, based on what he's shared here.I would not recoment DaVinci. I had it 12 years ago and inspite of the surgeon saying after the surgery I would not be impotent-he lied. Maybe its better now. But I would NOT risk it (thats just ME)
I’ll get back to you on the radiation. All I do know is it is very precise.Are you getting the proton radiation or the "regular"? My MiL had regular radiation. It was not fun. Primarily, because the radiation facility was in a city hospital that was 15 miles from her house in traffic and forced valet parking. Hopefully, you have a local facility with easy parking and a stress-free drive. Luckily, my wife's employer arranged for a driver.
What drug are they giving you?
Wishing you the best and please keep us updated.
There on no deductibles with advantage C plans. Let me correct that there are very few plans that have a deductible so you should be on the lookout if that is not something you .You have zero "out of pocket" before anything kicks in?
I’m paying Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina $135 for plan N per month and this is one where I opted to get what they call their FIT option that will pay up to $110 per month for a gymBottom line: You will beat this.
As a side note, my Humana plan was killed as well, got the golden ticket, so now I am buying ala carte so to speak. Regence. $162 mo/premium. Still have not picked a dental plan. Seems the coverage about the same - point being you remain correct about Advantage plans to this day. Thanks.
Thanks!Wishing you best of luck. Cancer sucks.
I agree. The robotic prostate surgery was a piece of cake for me and now all of my PSA readings since 2012 have been below zero.Best of luck with your treatment. My dad was diagnosed I believe 5 years ago and his GP wasn't budging on treatment selection, which was complete removal via the DaVinci robot at Toronto General Hospital. He's been cancer free now (PSA of 0) for 4 years and side effects, beyond having to learn to pinch off his bladder, were minimal (still has use of).
Regular office visit 0 copayYou have zero "out of pocket" before anything kicks in?
I would not recoment DaVinci. I had it 12 years ago and inspite of the surgeon saying after the surgery I would not be impotent-he lied. Maybe its better now. But I would NOT risk it (thats just ME)
I am happy with my Advantage plan. I am located near a major Medical Facility that has a Cancer Hospital. I don't forsee any bills say over $25. I am paying total $150 a month and we get $800 back on OTC stuff.
I was Paying 9300 per year for me and m y wife with the Supplemental.
Over all these years the supplemental cost $130,000 more than the Advantage.
God speed alarmguy with your cancer!!
@OVERKILL I know we agree on nothing but as respectful as I can (which I always tried to do) I want to respond to these two posts and point of this thread is the hope that all these comments HELP others configure a line of questions for their doctor to answer in regard to their specific situation.Well, I think a chance of impotence (which is dramatically reduced with the DaVinci robot, but not eliminated) is still considerably better than death, no? Of course a lot of this comes down to the surgeon who is using the equipment and some are clearly better than others. Unfortunately, due to the scarring, laparoscopic isn't an option for the OP anyway, based on what he's shared here.
My good friend's dad was also diagnosed around the same time as my father, but he was older than my dad (my dad was about the same age as alarmguy when he had his surgery) and he was advised to go the other route. He got radiation and chemo, which seemed to work initially. Unfortunately, the cancer eventually came back, in a big way, and he died. This also happened to my dad's uncle.
The argument made by my dad's GP was that yes, radiation could work, but the cancer could still come back, and he'd have to keep getting checked and, if necessary, treated. You are basically just managing it. This decision, and the decision to sometimes even do nothing at all, is based on how aggressive it is, and the age of the person. If you are 90, and it's not aggressive, they'll just let it go, because you'll die before it kills you. On the other hand, wholesale removal of the prostate, assuming they get it all, has an extremely high degree of success for being totally cancer free with no recurrence, but this may only make sense if you otherwise have a good outlook lifespan-wise.
Now, I'm not familiar with your situation, and each one is different, but if yours was aggressive and the urologist thought that full removal was the safest route (like they did with my father) then that may have been the right choice, regardless of the unfortunately side effect of impotence (which, my father managed to avoid).
Yes, that's the bit I was talking about. The robot (DaVinci) is insanely precise and is far more likely to get all of the gland (reducing chance of recurrence), vs the scalpel (based on what we were told at Toronto General). It's also less likely (something like 75% chance of keeping erectile function) to cause impotence due to the added precision.One thing you mentioned about me that isn't clear, my decision was not based on the problem with scarring. I still could have went forward with it, with a doctor at Duke University who believes in open surgery over robotic. Robotic wasn't an option for me anyway.
Yeah, that's why my dad was checked several times to confirm his PSA remained at 0, to confirm they got it all with the robot. Because, as you note, sometimes they don't (though this is much rarer than vs the scalpel, as noted) and then you may need radiation after the fact.Then learning that I would still be PSA monitored for life after removal surgery and 25% chance it will come back sealed it further, then the possilbilty that surgery might not be able to be performed was last but also helped my decision because it was still an option.
One positive of surgery IN MY CASE (I say that again so everyone knows this can only be determined with your doctor) is if and when the cancer does return, radiation is viable to treat it. Not so if I had radiation instead or removal, they won't do it twice at this point in time and will use other means or drugs again. Since medical advances moves so fast, if it did come back after radiation and drugs I would hope a good solution is already found. There are indications as radiation becomes more and more focused it maybe viable in the future.
Absolutely. Be your own advocate, talk to your doctors and specialists and make an informed decision, which you've done, based on your situation, which is all anybody can do, because each situation is unique.This is why I say this prostate cancer sucks. There is no right or wrong in my case. I will live as long either way, so I was told to tell them what was most important to me and from there they gave me numbers and also their experience. I would suggest anyone in this situation do the same and do not rely on social media for anything more than to MAKE A LIST OF QUESTIONS FROM SOCIAL MEDIA TO ASK YOUR DOCTOR> and if need be ask more doctors, take your time dont rush, its a lifelong decision and NO ONE can say what is right for you.
Gosh this is so long, got to watch TV with the wife, can't proof read but should be ok.
I’m praying for you sirI’ll get back to you on the radiation. All I do know is it is very precise.
The drug is Orgovyx. I believe approved only recently by the FDA in 2023.
That is a hormonal drug. The drug that I worked on developing was a MUC1 inhibitor.I’ll get back to you on the radiation. All I do know is it is very precise.
The drug is Orgovyx. I believe approved only recently by the FDA in 2023.