# So I have prostate cancer **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 9, 2017, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-prostate-cancer/804035 "2017-12-09T19:11:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 19
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2024, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-prostate-cancer/804035/362 "2024-10-16T22:22:35Z")
> [@Mama\_Zappa](#): > > A lot of those programs inexplicably exclude anyone receiving any kind of government help - e.g. Medicare! Nice little catch 22. Medicare is not “government help”. Medicaid is. For many of the help programs, getting assistance from a 3rd party terminates your government benefits. They (drug co’s) would rather not hand you that poisoned chalice. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2024, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-prostate-cancer/804035/363 "2024-10-18T05:42:58Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Medicare is not “government help”. Medicaid is. For many of the help programs, getting assistance from a 3rd party terminates your government benefits. > > They (drug co’s) would rather not hand you that poisoned chalice. True - it’s not the same as Medicaid - but from when my father-in-law was attempting to use a discount program for one of his meds, the fact that he was on Medicare prevented him from being able to do so. That may have varied by drug company etc. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2024, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-prostate-cancer/804035/364 "2024-10-18T11:27:57Z")
Whoa. Today I learned. Thanks for the info and I’m sorry FIL had to go through that. ---
**Author:** ![LH75](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lh75/32/4438_2.png) [@LH75](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LH75)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2024, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-prostate-cancer/804035/365 "2024-10-19T14:00:32Z")
I know it is a side effect of something but I have no idea what is doing it, but my hair is growing back. My bald spots are filling in. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2024, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-prostate-cancer/804035/366 "2024-10-19T14:58:19Z")
For a guy named “Longhair” that’s gotta be gratifying. 😉 Hooray for something happy in the whole evolution. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2024, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-prostate-cancer/804035/367 "2024-10-19T14:58:53Z")
yeah, that’s normal and it’s what happened to me. I gained hair on the top of my head (where I was moderately bald) and lost it over the rest of my body. Nice side effect, but didn’t make up for the other effects. Not recommended as a treatment for baldness (tho the drug propecia for hair loss works in the same way, by lowering testosterone). ---
**Author:** ![LH75](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lh75/32/4438_2.png) [@LH75](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LH75)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2024, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-prostate-cancer/804035/368 "2024-12-17T18:52:45Z")
I just came back from my first quarterly check with my Urologist. My PSA level is \<0.04 NG/ML My funding came through for my Abiraterone and he just added a daily Orgovyx to replace the quarterly Eilgard injections. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2024, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-prostate-cancer/804035/369 "2024-12-17T22:45:41Z")
Most excellent news about that PSA!! Essentially undetectable. My next PSA check is coming up in February. Androgen blocker has been out of my system for about 6 months so I should have more success getting some muscle mass back soon. I’m certainly advancing in my exercise program quicker than I was previously. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2024, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-prostate-cancer/804035/370 "2024-12-18T00:04:53Z")
Hooray for both of you!! It’s a journey and you’re both making strides along it. ---
**Author:** ![LH75](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lh75/32/4438_2.png) [@LH75](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LH75)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2024, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-prostate-cancer/804035/371 "2024-12-18T13:08:37Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Androgen blocker has been out of my system for about 6 months so I should have more success getting some muscle mass back soon. I’m certainly advancing in my exercise program quicker than I was previously. This is great! My Urologist says I have eighteen months to go with the Androgen blockers and he anticipates my testosterone level will recover pretty quickly after that ---
**Author:** ![MikeF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MikeF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeF)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2025, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-prostate-cancer/804035/372 "2025-04-16T00:41:56Z")
I’m now two years post op. PSA is low .04 and rising. Its concerning enough that they did a Decipher genomic test on a sample from the surgery. Scores range from 0 (good/not aggressive) to 1.0 bad/aggressive). I had a .97. Next step to consult with radiology and medical oncologists. I’m hoping they say “No rush, it can wait until after the summer” but I suspect (with no real basis) they will want to start radiation and hormone treatments sooner rather then later. I knew sRT was highly likely but was hoping it was still down the road a year or two. Oh, well. ---
**Author:** ![OldOlds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a3d4f5/32.png) [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2025, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-prostate-cancer/804035/373 "2025-04-16T12:53:17Z")
I just wanted to ask those who have been dealing with prostate cancer if any of you with detectable PSA levels post-castration have been referred to a PSMA PET scan (Pylarify or Illucix are the big brand names) and moved on to Pluvicto, which is a relatively new Lu177 PSMA treatment for metastatic prostate cancer which has been a real game changer. I’ve worked on those drugs and I would be interested in hearing about folks’ real world experiences, since most of what I hear is marketing wank at the conferences. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2025, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-prostate-cancer/804035/374 "2025-04-16T13:02:44Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > I’m going to talk to one of each next week on referral from my urologist, but I will def need to shop more. I’m 55 (and told I look 10 years younger), fit, single and sexually active, and not ready to give up sex. Don’t shop too long. Keep in mind that dying also puts a big crimp in your sex life. Keep your priorities in order. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2025, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-prostate-cancer/804035/375 "2025-04-16T13:44:56Z")
That post was made in 2017. Squeegee last posted here in December. I hope he’s okay. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2025, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-prostate-cancer/804035/376 "2025-04-16T13:53:59Z")
Thanks for calling my attention to one of my “duh moments”. LOL I hope he is, too! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-prostate-cancer/804035.md?page=18)