Went to the oncologist a few days ago. This was my two month checkup on my PSA. Recall that I had a big, surprisingly good drop in my PSA the time before.
This time my PSA was about 18.5. Still well below what it was months before, but, importantly, more than it was 2 months ago. So I’m still in the “Lupron has failed” category. That’s called castration resistant – horrible name.
Since Lupron (and Casodex) are used in prostrate cancer to stop or inhibit the use of testosterone, they’re the chemical equivalent of castration. Hence, once they stop working, one becomes castration resistant.
The bottom line is being in this category I have, on average, less than two years to live. My PSA levels are already high relative to when most men get classified into this category, so that’s not good. But I’m relatively young and in relatively good health, which works in my favor. Who knows which side my death will fall on.
I do know this transition to castration resistance has had a huge impact on my life. I find it hard to go to sleep. It’s as if I allow myself to go to sleep, I’ll lose a day, and then I’ll be one day closer to death. So now my schedule is totally hosed. I collapse around 5-7 in the morning and sleep until the afternoon, often late afternoon.
I am finding living on this schedule is very difficult indeed. I’ve tried anti-anxiety drugs to get control of this, but that’s been a bust. I’m going to work with my doctor and wife to try to find a way out of this hell.
Dying isn’t as easy as I thought it would be.