Scott Innes Maui Living

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Cancer Cure Update August 5, 2023

Hi Friends and Family, I’ve had a lot of good things happen this last week. Everything is working out slowly but surely and I’m ready for the next phase of my journey to cure. I had a PSMA PET scan done on Monday. I had appointments with my UCSF Urologist Dr. Peter Carroll, my Radiologist, Dr. Mack Roach, and my new primary care doctor at the VA San Francisco this week. I made a decision on my treatment that I’ll share.

I’ve successfully navigated the VA red tape to allow me to stay at the VA San Francisco Hoptel which is located at Sea Cliff next to the VA Hospital for the duration of my treatment at UCSF Prostate Cancer Center. It’s kinda like being back in the Air Force for accommodations so it is no frills, but I’m extremely grateful for it.

Thank you for the love and support and offers to stay while I’m going through this! I can’t tell how much it is helped me and meant to me.

The PSMA PET Scan results showed that the cancer has not metastasized anywhere else in my body. The cancer is limited to the two tumors in my prostate. The Scan also shows the doctors where the cancer is NOT located inside the prostate. This means they can specifically target the cancer tumors and cells while not having to radiate nearby organs and tissues, thus reducing the possibility of side effects (long or short term).

MY CANCER IS CURABLE AND I AM A CANCER SURVIVOR

The Decipher Genomic Classifier test I had done on my indicated that I have a low risk (high side of low) of aggressive fast growing cancer.

I do have two tumors in my prostate, one of them very large. The two options to cure my cancer are:

#1 Have surgery to remove the entire prostate and nearby lymph nodes.

#2 Receive high intensity Radiation of the tumors and cancer cells inside the prostate. There is a procedure where they insert gold markers into the prostate that are used during treatments to guide the radiation machine to target the cancer and tumors only. This will be following by 5 months of hormone reduction therapy to make sure to kill the cancer.

If I choose surgery it would permanently change my quality of life forever (I’m only 60) but the chance of prostate cancer returning is low. The life changes could be manageable but I would never be back to NORMAL.

If I choose targeted radiation with hormone therapy there is a lower chance of side affects (but still a chance). The difference is that I have a chance to get my life back to normal after the treatment and recovery period. I could still have some side affects and possibly other side affects that I would not have with surgery.

I’ve decided to go with radiation. I want a chance to get my life back to normal. The next stage of my journey begins this week.

I’m here. First appointment about to go in and meet my new doctor. Wish me luck. UCSF San Francisco Cancer Center at Mission Bay.

6.15.2023. Here I am at the VA Medical Center in San Francisco. I had a great day yesterday. I saw my new urologist, Peter R. Carroll and another doctor who did an ultra-sound. I’m trying to get an approval now for seeing a radiologist to go over my treatment plan. I’m still trying to get my approval straightened out.

It’s day two out here in California. It was a long day today. I had a couple of different things happen since this morning. I’ve gotten the approvals to continue with a Radiology Consult. I’m working to get a radiology appointment tomorrow. I’ve seen a couple of doctors here. It’s been a great experience. I’m really excited about the prognosis and what’s going to happen.

I got the approval taken care of tonight, actually. I fly back to Maui on Saturday and meet with primary care doctor next week. It looks like I’ll be able to be approved to stay here at the Veteran’s Hoptel in San Francisco when I come back for my treatment. It looks like a couple weeks from now. I’ll have a combination of radiation and hormone therapy to kill the tumor and take care of it.

Also, a part of this is they are going to do genetic testing on me - Decipher Prostate Genomic Classifier. One of the questions on this is that, a lot of insurance providers deny coverage for this treatment because they consider it “experimental”. Will the VA pay for it? It’s not actually. It will provide my doctors the additional information they need to provide the best treatment for my cancer, but the cost is $5000 and if it’s not covered they will try and help me get it covered but if it’s not I will have to pay for the genetic testing out of pocket.

Other than that, everything is good. It’s not too bad a price to pay for what I’m getting here in the quality of care. It’s so unlike anything else I could get in Hawaii. I’m really excited about that. It looks like a be coming back in couple of weeks as soon as I get the additional testing results reviews. I’ll give you an update as things progress.

Back on Maui June 18, 2023.

It’s pretty beautiful out here. I’m over here at Kuau, on the north shore, taking a little morning stroll. Happy Father’s Day everyone. It’s a beautiful Sunday morning here on Maui. I want to give you an update. I’m back home of course as you can see. I had a good day Friday in the Bay Area before flying back yesterday.

My next appointment is on the 17th of next month with the radiologist to go over the results of my texts and Decipher Genomic Classifier to decide on my treatment plant. Thanks for all your love and support and I’ll update you soon.

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