YANA - YOU ARE NOT ALONE NOW

PROSTATE CANCER SUPPORT SITE

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Ed B lives in Tennessee, USA. He was 46 when he was diagnosed on September 25, 2008. His initial PSA was 1.17 ng/ml, his Gleason Score was 6 and he would have been staged T1c. His choice of treatment was surgery. Here is his story.

I have just received a diagnosis of prostate cancer after having visited my family doctor concerning my getting up nightly to pee (and it was time for a check-up). Fortunately, I had asked my doctor to do a PSA test two years ago as part of my annual check-up on the advice from a friend and cancer survivor.

In 2006 my PSA was .6 and it has risen to 1.17. This is still a very low score and I'm glad that my friend suggested having it checked in order to establish a baseline. My family doctor sent me to a urologist who completed another DRE and then suggested the biopsy. Although my urologist said that the results were "inconclusive" and the pathology is being sent to another doctor (I'm told one of the leading docs in the country), he feels it will likely turn out to be positive.

I'm 46 and a widower, also due to cancer, and so my plan is to have the surgery. I've dealt with cancer enough to know that I do not want to take a chance with other treatment options. I do not have staging information as yet, but my urologist has said that there is less than 1% chance that the cancer has spread outside of the prostate. Having found the disease at such an early stage I feel that my chances for a complete recovery are good.

I welcome any info from anyone and I'm available to e-mail. I appreciate this site and those who have chosen to share their information. Good luck to everyone and my prayers for God's help toward recovery. I'll update as soon as I know more.

Thank you for sharing

Later: To add to my earlier entry:

My pathology was returned and was positive and I have been staged cT2b and my Gleason remains 6 (3+3). My PSA is 1.17.

I have sent information requests to other urologists as I am not completely comfortable with my doctor performing the prostatectomy. He has completed several procedures of this type but still has his partner in the surgery with him. My interpretation of this is that he still has "training wheels" and I am seeking a more experienced doctor. I have been told that, with the low numbers that I have, my chances of full recovery without metastisis are very good. I'm considering having the procedure in early December.

Thanks to everyone who has returned my e-mail and written to me. I feel very strongly about sharing information as knowledge is our best defense against this disease. Also, I recommend that we all share our stories with every young man that we know. Had I not checked my PSA two years ago on the advice of a friend, I would not have known about the increase at this year's physical. We could have missed this altogether. My family doctor does not usually start screening for prostate trouble until age 50.

God Bless everyone on this site!

Ed

 

UPDATED

December 2008

 

 

 

Friday, December 12, 2008: I have been recovering at home after having the L.R. surgery last Monday. It was not as bad as I had imagined. I arrived at the hospital at 9 AM and was in my room after the surgery by around 4 or 5 PM. I had an excellent doctor, Dr. Ramsey, who has completed around 350 of these procedures with excellent results. Please see my earlier entry - he was not my first doctor. Big advice - shop around!

Having a catheter is not fun, especially if you forget and catch it on something, but I can tolerate it until Monday. I was given Percocet for the pain and they work well...not too much discomfort from the procedure.

My advice to newly diagnosed patients: I have been through every emotion, fear, anger, concern, etc that comes along with this. My wife passed away from cancer some years ago and I'm especially paranoid about anything related to this disease. What I have learned, however, is that there are options, especially with prostate cancer. One of the best things we can do for ourselves, and those around us, is to share information. I feel as though I will survive because my very dear friend advised me to get a baseline PSA test two years ago. Otherwise, my family doctor would not have checked until I was 50 and it would have been too late. Share your information with other men, especially young men, and if you have it get 2nd, 3rd, 4th opinions. Don't wait - act!

My prayers and thoughts are with everyone and I am available if you would like to chat about anything. I will update more as I progress.

Best wishes, Ed

 

UPDATED

January 2009

 

 

I wanted to update everyone on my progress following my surgery almost 5 weeks ago. I feel that my progress has been wonderful. Although I'm still having some issues with leaking I am getting better.

The holidays were great but a word of caution: when the doctor advises not to lift anything over 10 lbs understand that this includes 30 lb grand-daughters!

I have not had my PSA checked again yet but the pathology following the surgery was that the cancer was fully contained in the prostate. I believe that I will receive a positive report.

Functionality is returning to normal and, although erections are not complete, I do experience a climax. It feels different that it did before but certainly worth the effort.

I'm going back to work in a couple of days on a regular schedule, although I still can't lift anything too heavy. Most of my work is in an office environment so I should be ok.

I want everyone who visits this site to understand that if you are diagnosed with this disease it does not mean that your life is over. Fortunately, I found mine early. For those in similar situations talk about this and get advice from doctors who have experience with the LR surgery. Above all, tell all the young men you know and meet so that they may find it early and recover, too.

God bless all.

Ed's e-mail address is: tnpilot39@hotmail.com