YANA - YOU ARE NOT ALONE NOW

PROSTATE CANCER SUPPORT SITE

BRONZE

Mick lives in Abilene, Texas, USA . He was 50 when he was diagnosed in March 2006. His initial PSA was 2.86 ng/ml, his Gleason Score was 3+3=6 and he was staged T2a. His choice of treatment was Radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP) with no subsequent chemo, radiation or other therapies at this time.. Here is his story.

My dad received a prostate cancer diagnosis in 1987, and opted for "watchful waiting". He eventually died from complications arising from it in 2003. That was a long hard "life and death" stretch; we were concerned every inch of the way.

More presently, I have been dealing with my own personal diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation since 2006. I eat healthy and natural as possible. I own a bicycle and canoe; exercise regularly and am presently training for my first ever 26.2 mile run in Austin, Texas.

I am reminded constantly, there are a lot of feelings, views, concerns, emotions, learning, compassions and issues associated with that which "binds" us all.

I have been inquiring about starting a real time support group or point of contact for people local to my area regarding PCa. Things are in the mill, but nothing concrete yet.

I will continue to remain available, vigilant and if at all possible to be of assistance to others.

 

UPDATED

November 2008

 

 

I just had my 2 1/2 year PSA. It has been previously 0.00, courtesy the VA. This time it came back registering 0.01 . They have a sent a request for a "re-test", for which the blood draw will be conducted on Monday morning.

My civilian Uro doesn't have the results as the VA hasn't faxed them to him yet. He will know on or before my next scheduled follow up visit with him on 11/14.

I am trying to be at peace with this as it might be nothing. My last go round nearly drove me bonkers though and sometimes I am prone to worry/anxiety. Worry helps nothing but build stress which is very unhealthy.

I am 53, I eat right, sleep 10 hrs a night, run 180-190 miles per month - I run my second ever 26.2 mile marathon in two weeks, for which I've been in 4 months of advanced training - drink maybe a beer or glass of wine per week and do not smoke. A pretty lady, does however, still catch my eye.

Later: I am back from the San Antonio, TX Marathon. I finished in 04:03:00. The completion time was 53min:58sec faster than the last one I did in February of '08 in Austin, TX.

The 2 1/2 year follow up PSA tests I had done last week and the week before were measuring 0.01; both of them. Previous to those, I had been getting 0.00 measurements. My Civilian Uro indicated 0.01 is still medically considered to be zero.

He likes the fact that I eat well and as natural as possible, that I watch my weight, cholesterol and blood pressure. He is proud that I keep up with my running too. He said he would like to see me qualify for Boston (I need to shave another 28 min off my time) and that I should return to see him in another 6 months. He thinks I may go on annual follow up schedule with his office after that.

Best regards, Mick -- Abilene, TX

Mick's e-mail address is: dolphin_79605@yahoo.com