YANA - YOU ARE NOT ALONE NOW

PROSTATE CANCER SUPPORT SITE

BRONZE

Michael Raymond and Leslie live in Louisiana USA. He was 46 when he was diagnosed on March 7, 2008. His initial PSA was 5.6 ng/ml, his Gleason Score was 6 and he was staged T1c. He is undecided as to his choice of treatment. Here is his story.

Driving home from work I answer a call from the doctor's office after a routine medical check-up to refill my blood pressure and cholesterol meds. It seems the PSA the doc tossed into my routine work was higher than he liked at 5.6. I sat with this news for three days until the following Monday when I called them back and asked for a retest. Begrudgingly they agreed. Stupid me, 7.2 on the retest. They ordered a "free PSA" test to verify the high number, it came back as a 2.5. Apparently this is not good either.**

I was sent to an urologist for a consult. He did the DRE, felt nothing abnormal. I had only one symptom, a little dribble when I finished peeing; I just shook longer, no big deal. I scheduled an ultrasound and biopsy. The results came back today. He did 6 samples, all came back positive. I go Tuesday next week for my options.

After the original PSA I discussed the results with some people I work with. 2 men, 62 and 54, have both had cancer last year and had the prostate removed. The more I listened and talked around the plant where I work I found person after person who has also had this done. I was the youngest so far - 46.

I don't think about it too much, just when people bring it up. My mother told me today that she feels responsible in some way for the ails of her children. That hurts to know. My wife is scared, understandably. I'm just more in the mindset of it's just a thing but a BIG thing.

Thanks for listening.
Mike

 

UPDATED

May 2008

 

 

Just a quick update on what's happening lately.

I've finally gotten a date for surgery, April 23rd, 2008. Two days away. I'm doing well so far. I have a lot of other things on my mind before the surgery. I have to cut the grass, spray Round-Up, poop my brains out starting at noon tomorrow. Ya know, the usual. We had a crawfish broil Saturday. It was like the last supper.

My urologist is also doing surgery that day. Some lucky stiff gets to be his first robotic surgery patient. I hope he does it right. I'm the stiff. His proctor has done more than 300 of these and will be right there with him. I SHOULD be ok. I like my urologist. Bow-tie and all. He called my wife Leslie last week to let her know how excited he is about it. They talked about what to expect and answered any questions she had. She has had A LOT of questions. All I know is I want the cancer out. She wants the particulars.

I stopped work on Thursday last week. Left a message that I was going to be out for two months. I was accused of being so tight about leaving work that I would be back there on Friday, 2 days post op. I hope not.

Nothing else good to update on. Later all.

 

Later

Thank you all for your support. I guess I did well, I'm home and the catheter is working good. I have very little pain, the majority coming from a tape burn and, as some of you know, the sliding catheter. Triple antibiotic ointment helps but.....

I was my doctor's first robotic surgery patient. He seemed very comfortable and I was thrilled to have him do it. HE HAD HELP, as you might know. I'd recommend him to anyone in the Lafayette, Louisiana, USA area.

I spent 2 nights in the hospital, the 23rd and 24th of April. Leslie spent one night with me but as you know the one hour patient checks do nothing for the patient's health. I asked her to sleep at home the next night to give her some rest.

Thank you guys (and ladies) for all the tips to make these days more comfortable.

Later Still:

I went to the doctor's office today, May 6th, for catheter removal at 0900. I was "semi-prepared" for this by reading other's experiences. I was NOT prepared for the sting at the end of my peeny when the nurse pulled it out. Man, my eyes watered! It only lasted 10 seconds and I am sure was less painful than other things I had in my life, but this was the first time i ever opened my legs for someone to hurt me on purpose.

After that initial 10 seconds, I felt a wave of " it's over, cancer's gone, small scars, and no catheter". It was like heaven.

My doc checked me all over, looked at everything, explained the pathology report and said we'll see you in 3 months, return to work when you feel comfortable with control.

I had a pair of absorbant pants with me, slipped them on, got dressed, and headed out for breakfast with my wife, Leslie.

Got home by 1100, went pee like most people do, some blood but had the stop/ start capabilities i was hoping for, took a pain killer and took a nap. I woke to find a friend had stopped by to say hi cause he was in the area. Last week he sent pizza on the Friday after my surgery, he was in Washington State on a job at the time. We were quite surprised to see him, and it was great having his company.

My pathology report said I had adenocarcinoma, gleason 3+3 involving 60% of the tissue volume. Tumor extends into the seminal vesicles. Tumor involves right and left lobes, apex, base, and mid portion of the prostate. No extraprostatic extension. Margins clear. Code 9. I don't know what code 9 is but I hope it means we got it all out.

I'll keep y'all up to date with the recovery. I was surprised that he said I can go back to work whenever. It's only been 13 days.

 

UPDATED

October 2008

 

 

Went for the follow up PSA in August (yes, I'm slow at posting). I had the blood work done BEFORE my appointment so we could discuss those results at the appointment. He did his "check under the hood" and everything, decided I was a great first robot patient (yes, his first, I've always wanted to be first at something) and was about to order blood work. Leslie stopped him, said I had it, he flipped the paper up, and said "yup, <0.1".

After the initial relief we followed him out. He gave me a goody bag of Cialis and a script for more. They might work,I can't tell too much. I get stiff on my own but not enough to push it in. I'm working on that even now. (not like right NOW but when I can). Time seems to be the key. I don't write much but talk a lot.

Feel free to ask or email.

Take care, Mike .

Mike's e-mail address is: mraymon@entergy.com

**NOTE: If Mike has quoted the figures correctly the result is in fact very good. With a total PSA of 7.2 ng/ml and a free PSA of 2.5 ng/ml, the free PSA percentage is 35%. Any free PSA of more than 25% is regarded as unlikely to be associated with prostate cancer.