(J) Still here eh (Jack)ie... Of course.

.No rants here J concerning radiation oncologists.  My girlfriend had a very
good one that was not only willing to listen but didn't mind answering any
question regardless of how stupid it may have sounded to someone that had
seen so much and was in the profession.  My only rant in the past was truly
based on one medical oncolgist that just did not have my girlfriend's best
interest in mind and she suffered as you may well know from my past posts
unnecessarily from his lack of proper treatment but I promised not to rant
about this person so I will stop here concerning that person.

Came here I guess because I felt comfortable in a sense after the many
exchanges here during Jewell's illness.  Always felt that even if there were
difference of opinions at least those opinions were from those that truly
cared (ie.you, Steph and others just to name a few).

My decision to post in both groups is that I have always thought that new
ideas from as many sources as possible could be weighed and one could get a
better understanding of this disease.

Have been reading as much as possible from the web sites that you have
posted as well as a few from the other group.  My urologist was very good on
going over the many options as well and provided me with a rather large book
on prostate cancer that has been helpful as well.

Intend to to continue to post as I go through this if I have some questions
that might be abled to be answered from those that may have knowledge to the
questions that I may need to pose.  Hoping that after my surgery on the 24th
that everything will go as routinely as possible and I will be fortunate
enough to be able to put this behind me as soon as possible.

Education is indeed the key to understanding and I intend to avail myself of
as much of it as possible.  As far as my general health I would have to say
that it is fair with problems with blood pressure, high lipid levels and not
being being in as good of shape as I should be, hense the reason for the
tradmill work, etc.

I've known my urologist for over 25 years and he will be doing the surgery
which I feel comfortable with.  He has done more than 800 and has experience
in nerver sparring.  Hopefully radiation will not become a factor but
understand that anything is possible and if that becomes a need I will seek
out the best radiation oncologist that I can find.

Thanks for your concern and suggestions as well as from those of others.
Unless something comes up between now and surgery I will post again post
surgery.

Again thanks for all the info you and others have provided.

(Jack)ie

Got through the surgery and am now at home.  Surgery went as expected and
was the easiest part of the whole thing.  Started to run some fevers because
of a thrush like problem that still makes even drinking water painful but  I
am hopeful that the meds for that that I will be getting tomorrow will help.
Was a little concerned that the doctor said that he couldn't get but one of
the two lymph nodes removed but he said he wasn't too concerned with that.
This Thursday will have the staples out and hopefully in a week or two will
have the catheter removed although it hasn't been that much of a problem so
far.  Hoping that this will mean a "cure" to this prostate cancer !

(Jack)ie