Yes Steve, you are correct. My Gleason was an 8 at surgery, but
fortunately the cancer was just at the margins. My PSA was only 2.4
when first diagnosed but my primary care doc was concerned about the
velocity of increase from the prior year of 1.2. , plus he thought he
felt something with the digital rectal exam. On this basis he referred
me to a urologist.
How well I remember the devastating phone call from the urologist
telling me I had cancer. I was crushed, and felt my life was over.
After mentally settling down, my wife and I set out to learn all we
could about treatment options. My main concern was not incontinence
(heard lots of bad stories about this one) or impotence (likewise, bad
news), but getting cured. Treatment options, I believe have much to do
with our individual personalities. The thought of a fried prostate via
radiation was not appealing to me, plus, it seemed to rule out future
surgey if unsuccessful. Watchfull waiting? Not with an agressive cancer
as indicated by biopsy.  Cyro? Too new at that time. No, I wanted that
cancer out, and surgery was the way to go for me. I asked my diagnosing
urologist who he would have do the procedure if it were he that had
prostate cancer. He immediately gave me the name of a doctor at
Stanford University. I was fortuante  to be able to secure a
appointment with him and have him do my surgery.
The only advice that I can give those of you that must make treatment
decisions is get the best person you possibly can to do the job. Ask
nurses and other med people who is the best in the field. Ask the doc
about his success rate. Be assertive, it's your life were talking
about.

That's great news Lon.

Nice to meet you.

Ron B.
Chicago

Hello C Palmer.....
I saved many internet connection from many folks.
Maynard Berkowitz was a friend of mine. "Berky"
I have this "News Group" from 1999 saved in a file...
I have many that have come and gone.
I can name many........Berky was a help, Fernando...wonderful, David
Gunn....I could go on, or make a list of names from that time forward...
I am just a "NewBie"  only since 1999.
Good wishes to all my friends, and best years are forward.
Keep it Up!
John Loomis

It's unfortunate that many of us tend to drift away from this great
group as the memory of our battle with the devil fades.  I stuck around
for probably a good three years chiming in where I thought I had
something to add and then sorta backed away to let the newer, more "up
to date" folks share their experiences with the newest crop of members
in the "club no one wants to join."<g>

Still, I tend to gravitate back here now and then on at least a yearly
basis as do many others.  If more of us did so, we might provide more
hope to those just beginning this journey of, hopefully, conquest.

One of the things I think I can add that really isn't changing all that
much is that there are many more success stories among us than there are
failures.  Then again are they really failures?  Even a recurrence after
treatment has garnered that individual additional years.

Well, maybe it IS changing.  I suspect there may be fewer problems
post-op as more and more patients are finding more and more competent
surgeons, radiation oncologists, etc.  Practice makes perfect.

Bob
RRP 03/2000 and PSA's <0.1 ever since.