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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Prostate Cancer / December 2003Home from the Hospital
I had my RRP done the morning of December 11.That was last Thursday. Time flies... They used a combination of general anesthesia and epidural.With the epidural, a small catheter is installed directly in the spine to treat the nerves that serve the area being operated on. A small stream of anesthetic is injected at a constant rate. The epidural catheter was left in for two days, with a small flow of anesthetic.Bottom line was that there was absolutely no pain until after they took the catheter out. Then I was glad to see the nurse coming around with the pain pills.My impression is that they didn't have to hit me so hard with the general anesthesia, so I was awake and alert sooner. The urine looked pretty awful at first, but became a nice amber color by Saturday. The drains came out on Monday, when they sent me home. The surgeon was very pleased with the way the operation went. He said that the organ looked good, and he looked carefully and did not see any evidence of any spread. I'll know for sure when I see the pathologist's report. Ernie Gudath 64 PSA 4.3 3/03; 5.6 5/03 Biopsy 1 5/14/03 ambiguous Biopsy 2 9/18/03 T1c, Gleason 6 (3+3) RRP 12/11/03 hi ernie - see, i told you it wasn't that bad. and the nicest view is that hospital is in the rear view mirror. sounds like you are well on your way to a full recovery and an excellent path report that you'll be happy with. now, remember to rest up and keep the feet up and if you leave them down, not over 20 minutes at a time without getting on walking some. keeps the possibility of blood clots in the legs down. ~ curtis knowledge is power - growing old is mandatory - growing wise is optional Ernie: Welcome back home. You are now a permanent member of the club with all rights and privileges that accrue to that status. That and a coupon will get you $1.00 off Depends Guards. The time will go fast and before you know it Mr. Foley will be history and you will be back in your normal routines. I hope you get a favorable path report and a nice <0.1 on your 90 day PSA. Best of luck to you, and best wishes for the Holiday Season. Thank you. David S. > I had my RRP done the morning of December 11.That was last Thursday. Time > flies... [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] > Biopsy 2 9/18/03 T1c, Gleason 6 (3+3) > RRP 12/11/03 I'm new here. First time I've ever used a news group, but I had to write to tell you congratulations on the good outcome and best wishes for continued recovery. I had my RP 6 May 2003 and I remember. Best to you, sir. ron 52 Gleason 6 RP 5/6/03 PSA <.01 > I had my RRP done the morning of December 11.That was last Thursday. Time > flies... [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] > Biopsy 2 9/18/03 T1c, Gleason 6 (3+3) > RRP 12/11/03 Hey, Ron! Welcome to the newsgroup. Glad to see you found us.  SignatureSteve Kramer PSA 16 10/17/2000 @ 46 Biopsy 11/01/2000 G7 (3+4), T2c RRP 12/15/2000 PSA .1 .1 .1 .3 .4 .8 EBRT 05-07/2002 @ 47 PSA .3 .2 .2 .2 .3 Erection 05/12/2003 @ 48 Begin Lupron 07/21/2003 @ 48 PSA .1 > I'm new here. First time I've ever used a news group, but I had to write to > tell you congratulations on the good outcome and best wishes for continued [quoted text clipped - 30 lines] > > Biopsy 2 9/18/03 T1c, Gleason 6 (3+3) > > RRP 12/11/03 well hi, ron, glad you joined in. pull up a chair, and have some of the good stuff. here's to your good fortune as well. cheers, ~ curtis knowledge is power - growing old is mandatory - growing wise is optional thanks, guys!! i'm just mighty glad to be here.. merry christmas, happy holidays ron > well hi, ron, glad you joined in. pull up a chair, and have some of the > good stuff. here's to your good fortune as well. [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > knowledge is power - growing old is mandatory - growing wise is optional > I had my RRP done the morning of December 11.That was last Thursday. Time > flies... [snip] > The surgeon was very pleased with the way the operation went. He said that > the organ looked good, and he looked carefully and did not see any evidence > of any spread. I'll know for sure when I see the pathologist's report. Office visit today, and reviewed the pathologist's report. Good news, but not all good news. First, it was still Gleason 6 (3+3). Scattered microscopic foci of prostatic adenocarcinoma, largest focus 6mm in size. The good news: Apex, bladder base, lymph nodes left and right, seminal vesicles: ALL NEGATIVE Resection margins: "Tumor focally involves linked margin, right mid third of prostate." That means I can't say "Clear margins," but it's close. The doctor said that according to the nomographs, I have about a 90% chance of being cancer-free in 7 years. Hey, I'll take it. We're going to keep an eye on the PSA, and if it stays down, open a bottle of bubbly. If it comes up in any way, study the curve and go on to Plan B. And now, closing on a lighter note, with apologies to Monty Python: "This prostate is no more! 'E has ceased to be! 'E's expired and gone to meet 'is maker! 'E's a stiff! Bereft of life, 'e rests in peace! 'Is metabolic processes are now 'istory! 'E's off the twig! 'E's kicked the bucket, 'e's shuffled off 'is mortal coil, run down the curtain and joined the bleedin' choir invisible!! THIS IS AN EX-PROSTATE!!" Ernie Gudath 64 PSA 4.3 3/03; 5.6 5/03 Biopsy 1 5/14/03 ambiguous Biopsy 2 9/18/03 T1c, Gleason 6 (3+3) RRP 12/11/03 > > I had my RRP done the morning of December 11.That was last Thursday. Time > > flies... [quoted text clipped - 33 lines] > Biopsy 2 9/18/03 T1c, Gleason 6 (3+3) > RRP 12/11/03 Hi Ernie, I'd bet you're happy it's over. So was I, however the whole operation and recovery was not even close to what I thought it would be. I had feared the worst and it turned out to be quite a much better than that. I'm at a little over a year now from the RP and back to normal except better than before because I can sleep for seven hours now without having to get up for a trip to the bathroom! Just because it's into the margins don't always mean it's escaped out. According to Dr. Walsh in his book, Guide to Surviving Prostate Cancer, P. 290, "close margins are alomost always negative". He goes on to say that "Even if the surgical margins are positive this does not necessarily mean that cancer is left behind". So Ernie your doc is telling you good news. If you don't already have this book I highly recommend it. Well worth the $17 bucks. I still use it alot, it's a very positive outlook for Pca patients and explains the unknown in clear lingo to us non medical guys like myself. Happy holidays to you and your family Dale J. SignatureEmail: dalej2@mac..com > Office visit today, and reviewed the pathologist's report. Good news, but > not all good news. > The good news: Apex, bladder base, lymph nodes left and right, seminal > vesicles: ALL NEGATIVE > I have about a 90% chance of > being cancer-free in 7 years. Hey, I'll take it. > And now, closing on a lighter note, with apologies to Monty Python: > "This prostate is no more! 'E has ceased to be! 'E's expired and gone to > meet 'is maker! 'E's a stiff! Bereft of life, 'e rests in peace! 'Is > metabolic processes are now 'istory! 'E's off the twig! 'E's kicked the > bucket, 'e's shuffled off 'is mortal coil, run down the curtain and joined > the bleedin' choir invisible!! THIS IS AN EX-PROSTATE!!" And from 'Ghostbusters', I'm a little unclear on this good and bad thing. What I'm hearing is that he is 90% sure you beat the sonofabitch! To me, that's all good. Congratulations! SignatureSteve Kramer PSA 16 10/17/2000 @ 46 Biopsy 11/01/2000 G7 (3+4), T2c RRP 12/15/2000 PSA .1 .1 .1 .3 .4 .8 EBRT 05-07/2002 @ 47 PSA .3 .2 .2 .2 .3 Erection 05/12/2003 @ 48 Begin Lupron 07/21/2003 @ 48 PSA .1 Good news Ernest, I too had a "very focal 2 mm tumor at the inked margin". I didn't much care to hear that but like Walsh and others have said, it often doesn't mean anything. I've had two PSA's now almost six months post-op, both <0.1. Here's wishing you a rapid recovery, happy holidays, and to everyone undetectable PSA's. Dave Perry > > > Office visit today, and reviewed the pathologist's report. Good news, but [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > What I'm hearing is that he is 90% sure you beat the sonofabitch! To me, > that's all good. Congratulations! |
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