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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Prostate Cancer / February 2004Thanks and pulling the trigger
Greetings and a big heartfelt THANKS to all who contribute and comment, This NG has been a real boon to me as I work through this, the first stage of this journey. I posted in mid December inquiring about how to find that "artistic" surgeon with a long track record, and I announce that with some good luck (would you rather be right- rich-good looking or lucky?) I have located a surgeon who comes highly recommended from my local USTOO support group as well as from our local medical community (one of our former clients is an ontological surgeon of a different stripe and calls my guy the "guru of the prostate"), and he actually spent close to an hour and a 1/2 with me at our first visit. We're scheduled for bright and early on 3-8-04 for the RRP. I wonder if any of you all have read Norman Cousins' book, "Anatomy of an Illness" in which he writes of his reflections on healing and regeneration. I am taken with the concepts surrounding patient's mental state and their effect on the healing process. I'm also looking for recommendations for any visualization type tapes or cd's that any of you may have found to be helpful or not. In preparation for surgery I'm working out every day, have lost 11 of the 20 lbs. I hope to loose, eating allot more healthfully, and generally been taking better care of myself, my wife, family, friends, co-workers, cats, and dog. Also have listened to Dr. Andrew Weil's cd on "Breathing, the Master Key to Self Healing". Again much thanks and I wish for all of you the good fortune that comes with managing and succeeding every day in your own battle with PCa. Tony in Tucson Dx 12-16-03 (my birthday - ahh the irony) age 58 T1c Gleason 6 (3+3) 1 of 12 cores Psa 3.9 in March of 02, 4.1 in March of 03, (1st biopsy neg except for hi-grade PIN), 1.5 in December of 03 The decision is made, Tony. That's a huge step. The rest will go by in a moment. Good luck in 29 days.  SignatureProstate Cancer Survivor (so far), not a doctor 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 HTbegins 07/21/2003 @ 48 PSA .1 Lupron 7/03, 8/03, 12/03 > Greetings and a big heartfelt THANKS to all who contribute and comment, > [quoted text clipped - 32 lines] > hi-grade PIN), 1.5 > in December of 03 > Greetings and a big heartfelt THANKS to all who contribute and comment, > [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] > co-workers, cats, and dog. Also have listened to Dr. Andrew Weil's cd on > "Breathing, the Master Key to Self Healing". Exercise and losing weight are appropriate. I'm not sure about the rest. Although abdominal surgery of any kind is serious, a radical prostatectomy is not really that big a deal as surgical procedures go. The skill of the surgeon shows up in minimizing side effects such as incontinence and impotence. But there is nothing involved here like what would be involved in heart surgery or the rare disease Cousins had to live through. (I once browsed through his book, and I saw the film based on it.) Physically, exercise before and after, not taken to extremes, will speed your recovery. Mentally, it is important to realize that some degree of depression is normal under the circumstances. Exercise, again, was what worked the best for me to deal with depression, but whatever works for you, you should do. There may be a few glitches or rough spots of one sort or another, and you should try to take them in stride. The most difficult thing is to deal with the inevitable uncertainty about whether or not you are "cured". Your "stats" are about as good as they come, so you stand an excellent chance of a cure and good chance of avoiding side effects. Best of luck and a speedy uneventful recovery. > Again much thanks and I wish for all of you the good fortune that comes with > managing and succeeding every day in your own battle with PCa. [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > hi-grade PIN), 1.5 > in December of 03 P.S. What is an "ontological surgeon". In philosophy, ontology is the study of being. Add to your list of things to do: Kegels!!!!!!! Bev > Greetings and a big heartfelt THANKS to all who contribute and comment, > [quoted text clipped - 32 lines] > hi-grade PIN), 1.5 > in December of 03 ... > Tony in Tucson > Dx 12-16-03 (my birthday - ahh the irony) age 58 > T1c Gleason 6 (3+3) 1 of 12 cores > Psa 3.9 in March of 02, 4.1 in March of 03, (1st biopsy neg except for > hi-grade PIN), 1.5 > in December of 03 We're almost twins as far as the dx goes! I'm a month post-RP and feeling very well. I think being in good shape has helped the recovery, and it also helped me feel stronger mentally, which has got to help. Best wishes for a smooth ride. SignatureWake PSA 3.8, 11/2003 @58yrs Biopsy positive 5% in 1 of 10 cores T1c Gleason 3+3 RRP 1/12/04 Pathology agreed with biopsy + Negative margins Erection 1/30/04 Tony: Thanks for the book recommendation --- I'd like to recommend a book named "Still Here" by a man named Ram Dass (nee Richard Alpert) --- gave me a lot of insight on aging and dying (but in a positive way). I'm planning to read Lance Armstrong's bio too --- that's got to be some story! Has anybody here read it? Larry > I wonder if any of you all have read Norman Cousins' book, "Anatomy of an > Illness" in which he writes of his reflections on healing and regeneration. [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > hi-grade PIN), 1.5 > in December of 03 > Tony: > > I'm planning to read Lance Armstrong's bio too --- that's got to be some > story! Has anybody here read it? > > Larry No, I haven't read it, but I'd sure like to get away for some winter riding in the Texas hill country where he has ridden. I had that idea even before my RRP, but it would be extra inspirational now. Maybe a year from now. JohnG Tony, We are the same age and have very similar numbers. I had my LRP on 1/28 and it was pretty much a non-event. I am now going through the recovery stage which is not bad, just an inconvience. I'm sure you will do very well and I am happy that you found a surgeon in which you have confidence. I think that is really important. On a side note. We lived in Az for a few years (5 years ago). The town we lived in was Carefree which is basically north Scottsdale. Now we live in SW Florida. What a difference in climates. Feel free to email me anytime if I can be of any help. Take Care, John The Hill Country is a beautiful place, you'll love it --- plan to do it! Larry > > Tony: > > [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > JohnG Lance first bio - " it's not about the bike" is a good read - an easy read language wise, a little tougher emotionally as a cancer survivors. It gives good insight into what makes him a great bicyclist - his physcial, mental and and spiritual attributes that have happened post-cancer... bill Bill, born April 56 Sept 2001: No symptoms, unit functions working well. Fitness - running / biking 6 days a week. 5'10.5", 170 lbs Trail marathon 15 months earlier. 09/01 Routine Physical - PSA 8.0, DRE negative 10/01 Follow-up - PSA 9.2, f PSA - 6%, DRE negative 11/01 DRE positive (urologist), TURP, seven cores, 11/13/01 Diagnosed, 2 of 7 cores, T2c, Gleason 8 (4+4), RP recommended 12/01 Second Opinion (uro), DRE postive, confirmed diagnosis, treatmetn alternatives 12/01 Third opinion (radiation oncologist), DRE postive, confirmed diagnosis, recommended RP 01/14/2002 RRP & seral nerve transplant (by second opinion urologist), lymph nodes & margins negative, Gleason 7 (4+3) Post-RRP PSA - 03/02 - ND (<0.1) 09/02 - ND (<0.1), 04/03 - ND (<0.1) 09/03 - 0.03 03/04 - TBD > Tony: > [quoted text clipped - 27 lines] > > hi-grade PIN), 1.5 > > in December of 03 Thanks for the recommendation, Bill, I'll go buy it. Larry > Lance first bio - " it's not about the bike" is a good read - an easy read > language wise, a little tougher emotionally as a cancer survivors. It [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > Post-RRP PSA - 03/02 - ND (<0.1) 09/02 - ND (<0.1), 04/03 - ND > (<0.1) 09/03 - 0.03 03/04 - TBD |
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