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PROSTATE CANCER SUPPORT SITE

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Al Al and Chris live in Maine USA. He was 64 when he was diagnosed on June 24, 2008. His initial PSA was 20.3 ng/ml, his Gleason Score was 7 and although he does not say so, it seems likely he was staged T1c. His choice of treatment was robotic surgery. Here is his story.

My PSA was 2.8 for over 40 years then in a little over a year jumped to 20.3. Cancer was found in a Biopsy in only 1 of 8 taken June 24, '08. But it was very aggressive type. This may be due to my 3 tours in Vietnam and Agent Orange.

I got a second opinion and due to cancer being very aggressive took the Robotic assistance Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy at the Cancer Center of Maine, After bone scan and cat scan plus other tests and a complete physical by my doctor confirmed that the cancer seemed not to have spread did the surgery on August 5, '08. My Doctor Dr. Hansen did an excellent job and was home the next morning. Care at the Hospital Maine Medical Center was excellent too. I gained control of my urine two days after the catheter was out. The catheter was in a week that was the only part which was difficult. The sex part is also returning and hopefully a full recovery in that area too in another couple of weeks. I will up date that later.

Al

 

UPDATED

December 2008

 

 

My lastest PSA was >0.01%. So just follow up PSA tests every 6 months.

No problems with water control gained that 2 days after the Robotic Surgery. ED erections now 75-80% hard and improving use medicine to help out in that area sometimes. Happy with my surgery and recovery.

Pick a good experienced doctor and use the Robotic Surgery if possible.

Al

 

UPDATED

September 2009

 

 

A check of my PSA number in December 2008 was 0.01 or less. The day after the catheter was out in August 2008 complete control of my water. My wife and I were having sex about two weeks later. To get more firmness during sex I tried 50mg of Viagra. This made my face red some redness in upper body too and nose ran. After two months in October 2008 went onto Levitra and same problems as with Viagra. Erections were about 85% of pre-surgery. Then in February of 2009 went onto Cialis 5 mg and no redness, no nose running and erections were possible anytime and about 90-95 % firmness as to before surgery too.

July 2009 PSA still 0.01 erections improving to same as pre surgery. I would add too penis size also the same too. I will watch the PSA and will be checked by my doctor who did the surgery next summer and will watch my PSA with my VA doctor and my primary care doctor too. All looks good at this point. For me the Robotic surgery with an excellent doctor was the best choice.

Minor things I would do different: After surgery in the hospital put on jockey underpants as soon as possible do not walk around with just johnie [not too sure as to what Al means here - we don't have a 'johnie' in Australia] and robe on. This is due to rubbing in where the catheter enters the penis by the johnie. This took a couple of weeks to heal up and was painful. I would have gone to a motel so I could have slept better the night of the surgery. I was more than ready to get out of there. The IV made me very sick and took it out early the next morning. I should have taken it out as soon as possible after the surgery and left the hospital. I took no pain meds after surgery and the IV and lack of under wear were the two major problems I had.

Keep in mind that my PSA went 2.8 to over 22 in a bit over a year this was due in part to the Agent Orange I picked up in my 3 tours in Vietnam. I would do the same operation again.

Feel free to E-Mail me.

Al's e-mail address is: ynmalr@yahoo.com