YANA - YOU ARE NOT ALONE NOW

PROSTATE CANCER SUPPORT SITE

BRONZE

Bennie Foy and Sandra live in North Carolina, USA . He was 54 when he was diagnosed on May 19, 2008. His initial PSA was 3.64 ng/ml, his Gleason Score was 3+3=6 and he was staged T1c. His choice of treatment was HIFU. Here is his story.

As I write this it is June 11, 2008. I was diagnosed on May 19, 2008 and have my 1st doctor visit post diagnosis on June 16, 2008.

I plan on following the HIFU option if I can come up with the money to do so. I have visited a lot of support sites and this one seems to be by far the best.

Thanks to Glen Leslie for his encouragement and to all those here for their time and support to help others.

Ben

 

UPDATED

December 2008

 

 

I had my PSA checked again in November 2008 and it was up from 3.64 to 4.9 so I decided that due to up front cost and no insurance help I would be better off with surgery than HIFU.

I am meeting Dec.16th 2008 with urologist at the same hospital where I had heart bypass surgery in 2006. If there are any cardiac problems from the procedure I am right where I need to be. I am looking into robot-assisted surgery and hope to get it done before the end of the year. I will update after my meeting on the 16th.

Thanks to all on this site who have helped with my research into my options and best of luck to all.

Later: Well things have been moving fast. I was suppose to see my Cardiologist on the January 8 but he contacted my surgeon and said he didn't need to see me as I had been monitored close for the past 2+ years and everything was ok. So... now surgery is set up for December 29th at Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem North Carolina. We will be using the robotic method and I will contact you ASAP with how things are going. Thanks again to all for the encouragement, info, advice and prayers. Also a special thanks to Terry for keeping this site up and running. Terry, there is no way to measure the impact you have had on all of us or count the lives you have saved here. THANKS!!!!!!

 

UPDATED

February 2009

 

 

Well gang, I had the Da Vinci surgery on Dec. 29th. All went well but recovery has been somewhat slow (I think).

I was in the hospital from Dec. 29th 2008 till Jan.1st 2009. Nothing like spending your wedding anniversary (Dec. 31st) in the hospital. The surgery went well. I had a very small prostate and it all came out in one piece they say. I had a lot of drainage which was the reason for being in the extra day.

After getting the catheter out I did have some control but not a lot. Still working on the exercises to get control back. Getting better every week. Had some issues with anemia because of internal bruising and had a C.A.T. scan to check this out. The bruising is reabsorbing so everything is getting better.

My next followup is towards the end of Feb. so will update then. I am a truck driver so it will take a little extra time before I can hit the road again. Every option I looked at left something behind that could cause problems later so complete removal was the only option for me.

Anyone who wants to contact me feel free to do so.

 

UPDATED

March 2009

 

 

Went back for my checkup and everything looks fine. PSA is 0.007 and all restrictions were taken off.

Doc gave me some of the biggest Viagra pills I have ever seen. I take 1/4 pill a day and a whole one every week. Nothing has happened yet.

Still some incontinence problems but not too bad.

Ben.

Ben's e-mail address is: foy@eastwoodarabians.com