Bob
Coleman and Joyce live in USA. He was 61 when he was diagnosed on February 2,
2007 His initial PSA was 5.0 ng/ml and his Gleason Score was 6. Although he states
that he was staged T2b or T2c, in fact it seems from his story that he should
have been staged T1c. His choice of treatment was Radical Prostatectomy. Here
is his story:
May 2006 - During the review of my annual physical, my doctor
was concerned that my Haemoglobin A1C test was elevated and we mapped out a strategy
for finger stick glucose testing, diet and exercise with a follow up A1C testing
every 90 days.
December 2006 - I worked really hard at the program, lost
45 lbs and indeed the A1C had a dropped 1.5 points putting me in the normal range.
However, the lab was also testing my PSA every 90 days and between September and
December 2006 my PSA jumped from 3.8 ng/ml to 5.1 ng/ml, a quick retest indicated
a 5.0 ng/ml. My doc recommended a biopsy.
February 2007 - My urologist
called with the news that I had prostate cancer, I was diagnosed with a Gleason
score of 6, Stage T2C. I was on such a high after losing the weight and realizing
I could control my blood sugar with diet and exercise that this really hit me
like a ton or bricks. I cried (in private), did the "why me" routine, got mad
"it is not fair" and then started my research determined to beat it.
My
wife and I met with my local urologist and reviewed the options; his recommendation
was that he perform a radical prostatectomy utilizing the "state of the art" da
Vinci robotics system. As no surgery could be performed till 6-8 weeks post biopsy,
I opted to continue my research and get a second opinion.
A member of my
family was an acquaintance of Dr Patrick Walsh, who developed the nerve sparing
radical prostatectomy technique which is still considered the "Gold Standard"
for prostate cancer treatment. All other forms of treatment compare themselves
to this standard. *
I emailed Dr. Walsh and to my surprise
I got a reply the same day, which included a portion of the second chapter of
his book "Guide to Surviving Prostate Cancer". I ordered a copy of his book and
made an appointment to meet with him at the Brady
Urology Institute at Johns Hopkins.
March 2007 - My impression of
Dr Walsh then and now is not one of a salesman pushing his particular brand of
cure or his new book but a man who truly believes that curing men of prostate
cancer is his calling in life; he is driven by this desire to cure and to continually
improve the techniques for doing so. I scheduled my surgery with him the same
day.
May 9, 2007 - I arrived at John Hopkins at 5:45 AM and as the pre-op
paperwork had been completed in previous days and weeks my admission was quick
and before long I was in the pre-op staging area, getting my IV. Due to some reflux
issues we had determined that a general anaesthesia would be used and from previous
surgery knew that I tolerate it well. I remember being rolled to the OR and then
walking in and sitting on the operating table and then getting positioned for
surgery. About that time the light went out.
I remember waking up in the
recovery room and had little discomfort. Before long, I was then transferred to
my room and my wife and sister came in to see me. I remember being hungry but
they were hesitant to give me anything but a little water. I had a morphine pump
and used it when I felt I needed it.
May 10, 2007 - Got up for the first
time and walked down the hall, other than all the contraptions connected to me
I was amazed at how well I was able to get around. I made three trips up and down
the hall that day. Liquids for breakfast and lunch switched to oral pain meds
and had a pretty good dinner (maybe I was just hungry).
May 11, 2007 -
I was discharged and on my way home, I had read somewhere that long tee shirts
were the thing for recuperation with the catheter and I had purchased a few prior
to surgery. I wore the tee shirts and briefs with a pad and was quite comfortable
in my recliner.
May12-17, 2007 - Things got better day by day, had stopped
all pain medication by Monday and was learning to cope with the catheter and bag.
Everything is a process but found I could get around quite well. I followed he
catheter care directions carefully which included a through cleaning around the
tip of the penis and then the application of Vaseline to the penis and the tube.
I asked about antibiotic creams but the experience at Hopkins was that the Vaseline
works just as well and it did seem to ease the minor irritation of the tube sliding
in and out of the penis tip as my activities increased.
May 18, 2007 -
The catheter came out in the morning and I sure don't miss it. They did the standard
saline wash and made me clench my buttocks muscles to start and stop the urinary
stream till I voided completely. I was able to attend a show with my wife that
afternoon wearing Depends Briefs. Luckily I had taken an extra pair and I needed
to change them by mid afternoon.
May 19, 2007 - I woke up several times
during the night with the need to urinate. I was surprised to find my Depends
were dry with the exception of a few dribbles caused each time I got up out of
the bed and during the trip to the toilet. I couldn't stop the dribble.
May
22, 2007 - I am dry lying down or sitting in a chair, but dribble on the way to
the toilet. When I am up and active I can't stop the dribble and have little need
to urinate. I still seem to tire easily and my perineum is still tender but I
feel stronger every day
Bob's e-mail address is: robertcoleman@hughes.net
*FOOT
NOTE: THE TERM "GOLD STANDARD" IN REFERENCE TO RADICAL PROSTATECTOMY
IS USED MAINLY BY SURGEONS AND IS NOT NECCESSARILY STILL A RECOGNISED TERM. STUDIES
SHOW THAT OTHER FORMS OF TREATMENT PRODUCE SIMILAR RESULTS.
