Bruce
McLeod and Lisa live in New Jersey, USA. He was 60 when he was diagnosed in March
2009. His initial PSA was 5.4 ng/ml, his Gleason Score was 3+3=6 and he was staged
T1c. His choice of treatment was robotic surgery. Here is his story.
In
November, 2008, Blood work from routine annual physical indicated elevated PSA
of 5.4. Discussed with doctor the possibility that daily, year round bicycling
may have contributed to elevated score. Had follow up PSA after staying off bike
three weeks later...PSA was 4.4.
Doctor informed me of my options...with
a family history of PCa (my dad had PCa, had the open surgery in 1986, ultimately
spread to his bones, dying in 2001 from the disease). I decided to have the biopsy...that
was done in February, 2009. Twelve cores taken, one core was cancerous, less than
10 percent, with a Gleason of 3+3=6.
Was very determined to find the best
doctor I could...visited Thomas Jefferson and University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia,
Pa. I was told by both institutions that I was an "ideal" candidate for surgery...I
opted for the surgery because I wanted a definitive answer on the state of my
cancer...only surgery could provide that. I finally decided to have Dr. David
Lee at the University of Pennsylvania perform robotic surgery...that was on June
22, 2009...I will never forget that date!
24 hours in the hospital, and
you are out. Came home with the catheter...had that in for two weeks. THANK GOD
the final pathology report came back with organ confined/ negative surgical margins/3+3=6
Gleason/no lymph node or seminal vesicle involvement. I was very fortunate to
catch the cancer early AND have an EXCELLENT surgeon.
Postoperative results:
fully regained sexual function after five months, without the aid of medications
or pumps. Continence, however continues to be a problem six months after surgery...I
am not as bad as I initially was, but I still leak and dribble, and still wear
a pad. Bicycling is also a big part of my life...I was able to get "back in the
saddle" in mid August...had a little too much pain in the sit area...went out
and bought a recumbent bicycle...that has turned out to be a brilliant adaptive
device...no pain or discomfort in the sit area!
Bruce's e-mail address
is ssbn609@comcast.net
