Christopher West and Laurie live in Nevada, USA. He was 54 when he was diagnosed
on April 9, 2009. His initial PSA was 5.4 ng/ml, his Gleason Score was 3+4=7 and
he was staged T1c. His choice of treatment was Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy
. Here is his story.
In October 2008 I had my yearly check up and blood
test. My PSA was at 3.8 and my GP asked me to take another PSA level in January.
At that time is was 4.0. We checked again in March at which time it was at 5.4.
My GP could not feel anything after my DRE. He suggested a biopsy. I had this
completed the following week. At the time of the biopsy the urologist also performed
a DRE and ultrasound. He could not feel or see anything. However one week later
the biopsy report revealed cancer in six of the 12 cores for a Gleason score of
3+4=7.
We discussed several options, I had also visited this web site and
several others to learn about the different options available to me.
My
urologist, for which I will always be grateful, stated that he had performed about
thirty Da Vinci assisted surgeries. My boss at work had his prostrate removed
a few years prior without the benefit of the Da Vinci system and I knew what he
had gone through. Five days in the hospital and three weeks out of the office.
My urologist had trained at the City of Hope in Los Angeles with Dr Mark Kawachi
who had performed close to one thousand and perhaps I would want to schedule an
appointment with him. He is one of the best at preserving nerves to minimize incontinence
and ED. So about three weeks later my wife and I flew to LA to meet with Dr Kawachi.
I
had sent my biopsy slides prior to my appointment. It was a good meeting. Dr Kawachi
stated that he felt I was an excellent candidate for the LRP surgery. His cure
rate was at 97% and that Radiation was about 91%. He also stated that when deciding
which is best for you, what was your first thought after being told of the cancer.
If it was to remove the prostate, then that is what you should do. That is exactly
what I felt knowing that for me wondering if the radiation or seeds was working
was not something I wanted to do. The side effects of incontinence and ED was
about the same with both procedures. We scheduled the surgery for June 18.
I
was very pleased with the City of Hope and their complete staff. Through the whole
scheduling and pre-op, I met with six or seven professionals. I have read on several
sites that the COH is a little like a factory. I can understand that perspective
and agree with it. But only in a positive light. They are very professional and
I was told that they have four of the Da Vinci systems and perform about six to
eight a week. They know what they are doing. Dr Kawachi even called me at home
prior to the surgery to ask if I had scheduled the surgery and if I would like
any assistance.
I was Dr Kawachi first surgery on June 18 and everything
went fine and the hospital stay was without any problems. I feel I was very fortunate
as I really had minor pain. They removed the drain the morning after and I was
discharged later that day. I think being the first surgery of the day allowed
me to go home twenty five hours after the surgery. My brother lives in LA so we
stayed there until it was time to remove the catheter and post surgery appointment.
I walked about a quarter of a mile twice a day and did my Kegel exercises three
times a day. I had read that too much walking could cause some pain when the catheter
is removed.
My
wife and I returned on June 24 for the post op blood test, X-ray to examine the
connections performed during the surgery with my bladder and the pathology report.
Everything was fine. I actually met with Dr Kawachi's nurse practitioner. I received
good news that the cancer was confined to the organ and there was not nerve or
lymph node damage. The removal of the catheter was uneventful with no discomfort
what so ever. We returned home on June 27. I returned to work (desk job) on June
29 working about six hours.
Everyone has their own perspective and makes
their own decision. I can tell you that for me the City of Hope and Dr Kawachi
was the best path for me.
Christopher
Reno Nevada
Christopher's
e-mail address is: cwest@machabee.com
