Dale
Noel and his wife Mary live in Michigan, USA. Dale was
54 when he was diagnosed on 13 August 2002. His initial PSA was 5.7 ng/ml and
his Gleason Score was: 4+4= 8. He was staged T1c and his choice of treatment was
Surgery. Here is his story:
I
never had an annual physical until I turned 50 in 1997. I knew I should stop smoking,
eat better, and exercise. After the first physical I found out my blood pressure
was a little high and cholesterol was out of wack. Nothing I couldn't have told
the doctor without the physical. My wife insisted that I ask for a PSA test. Never
heard of that test but asked anyway. Results were around 2.0 ng/ml and that was
within the normal range. Doc suggested Saw Palmetto as a supplement. Should get
the PSA down.
The annual exams continued for a couple of years until
in 2001 the PSA rose to around 4 ng/ml. Had continued to take Saw Palmetto but
it didn't get the PSA down. It kept creeping up slowly. Now I would have to have
an ultra-sound and biopsy. this didn't sound good. The ultrasound was a problem,
it showed that my prostate could support a PSA of around 10 ng/ml due to its size.
This meant that I was normal and healthy.
No biopsy was needed.
2002, another physical, PSA rose 26%, another ultrasound, and this time the biopsy
was needed due to the rate of rise in PSA. I was positive since the PSA was only
5.7 ng/ml that it was still supported by the size of the prostate. In all of these
tests the DRE and ultrasound showed nothing out of the normal range. The biopsy
was no big deal. Only a couple to times did I feel pressure. There was no pain.
Now I had to wait a couple of days for the results. I hardly thought of it since
I was so sure it was normal. the only thing that worried me was blood in the ejaculate
after the biopsy. An Internet search assured me that this was normal.
Oh well, back to work and forget about the tests until I got a call from the doctor's
office and was told to come in for the results. Never thought about it again since
I was excited, my second grandson was born 13 August 2002, three days before.
Went in and was told the biopsy had cancer. 60% in each of the 6 needles. A Gleason
score of 8. I asked what that was and was told it meant the cancer was aggressive.
An appointment would be set up with an urologist in Ann Arbor.
Now what
do I do. I don't want to die. I've got to get home and tell Mary. She's my support.
[Two years later, writing this still makes me cry]
As I leave the office
and go into the hall I hear, "PaPa", behind me. My son has his oldest, Dominic,
and the new baby at the pediatrician down the hall. I've been spotted. I can't
ignore them so I let my son know there is a problem but I have to go home to talk
to his mother first. I'll talk to him later. I can't even look at my grandson.
A couple of hours, a couple of good cries and we decide to tell my sons.
Now I try to learn all I can about this monster before the next doctor's appointment.
I call friends, other doctors, my insurance company, everyone and get information.
A meeting with Dr. McHugh at St. Joes in Ypsilanti puts both of us at
ease. We both get what every couple - Yes, it is a couple's disease, needs. Confidence
and comfort in the doctor. My wife asked how aggressive was it. He explained it
as a car engine. There are 4 cylinders, 6 cylinders and 8 cylinders. This one
is super-charged. We schedule the surgery since it will take 5 more weeks for
the biopsy to heal. This gives us time to investigate the other treatments. We
can always cancel the surgery.
Meetings with doctors on Laproscopic
surgery, discussions on radiation, and our support group got me to the position
that for me surgery gives me more chances to get the cancer if the surgery fails.
October 3, 2002, a day after my grand-daughter is born, I go in for
the operation. Stop and see my son, daughter-in-law and the baby on the way to
surgery. The next day they stop to see me on their way home. I go home the next
morning. 5 days later the staples come out, a total 12 days after surgery the
catheter comes out. I had learned to hate that thing. I burned at the exit for
the entire time. Thank heaven for ointments.
We find out there was negative
margins. I was continent, except for occasional dripping the first 3 weeks, right
from the start. Both nerves were taken, we knew this going in, due to the cancer
locations, so I am totally impotent. Started on Vacumn therapy within a month
after surgery.
Don't ever think that this is not a couple's disease.
you both will miss many things that could happen before the operation. The trick
is to talk to each other and look at the good of what you have. Create new memories
and don't dwell on what is gone. You're also not going to turn 21 again so you
should get over it. Remember the good and create more memories.
Our
support group - Yes, I feel it is mine - is important to me. I arrange work travel
so I am always in town for the meetings. I don't want to find out if I can do
without the people because I don't need another downer. Find a group and use them.
Prayer and God's protection are what got me to the one and a half year
point with PSA readings below 0.1 ng/ml.
Just got the result from my
18 month PSA test. Less than 0.1 ng/ml and I'm glad. The suprise I just got is
that 3 days before the test I was okay and sure that everything would be alright.
The days before the test I was very nervous and when I got the result I couldn't
believe that the relief would be that great. Enjoy your health and never take
it for granted.
God, my wife and the group helped me and I'll help anyone
who asks.
I
just got my latest PSA, 4 years, and as usual am anxious just before the test.
This time however I didn't get real bad until the day I called in for the results.
Still undetectable. I never have been able to get the results and not cry. God
has blessed me so.
Treatment
has changed from getting rid of the cancer to learning to live with the results.
I now test some products for Danmar regarding pumps, rings, and sleeves for treatment
of ED. Before PCa ED was a joke to see on TV. Then it was an insult since so few
people really understand it. Now it has become a challenge to inform as many people
as possible to the real effects of the problem. I still have a desire to help
anyone who asks but find I value my time with my wife and family to the point
that I will occasionally miss the support group meetings. This is something I
feel I shouldn't do since so many men need the support of others, yet, I also
need time with my loved ones.
As
always I will still talk to anyone. Until April when I get the next PSA.
I
had my last PSA and office visit on October 1, 2007, five years from the surgery.
This is the first time I did not worry prior to the test, forgot to call to get
the results, and was totally relaxed. This was also to be the last of the 6 month
visits and we were going to go to annual visits. There is no sign of the cancers'
return and PSA is still undetectable.
From
having aggressive cancer to clean for 5 years has been a fantastic journey and
one I am learning to relax with and enjoy the life I still have.
Dale
Noel
Dale's
e-mail address is: dalenoel@hotpop.com
