Danny
and Debbie Evans live in sunny Queensland, Australia. He was 61 when he was diagnosed
in
June 2001. His initial PSA was 5.7 ng/ml and his Gleason Score 3+3=6. He chose
Radical Prostatectomy for his treatment. Here is his story:
Around mid 2001 I injured my knee whilst at work and when it did not recover I
was told I would require knee reconstruction surgery. Prior to going into hospital
for this operation I was required to have a blood test and the results of this
showed that my PSA level was elevated. My doctor advised me to see a urologist,
following which a biopsy was carried out on my prostate and four of the 12 samples
taken in the biopsy were positive.
The
urologist advised my wife and I that I had prostate cancer - it is very difficult
to take in what is being said when you are told you have cancer - it is to say
the least absolutely mind blowing! We were told of the choices that I had and
I went away to try to make some sense of what I had been told. I found I had a
lot of confusion and anxiousness when I was trying to work out what would be the
best plan of attack to get rid of the "Dragon".
After
much deliberation I decided to have the big operation, a radical prostatectomy
which took place on 22 November, 2001. The operation was much more intense that
I expected and even today I am still bewildered about the time it still takes
me to do things that before I could do so quickly.
I
was in hospital for about 9 days and came home with the obligatory catheter which
stayed in for around 14 days. The pathology report on my prostate was that it
was aggressive and had I not done anything about it I would have only been here
for the next 12 to 18 months so my choice seems to have been a good one. My first
PSA blood test after the operation was done at the beginning of March 2002 and
I was very relieved to find that my reading had gone down to 0.1. This was the
best news that I could have wished for, considering that the original reading
started at 5.7 and within a matter of a week prior to the operation went up to
6.3. I will be having my next blood test in August 2002 and pray that it will
still be 0.1.
Overall
the whole experience has left me feeling somewhat disillusioned - I still have
incontinence problems and am impotent. I am trying Viagra and this is helping
but I know that I probably won't be entirely the same as I was before the operation.
Physiotherapy is also helping somewhat. But there is of course a positive side
and that is that I am still here to tell you my story. I would be pleased to talk
to anyone should they wish to talk to someone about the course of action that
I chose to take.
It
will be 3 years this November since I had the radical prostatectomy operation.
My PSA is now carried out every 3 months as suggested by my current GP to keep
up to date on any changes in my condition. Since May 2003 my readings have been
as follows :
May
2003 0.4 ng/ml
August
03 0.6 ng/ml
November
03 0.4 ng/ml
March
2004 0.6 ng/ml
June
04 0.5 ng/ml
I
am still suffering some incontinence and impotence although this is not as bad
as it was originally. I still have difficulty in carrying out strenuous activities
such as lifting, walking distances and anything where I have to exert myself.
Unfortunately
some 12 months ago I also contracted acute Ross River virus which has not helped
me health wise and it is very difficult to sometimes decipher which problem relates
to which condition.
In
the interim you will gather from my PSA readings that my operation was not 100%
successful and at this stage I am in limbo every quarter to watch and await the
outcome of the next test. This I find very frustrating and get anxious when the
tests are due. However, one wonders if they had left the original situation to
develop where one might have been now. Will keep you all posted as time goes on
and the tests continue.
Most
importantly be positive in life as both myself and my wife have learned to be.
I
have been meaning to get back on to the Yana site to update my details but I was
waiting as I was due to have my PSA reading done. This was due to be done this
month, the first time I have waited for 6 months to get the test, all the previous
readings were done every three months and as you will see from the results, they
ranged between 0.4 ng/ml to 0.6 ng/ml every time.
However,
I was blown away this week when I had the blood test done after a 6 month wait
(this was suggested by my GP and others) only to find that my reading has now
gone up to 0.78 ng/ml which has had a very devastating effect on me and I will
continue to have the readings done on a 3 monthly basis again from now on just
to appease my mind and keep on top of any changes that may occur. I am not a hypochondriac,
just a worry wart!!!
Updating from July 04, my PSA readings were as follows
:
October 04 0.4 ng/ml
January 2005 0.5 ng/ml
April 05 0.6 ng/ml
July
05 0.6 ng/ml
January 2006 0.78 ng/ml
Except for the usual aches and
pains I have been able to keep my incontinence mostly under control (about 95%)
and impotence appears to be slowly recovering. I can now carry out most activities
but I am aware that it is still easier to exert myself and I am always careful
that I do not overdo things.
Unfortunately the acute Ross River Virus
that I contracted in April 2003 still rears it ugly head, usually during the hot
summer season and therefore it is very difficult at times to decipher which problem
relates to which condition. However, prior to my last diagnosis I have made arrangements
to re-enter into my original occupation of some 35 years (real estate) and I am
in the final facet of regaining my licences required to do this. Even though this
current PSA reading has thrown me I have made a decision that I will proceed in
my endeavours of this occupation and I will hopefully be able to regain control
of this health situation.
I
would be most grateful if any other YANA members who have had a similar situation
to my own (i.e. increase in PSA level after a similar period following their treatment
- my operation was done in 2001) could contact me (abgbrisbane@bigpond.com)
to give me some idea of what action if any they have take under these circumstances.
Fortunately I still have all the love and attention that I need from my beautiful
wife Debbie and our 2 devoted Kelpie dogs Beau and Princess who all keep me on
the straight & narrow and have been my constant companions throughout this ordeal.
Apologies for not updating you sooner and look forward to some feedback from
YANA members. Over the years since my operation and my contribution to the YANA
website, I have spoken to 11 or so men who have contacted me for more in depth
information regarding prostate cancer. Fortunately on several occasions I have
been able to convey assistance to them from my experiences and to date we still
remain in contact with each other from time to time as and when the need arises
for further input.
Since
my last update in February 2006, I have continued to have blood tests every 3
months to check my PSA levels. Following my last result in January 2006 at which
time my PSA was 0.78 ng/ml, the level has begun to rise and my readings are as
follows :
March
2006 0.84 ng/ml
June
2006 1.20 ng/ml June 2006 1.30 ng/ml (Re-tested to check validation of 1.20 reading
in the same month).
As
we can all see things are going up! However since my last update other conditions
have slightly improved (i.e. no incontinence problems and slightly more action
on the impotence side of things.)
After
receiving the last result of the PSA blood test, both myself and Debbie thought
it was time we should look at the situation to see where we go from here. I contacted
my GP who suggested that I go back to my original urologist/surgeon and discuss
what options I may have to get things back under control. My specialist referred
me to another colleague of his who is also a urologist and in closer proximity
to me as we live in the country now. On visiting the "new" urologist a few weeks
ago in an attempt to find out which direction we should go in, I was informed
that it is not panic stations at this stage and after having X rays taken of lungs,
chest and abdomen etc. all of which were thankfully clear, it would appear that
a CT or bone scan would more than likely not show anything out of the ordinary
at this stage. I was however informed that if I wish to go down the radiotherapy
path or the hormone (castration) path.
However
at this stage I have not made a decision as to what I will do for now. My next
reading is due at the end of September 2006 and depending on the outcome of that
reading I will make my decisions after this. Meanwhile I have been informed by
a close medical friend about pomegranate juice and the success it has had in a
US study of men with rising PSA levels. It apparently controls the PSA levels
from rising at such a fast rate. I am trialling this method to see if there is
any benefit to myself and will advise the results on my next update.
To
any of my fellow YANA members who may have already tried the pomegranate juice
and have had any type of positive result in their PSA levels I would appreciate
contact with you.
Thanks
to the YANA members that contacted me after my last update re increase in their
PSA levels after similar period as mine and of what actions they had taken under
these circumstances.
Until
my next update be positive and keep fighting!!
I
have posted below my PSA readings since the last one shown on the YANA site (March
06). I still have them done every 3 months or so, so that I can appease my mind
and watch how much my PSA has risen. It is still slowly rising and at this stage
I am still monitoring without any treatment. I am due again to have the test mid
December 2007 for the next one. It is a little later actually due November, however
my GP is away so I will have it done when he is due back (around 20th December
07).
30/6/06
1.20
7/7/06
1.30 (Had this reading done the week after the one before as my reading went over
1.0 and I was a bit worried, needless to say it didn't help. However the one in
September 06 below reduced substantially).
26/9/06
0.79
15/12/06
1.30
21/3/07
1.60
10/8/07
2.20
Meanwhile
during this year I have had no incontinence, a small improvement in erectile function
with lots of feeling in this area. Most of my other aches and pains have disappeared
from the operation. It took a while, I think this is due to my age and taking
longer to heal.
I
have had contact with several visitors via email from your YANA site. It is good
to be able to assist and relate to others your own experiences. Hopefully I was
able to help.
Regards
Dan Evans
Our
Email Address is: abgbrisbane@bigpond.com
