Dick
Fay lives in Los Angeles, California in the USA . He was 63 when he was diagnosed
on September 10, 2007. His initial PSA was 7.51 ng/ml, his Gleason Score was 3+3=6
and he was staged T1c. His choice of treatment was Laparoscopic Robotic Prostatectomy
. Here is his story.
I am a 63 year old divorced male living in Southern
California. I have a great fiancée, two wonderful adult children, and two super
grandkids.
I went in for my "annual" physical on September 10, 2007. I
must confess that I had missed a year or two. I expected to be told that I was
somewhat overweight and was worried about cholesterol, etc. Blood pressure was
a little high but the big problem was that my PSA was 7.54. My family doctor put
me on a regimen of an anti-biotic for 10 days and scheduled a follow up PSA test.
I
was worried sick about the cancer and postponed plans to sell my house and move.
I had a foreign vacation planned for last Oct - mid November. The family doctor
said to go. I got the second PSA results on Oct. 3rd - 5.51. So a nice reduction
but still above 4.0. I scheduled an appointment with a local urologist that would
lead to a biopsy and also began serious research into options. I became concerned
that things were moving too slowly and looked for another urologist for the biopsy,
found one, but then was advised by a physician friend not to use him and to stick
with my original plan. Which I did.
Had the appointment with the urologist
on Oct 15. PSA is 5.68, about the same as the 5.51. The DRE done by my family
doctor and by the urologist found nothing unusual. Biopsy is scheduled for Nov
20th, and follow up for results on November 27th.
My research in Gleason
scores, etc. continues on the Internet and in books. I have been having some problem
with urination. Need to go and can not kind of thing. Urologist told me it was
not from the cancer but I am worried. I did decided that if cancer was present
to have laparoscopic surgery by Dr. Thomas Ahlering at the UC Irvine Medical Center.
The
TRUS and biopsy were not pleasant but not much worse than a colonoscopy. On the
27th I got the results, Cancer in 7 out of 12 samples, Gleason of 3-3. Bone scans
scheduled for the 21st. I called Dr. Ahlering's office and got an appointment
for December 7th, pre-op for December 21st, and the operation for Jan. 2nd 2008.
The
scans found no metastasis. I was really worried and very happy with those results.
Dr. Ahlering seems both caring and confident. He does not take insurance so he
will be out of network. He found nothing doing a DRE and seems confident that
I will be ok. I am starting to feel good about it and confident that I will get
rid of the cancer.
The pre-op was no big deal. I am participating in various
studies and needed another DRE. Nothing amiss.
I checked into the hospital
at 11 am on Wednesday, watched some TV in the waiting room, then was called for
the surgery. The anaesthetic worked like a charm and the next thing I knew it
was over. The next morning I was given a menu with no restrictions. Dr. Ahlering
came over, said everything was fine. He also found and removed a non-cancerous
growth the size of pea near by bladder that was probably causing the urination
problems. My fiancée came for me we went back to her house. Catheter is the only
issue.
I was nauseous on Friday, but then every day after that was better.
After a week went back and got the catheter removed. Dr. Ahlering called and said
that the biopsy after the surgery showed that the cancer was contained in the
prostate and that the margins were clear.
I used pads all of time for about
two months and after three months only rarely. Dr. Ahlering prescribes a ¼ dose
of Viagra each day, which is covered by my plan. Have not tried that function
as yet.
My first follow up with Dr. Ahlering is scheduled for April 17th.
I had a PSA test and got the results - 0.04. I will wait and see what Dr. Ahlering
says but that looks pretty good to me.
Dick's e-mail address is: wrichardfay@gmail.com
