YANA - YOU ARE NOT ALONE NOW

PROSTATE CANCER SUPPORT SITE

BRONZE

Douglas Clelland and Kathleen live in United Kingdom. He was 59 when he was diagnosed in November 2005. His initial PSA was 4.2 ng/ml and although he was told that his tumour was "aggressive" he was not given a Gleason Score. it seems likely that it would have been 7. He has also not given his staging, but it seems that this would have been T1c. His choice of treatment was Laparascopic Surgery. Here is his story:

A very close friend had been diagnosed and treated for Prostate cancer in 2004 and following some mild waterworks problems on my part, he pursuaded me to have the PSA test around May 2005. The first test came out at 4.2 ng/ml which alerted the doctor to organise a second test which occured in September 2005. This test also came out at 4.2 ng/ml and following the routine flow and finger tests I was finally asked to go for a biopsy which occured early November 2005. On the 14th November 2005 I was finally diagnosed with protate cancer and was told the cancer was aggressive.

Of course, as is the case with everybody in this situation, I was absolutely devastated and thought my life had come to an end. I was told to go for an MRI scan early December 2005 which indicated that the tumor was contained.

This was somewhat of a relief and I opted for the keyhole surgery to remove the gland. I had the operation in January 2006 and am now back at work and poised to return to my normal activities which involved squash, gym work etc. My latest consultation on 11 July 2006 told me that they did not remove the whole gland and some has been left but they are not positive if there is any cancer in there and they say that it's possible that the cancer has spread into the lymph glands although they told my friend the same thing and we assume they are just covering themselves just in case (at least we hope so).

The Gleason Score was 3+3 (as oppose to the original diagnosis from the biopsy which indicated that the cancer was aggressive) which they tell me is low and therefore treatable should the cancer return. I am still having some problems with waterworks and erections but told this will probably return to normal within 18 months or so. My waterworks problems have improved dramatically since the removal of the cathetor (Unfortunately I have the cathetor in for 6 weeks after the operation due to the slow healing process inside).

I think that's about it to-date.

UPDATED

August 2007

 

 

It is now 18 months since my operation to remove the prostate gland. I still have some irritating bladder problems which can be termed as "stress incontinence" which has minor effects on my life at this time but it doesn't stop me doing most of my normal activities (I walk for half an hour 6 mornings a week and play squash for around one hour 5 days a week). I wear mini pads which help me lead a normal existance. I've been provided with drugs which helps deal with mild incontinence and erection problems but they have unpleasant side effects. It would appear unlikely that my current level of continence will improve significantly so I may have to expereince a minor surgical procedure to (hopefully) help cure the problem.

My erection issues are not too bad but could be better. I have now been for 4 post-operation consultations at which my blood is tested for PSA. Every test has returned a less than 0.1 ng/ml and my consultation periods have increased to 6 monthly (from 4 monthly).

Other than the predicted continence and erection difficulties I have had no other problems following the surgery and lead a reasonably normal existence although I do have to manage the continence issues closely.

 

UPDATED

November 2008

 

It is now coming up to three years since my original diagnosis which was followed by an operation to remove the prostate gland a few weeks later. I was monitored every three months by my consultant where he discussed any problems and take a sample of blood. I am now up to six months between consultations.

The theory is that if the PSA level is below a certain level (can't remember the exact level but it's something like 0.5) then there is no further treatment. I have had quite a number of consultations with blood samples take over the last 3 years and my PSA level is well below the limit (less than 0.01 I think).

My only problem is that I have mild incontinence and have to wear a small pad and although this is inconvenient it has not stopped me doing most of what I did before the operation. I know of at three other guys (one of whom is my brother) who have had the same operations and are doing well. There is life after this type of cancer providing, or course, you catch it early (this is the key). So my advice to most guy's I come into contact with over the age of 40 is to go for the PSA test.

 

UPDATED

February 2010

 

 

It is now just over 4 years since my operation to remove my prostate. I am having 6 monthly consulations with the surgeon carried out the operation. So far my PSA is less than 0.1 and therefore no additional treatment is required.

I still have some mild incontinence problems but is has only limited effect on my life. I cannot drink alcohol and do any sort of exercises my bladder muscles are not strong enough. I need to wear a small pad which (under normal circumstances) lasts a full day, however any strenuous excersise means I have to change the pad.

I live in hope that they will invent a pill which will help me discard the pad but I fear this will not happen.

Other that the incontinence problem I have no other after effects from the original treatment. Next year I assume my consulations will be increase to yearly.

With hindsight I may have opted for a less radical treatment as I was originally told the cancer was agressive but following post operation investigation it was downgraded to non-agressive. However, I suppose it was better to remove the gland completely thereby removing the cancer (hopefully) but the bladder problems have given me some problems until I learned to manage the problem better.

That's all for now. Hope this helps someone else.

Douglas'e-mail address is: dc@miplace.co.uk