Gary Marko and Marie live in Cleveland Ohio, United States. Gary was 46 when he was diagnosed on 14 March 2005. His initial PSA was 5.24 ng/ml and his Gleason score was 6 (3+3). He was staged as T1c and his choice of treatment was VIP da Vinci Robotic Laparoscopic Surgery. Here is his story:

First I must acknowledge and give thanks to GOD, my wife Marie, my brother and my entire family. Followed by these YANA Mentors who helped me through this upsetting process. As for the YANA Mentors, thank you from my heart to, Bill Pritchard, Lenny A, Robert Goodwin, and especially to my good friend Patrick Rucinski whose wisdom guided me throughout my tribulation.

My name is Gary Marko, I’m 46 years old in good physical health, but had been diagnosed with Prostate Cancer on 14 March 2005 after a 16 needle biopsy on 9 March 2005. My head didn’t stop spinning, first from the news and then from what would be the best treatment decision for me. I knew I had only one opportunity to do this right, so there was much added stress and pressure to my decision. Through my research I came across this support website called YANA. I must also thank everyone who had the courage to post his own story. I must have read each story nine times looking for information and in a strange way also seemed to calm me down.

Here is my story I apologize for its length.

Starting on 24 November 2004, went to the doctor for what I felt was a sinus infection or some type of infection I had a slight fever and chills for a couple of days prior, the night before I went to my GP I took Sudafed for my sinuses and couldn't urinate very well that night. I had been going 3-4 times during each night (For maybe a year and a half), but just overlooked it and thought it was do to drinking too much liquids especially before going to bed. So knowing that if I had an enlarged prostate I shouldn't have taken those Sudafed pills. I told my doc about this he gave me a DRE and said it was enlarged, he thought a PSA test was in order, it came back at 5.24 ng/ml. On 2 December 2004 I went on an Antibiotic (Cipro) for 21 days.

Still feeling like I had an infection I went back for a follow-up PSA with my urologist Dr. Boyd, it came back at 7.23 ng/ml on 20 January 2005 (had sex within 36 hrs of that test, some say it could have raised it?). Now I'm starting to get very concerned, asking to go back on Cipro for 30 days this time. Dr Boyd agreed and I did another round of antibiotics, received my third and final PSA after meds were completed it came back at 5.26 ng/ml on 24 February 2005. The biopsy was the next step Boyd indicated.

I had the needle biopsy on 9 March 2005 andresults were as follows, sixteen core samples taken one core showed a microfocus of less than 10%, which was small but enough as you know. Gleason's score is a 6 (3+3), T1c staging and in my case chronic prostatitis throughout. The prostatitis symptoms are what caused me to discuss it with my GP. It’s possible that the cancer might not have not been found until I decided to get a PSA test sometime later in life as a routine checkup? I was blessed and lucky that my urologist found it and convinced me to undergo the biopsy in the first place.

Ok, now I know, so what’s next… I can’t stay off the Internet? Searching site after site reading medical documents I don’t understand. I come across three strong choices.

First, one called ProstRcision (PROS-ter-si-shun) there's a leading center in located in Georgia. Second, a procedure continually being perfected by Dr. Menon called the VIP da Vinci Robotic Laparoscopic Surgery at the Vattikuti Institute in Detroit, Michigan. And finally Dr. Krongrad who performs Laproscopic Surgery at the Krongrad Urology Clinic in Aventura, Florida.

All seemed extremely good choices for me. But after doing much more research it was clear to me that ProstRcision a form of Brachytherapy was not for me and wasn’t my best choice. Now it’s down to two, Dr. Menon and Dr. Krongrad, I spoke with Dr. Krongrad and then made a consultation appointment with Dr. Menon for 29 March 2005. After my appointment with Dr. Menon my decision became crystal clear, I would undergo his unique form of Laproscopic Radical Surgery using the VIP da Vinci Robotic procedure which he is a true Master at, and is extremely concerned about quality of life issues after the cancerous prostate ha s been removed.

But as my good friend Patrick kept telling me, “slow down and breathe deep” you will make the right decision for yourself. Everyone’s decision needs to be based on what they feel is best for them, so slow down, breathe deep and research all of your options, and you will make the right choice for yourself as well.

Here’s what took place in a timeline,

Arrived in Dearborn MI on Sunday 22 Macy 2005 at our hotel.

Monday 23 May 2005:

Arrived at Henry Ford Hospital at 5:30am. Surgery takes place at 7:30am. Everything went very well including major nerve sparing. After Surgery at 10:30am Dr. Menon takes my wife, Marie, to the chapel to give thanks for a successful surgery. (This meant a lot to Marie, and also to me after finding this out). In my room at 11:00am and fully alert and feeling very good. Very thirsty. Around 2:30 I’m walking the halls of my floor, probably one mile in total as the night goes on. I get 1 hour of irrupted sleep.

Tuesday 24 May 2005:

Not really hungry, but still very thirsty, bloating becoming the worst part of all of this now. Along with the drainage bottle attached to my side. I do not complain because all in all I feel pretty good and very thankful. Walked about 1-1.5 miles in the morning.
Drain is taken out around 11:00am feels great to have that off. From 11:00-12:00 I get all my instructions on going home it’s a lot of information, but nothing that is difficult to do. Released from the hospital at 12:30. The entire staff at the Vattikuti Institute in Detroit couldn’t have been better as well as everyone I came in contact with at the Henry Ford Hospital, staff, nurses, parking attendants etc. On our way to the Hotel, still drinking fluids and eating only Jell-O, and bloating like a Thanksgiving Day balloon. A little uncomfortable from the bloating, my waist was a 32-33 now must be 43-45. My kids drive up from OH with my in-laws, great seeing them, and again very thankful.

Wednesday 25 May 2005:

Still drinking fluids and eating only Jell-O, and bloating holding at 5000psi. Waist is around 42” still. We went to the nearby Fairlane Mall and shopped and walked for about 3 hours, finally started passing some gas, started feeling much better. Stomach feeling like I had completed 1000 sit-ups in 15 minutes, sore, but not crippling. Went to our hotel and slept for an hour. Went to a nearby theater to see Stars Wars. Feeling more like my old self today.

Thursday 26 May 2005:

Told I could leave the area and head for home. Feeling pretty good, waist is about 36-38 now. Got home at 2:00pm. After a 4-hour drive, stopping every hour for 10-15 minutes. Walked about 1.25 miles in the evening

Friday 27 May 2005:

Feel even better today, waist is still around 36-38 some bruising as well.

Tuesday 31 May 2005:

The prostate pathology results couldn’t have been better, all clean margins and organ confined. The Cancer occupied < 5% of the prostate of the original biopsy area from March. The Gleason Score remains the same at a 6 (3+3) with a T1c staging also the same. What I was praying to hear from the report.

I hope my 3 months of kegel exercises prior to surgery will help in the control issues that most certainly await me.

Thursday 2 June 2005:

Catheter removal was as if I had a garden hose zipped out it was a strange feeling. It was good to get that water balloon off my leg after ten days.

Wednesday 15 June 2005:

I couldn’t be happier with the results now, on a pain scale of 0-10, 10 being the worst, the highest pain level was never over a 2. My continence control issue is about 90% after three weeks wearing pads only for insurance purposes at night and when away from home, 1 per day.

Potency issue is a little tough because for the first time in my life I’m not able to have erection, troubling but I know that in time this may return as well. Took my first Cialis pill on 13 June 2005 and had some minor success. On a scale of 0-10, 0 being nothing and 10 being able to have intercourse, on 14 June 2005 it was a 2.5. I’m hopeful for quick results in this area, but know that the body takes time to heal after going through this procedure. I will continue to go on walks and do my Kegels but can’t wait until the six-week mark comes around so I may resume my exercise program and all my regular activities. I have my first PSA scheduled for 5 July 2005 so I pray for good results.

As a very good man told me, so I’ll tell you, "slow down and breathe deep" you will make the right decision for yourself.

I will try and keep this updated, but promise to be more concise next time.

Take care and good luck,

Gary

GARY HAS CERTAINLY KEPT HIS WORD ABOUT BEING MORE CONCISE IN HIS UPDATE :-)

My PSAs have all been undetectable since my surgery.

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