YANA - YOU ARE NOT ALONE NOW

PROSTATE CANCER SUPPORT SITE

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Gene Koshiol lives in California, USA. He was 50 when he was diagnosed on March 17, 2009. His initial PSA was 6.5 ng/ml, his Gleason Score was 3+3=6 and although he does not give his staging it seems clear from his narrative that he would have been staged T2a. His choice of treatment was Da Vinci Robotic. Here is his story.

I went in for an annual physical which included lab work with blood being drawn and PSA test. The results showed an elevated PSA at 6.5 and the Dr. ordered another to confirm with the results pretty much the same. Let me point out that prior to the PSA test I was never told to refrain from sex, alcohol, caffeine, bike riding, or anything that may effect the PSA results.

I was referred to a Urologist for a DRE (Digital Rectal Examination). He had researched my medical record and saw that my previous PSA test results from 2 years ago was a 3.65. During the DRE the Dr. stated that he felt the right side of the prostate felt a little hard and ordered a biopsy. Sixteen cores were taken with four showing positive, 1 at 1%, 1 at 10%, 1 at 20% and 1 at 100%.

So the next step was to discuss further options of treatment. The urologist recommended the surgery due to my age and early detection and the cancer should be contained within the prostate and I should have a full recovery based on my health and all things considered.

I did a lot of research and spoke with the radiologist who also recommended the surgery due to scarring from radiation treatments that can cause more problems if surgery is required later.

So that's what I did on May 21st 2009, almost two months from my diagnosis. Surgery went fine, after I awoke they gave me pain medication via IV and I mostly slept, I went home the next day about 4 pm. The catheter wasn't really as bad as I expected but still was glad to be rid of it after 11 days. Having it pulled out takes your breath away for a second but it's over quick, compared to the other pains following surgery (gas, bladder spasms, etc..)it was nothing really.

I was hoping to have the pathologist report at the same time but for whatever reason it was not available, however, 2 days later I got the call from my urologist and the bad news that they had found signs of cancer from a tissue sample taken around the prostate during surgery. It was a devastating blow considering everything that I had been told regarding my chances of the cancer having spread outside the walls of the prostate, they were all wrong.

I am currently scheduled to see a radiologist to discuss the path report and see where we go from here. I will keep you informed and will appreciate any guidance or information you can offer at this point.

 

UPDATED

August 2009

 

 

My PSA one month after surgery was 0.07 and at this time was referred to Radio Oncology who wanted to process me for seven weeks of radiation therapy. In his words anything over zero was a positive and needs to be treated.

I decided to wait at least until the 3 month period and see what my PSA is at that time (up, down or the same) before making any decision. My urologist said he has had other patients that didn't have signs of cancer at the margin with PSAs higher than that and concurred with my decision for now to wait. Well, tomorrow is three months and I've had the PSA test so we will find out the results.

I have learned and read so much since this all began and nothing seems for sure. I look forward to listening to similar stories from others and will follow-up soon.

 

Later: Good news today, 3 months after surgery my PSA was a 0.01 down from 0.07 1 month after surgery, knock on wood, let's hope it stays there. If I would have listened to my radiologist I would had 7 weeks of radiation by now. I think these guys tend to error on the side of caution too much but that's the way it's become due to so many law suits. On the other hand I may need radiation in the future should my PSA start to rise again but we'll deal with that then. My best to all.

Gene's e-mail address is : kosh4@cox.net