Geoffrey
Cotterman and Barb live in New York USA. He was 56 when he was diagnosed on June
6, 2009. His initial PSA was 23.2 ng/ml, his Gleason Score was 6 and although
he says he was staged T2, this seems to be his pathological staging; his clinical
staging was likely T1c. His choice of treatment was Robotic Prostatectomy. Here
is his story
I was a healthy married 56 year old, physically fit with a
BMI (Body Mass Index) of 21. In April 2009, my company changed life insurance
providers and required us to get a full physical, including a PSA. My own physician
does not believe in routine screening until age 55 so this was my first PSA. The
result came back 17.5 and I was rejected for life insurance until I spoke with
my physician. He put me on a course of antibiotics to rule out prostatitis and
ordered another PSA after the two week course. Result was 22.5 "Oh my!"
I
spent a couple of weeks learning everything I could and set up an appointment
with a Urologist followed by a biopsy on June 10, 2009. The results came back
7 cores out of 12 positive up to 70% involvement. PSA 23.2. Bone scan and C/T
scans were negative.
More internet searching convinced me that Robotic Radical
Prostatectomy was the way to go since I am otherwise healthy, not over weight,
will cover quickly and the cancer was obviously growing quickly.
I had
RP by Da Vinci on July 14, 2009 at the University of Rochester Medical Center.
My final Pathology was pT3aN0MX. The right nerve was partially spared, left
nerve removed. My catheter was removed on July 24, 2009 and I received the full
pathology report from my Uro:
Gleason 3+4=7 Tumor size: 2.4 x 1.8 cm location:
both lobes and apex.
No Malignancy in Seminal Vesicle, vasa deferentia, lymph
nodes 0/13,
Extraprostatic extension present;
Perineural invasion: present,
extensive Prostate mass 55 grams.
During the next 3 months incontinence
improved from 7 pads per day to 3 pads per day and seems to be holding at this
level.
My Three month PSA was 0.04.
I have total ED and use a pump
about once per week. 20 mg of Cialis. 100 mg of Viagra only gives me blue vision
and a stuffy nose.
When you have but one prostate to give for your country
there is no way to call a do-over. I cannot second guess my decision. If I have
to spend the rest of my life without a natural erection and wearing pads, so be
it. I am alive.
Geoffrey's e-mail address is: altenergyeng@gmail.com
