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PROSTATE CANCER SUPPORT SITE

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Hilman Thomas and Diane live in Tennessee, USA. He was 56 when he was diagnosed on August 3, 2007. His initial PSA was 5.4 ng/ml, his Gleason Score was 3+3=6 and he was staged Tic. His choice of treatment was Robotic Radical Prostatectomy. Here is his story.

 THERE WAS NO RESPONSE TO AN UPDATE REMINDER IN NOVEMBER 2009 SO THERE IS NO UPDATE.

Went for my annual physical July 16, 2007. One of the results was an elevated PSA (4.5 ng/ml). The doctor referred me to the Conrad Pierson Group in Memphis, my hometown which I later found out is the best urology group in Memphis. Dr Paul Eber met with me a couple of weeks later and arranged for a biopsy on August 3, 2007. the results of the biopsy showed that two cores were affected with cancer. He gave me lots of info plus my wife and I got other literature and read lots of web sites. By the time he met with us to discuss the options, we had it down between a robotic surgery or brachytherapy.

As a surgeon, he naturally recommended surgery. Since he doesn't do the robotic procedure, he referred me to Dr. Robert Donato in the same group. An appointment a week later with Dr. Donato didn't shed much more light on the procedure than what we already knew but we did learn a few more details. At the end of the appointment we set up surgery for November 13 to leave me as little time as possible off of my job in the busy season. I did learn that Dr Donato has performed about 200 robotic procedures and many more retropubic ones and has a very good ratio of nerve sparing success.

In the meantime, we investigated brachytherapy, having a lengthy consultation with the main local brachytherapy doctor, a radiological oncologist who seemed to be steering us back to surgery. I would have liked to have investigated the treatment at RCOG in the Atlanta area or proton radiation therapy but my insurance only covers treatment in Tennessee. I looked at procedures in the Nashville area, the only other major medical center in Tennessee but could find nothing that really exceeded local treatment.

So I resigned myself by October to go the surgery route.

Went to Baptist Hospital East early on the November 13 after three days of progress dieting and bowel cleansing. All of the staff introduced themselves in the operating room. The next thing I knew, I was in recovery. The anaesthesiologist told me that everything went OK.

They wheeled me to my room where my wife told me that Dr. Donato said everything went as well as it possibly could.

After two nights in the hospital (he kept me one extra night due to a low grade fever) I went home. The worst part for most of us, me included, is the catheter. The incisions and other lower abdominal pain have not been very bad. I had no pains from the gas used in the operation. I did too much the first day and as a result, experienced a bladder spasm which seemed to kick up every time I did much walking around.

So by the next Monday, November 19 2007, I was very anxious to get it out. The X-rays showed enough knitting to do that. The information said that it wasn't very painful to remove the catheter but uncomfortable. They were wrong. It was very painful to get the catheter out but I survived it and felt free again. Also, the lab reports showed no indication of any spread of the cancer.

I had bought a package of pads expecting a great flood but so far, no incontinence at all. In fact, it's a little painful to urinate due to a sore urethra but I can hold everything in with no problem so far. I also feel more strength each day since I am free to move more freely. I tried one of the Viagra samples he gave me and tried to be stimulated but no success so far but it is early.

I am planning on returning to work on Monday, 11/26/07, 13 days after surgery.

 

UPDATED

July 2008

 

 

I am now eight months post RRP and doing well. I have had three PSA's and they all came out like they should, undetectable. I have been totally continent. Like most of you, Mr. ED has been my constant but unwanted companion.

I started on regular Viagra not long after the surgery. To be honest, I cannot afford the brand name and get mine from India which does just fine. After a couple of months and lots of reading, I bought a VED. It has done some good but more as a penile exercise than for actual intercourse.

Finally, in May, I asked the Doctor about injections and especially Trimix. He does not like Trimix or Bi mix and proceeded to tell me about Edex. He injected me there which had only a small sting and I achived an erection that lasted 3 hours. However, there was moderate and consistent pain that inhibits enjoyment. Also, Edex, like all other treatment for ED, is not covered by my insurance and costs over $40 per dose.

So after 3 weeks, I called back and talked to his nurse who told me that the Doctor does NOT prescribe Trimix OR bi mix. It occurred to me at that point that he is a fine surgeon but not good at treating his patients' erectile dysfunction problems.

So I checked around and, after talking to his nurse, made an appt with Dr. Wake who is head of the Urology Dept. at the Univ of TN medical school. Unfortunately, this doctor was even more anti injection. He does not like robotic surgery and is "not sold" on injections.

So then I had the bright idea of calling a local compound pharmacy and asked what local urologists have prescribed Trimix for their patients. I got the name of Dr. Rick Smith, made an appt. with him. Dr. Smith asked many questions, orally reviewed my case, then said he agreed that injections were probably the best at this point and recommended Bimix to start. He does not prescribe Edex unless the patient requests it. I have tried the Bimix (which costs only $25 for 10ml, about 40-50 doses) and it worked great! No pain and good results.

So I cannot vouch for Dr. Smith's surgical abilities but he seems to be a patient oriented doctor that I would recommend to any man for ED treatment.