I am due to have my radical prostatectomy by the laparoscopic method on 26th November
at Guys Hospital, London by Mr Declan Cahill. I shall wait until after my operation
before sending you my full story but I would like to thank your organisation for
the helping me face my operation with confidence and great expectations for the
future.
I
had my radical prostatectomy by the laprascopic method at Guys Hospital, London
on Friday, 26th Nov. and was fit enough to travel home back to Manchester by car
on the following Sunday and continue to make progress to date ( Post op. 5 days).
Apart from the catheter which will be removed in about 2 weeks time I have no
real discomfort and I am convinced that my choice of keyhole surgery as apposed
to the standard open surgery, that is still the norm in the UK, was the correct
decision.
As
previously indicated, I will file a full historic report in due course with periodic
updates and hope it will further support your web page and give encouragement
to fellow sufferers during such a traumatic period in their lives. I also intend
to pass on the message of prostrate awareness to my fairly wide circle of friends,
most of whom could not understand how somebody like myself, fit, a former marathon
runner until a recent knee problem, with no urinal passing problems whatsoever,
could have prostate cancer. I will be relying heavily on your web page to collect
supporting reference literature etc for my presentation and look forward to contacting
you again in the near future.
14th
December 2004
- Had my catheter removed with minimal discomfort & passed the flow rate test/post
micturitional scan with flying colours. Oh what a relief to be free of the catheter
and the fear of getting it entangled again with our boisterous bearded collie
- a great laugh for the family but rather traumatic for myself. I was fully continent
after three days and signed off by the hospital therapy dept who were amazed on
the continence recovery period compared to that following conventional open surgery.
11th
January 2005 -
Visit down to London to see my surgeon, Declan Cahill, and get the results of
the operation and the latest PSA results. Overjoyed to hear the gland had been
removed intact without any signs of secondary infection and my PSA was now down
to 0.02 ng/ml.
Mr
Cahill was confident enough to pass my future care back to my hospital in Manchester
with a further blood check in 4 months time.
I
cannot overstate my admiration for the skills of Mr Cahill and his staff and my
luck to have 'keyhole' instead of open surgery. I had no pain, left hospital 48
hours after the operation, and was fully mobile after four weeks sufficient enough
to play a full round of golf over a hilly course without a buggy.
Will
update my details following my next check around May '05 and in the meanwhile
would urge every male over 40 to have an PSA examination - make sure apathy does
not kill you.
I
am delighted to report that my first post operative blood check (7 months)indicated
my PSA has fallen to below 0.01ng/ml. My Consultant has made arrangements to see
me again in January 2006 after which if my condition continues to improve the
checks will be extended to yearly intervals.
I
am now more confident than ever I made the correct decision to have the laporascopic
(keyhole) surgery and now have the peace of mind that the cancer appears to have
been completely removed.
I
am a fervent supporter of prostrate awareness and have managed to persuade numerous
friends and collegues to have their PSA levels checked out with one of them currently
undergoing clinical investigations for abnormal PSA level.
I
will update my progress in January 2006 God willing.
January
12th 2006 - I am delighted to report my second half yearly blood test has
indicated a further fall in my PSA to the minimum level the hospital's equipment
was capable of recording. My next appointment with the Consultant has been extended
to 12 months and I am confident I can now put this traumatic period behind me.
I
will continue to report my progress to provide encouragement to your many readers
struggling to come to terms with their affliction knowing the relief this site
provided me during my dark uncertain early days.
One
of the greatest pleasures I get is responding to other Yana compatriots all over
the world and your opening line "You are not alone" has never been more apt.
Sorry
you did not get the update that I sent in mid January '07 following my 2nd annual
checkup.
Delighted
to say the PSA reading was lower than the equipment could measure so I was given
my next checkup for Jan '08.
I
have had 5 communications over the last twelve months from guys who had read my
details on your site and hopefully I was able to provide them with some comfort
and encouragement based on my own experience.
I
still regulary look up the Yana web site and get reminded of those initial dark
days that Yana did so much to disperse and enabled me to make the decision as
to which form of treatment most suited me.
Keep
up the good work - I will update you again in 10 months time
Regards
Ian Sharpley.
Just
a belated note to advise I was given the all clear for another 12 months with
a PSA reading below the minimum reading of the analysis equipment making this
4 1/2 years since my operation.
I
continue to receive emails from "new boys" that act as very good reminders not
to become too complacent. Keep up the good work.
My
last annual check up was in February 2009 and once again I got a clean bill of
health with a virtually zero PSA reading.
I am an ardent admirer of the Yana site and receive two or three contacts around
the world from other guys recently diagnosed with prostrate cancers that hopefully
I manage to encourage to develop a positive outlook.
Ian's
e mail address is: iansharpley@ntlworld.com
Ian
Sharpley lives in Cheshire, United Kingdom. He was 64 when he was diagnosed in
March 2004. His initial PSA was 8.6 ng/ml and his Gleason Score was 6. His was
staged as T2a. His choice of treatement is Laparoscopic Surgery. Here is his (brief)
story: