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PROSTATE CANCER SUPPORT SITE

 

 

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James Moore lives in Idaho, USA. He was 54 when he was diagnosed on June 7, 2007. His initial PSA was 4.3 ng/ml, his Gleason Score was 3+3=6 and he was staged T1c. His treatment of choice was Robotic Laparoscopic Surgery. Here is his story:

I remember in early May 2007 when my PSA results were called into my home. I had decided to redo all of my blood tests due to my improved exercise program and better eating habits. The nurse called me with the blood test results. All the results were fantastic until the nurse told me my current PSA reading. It had jumped from at PSA of 1.1 ng/ml to 4.3 ng/ml in less than six months! I was devastated at first, but calmed down pending further tests.

A follow-up digital rectal exam showed some enlargement of the prostate, but no hard evidence of a tumor. My Urologist chose to perform a biopsy anyway in late May due to the unusual jump in the PSA reading as a precaution.

When I returned one week after my biopsy in early June 2007 for the results, my doctor said there was "kind of bad news" that we needed to discuss. In the doctor's office, the location and grade of cancer were fully explained. I had a Gleason score of 3+3=6, which was as far as I and my doctor would like to see it to be, to consider the cancer "caught" in the early stages. My staging was T1c. I had two biopsy samples which were positive, reading less than 5% cancer volume. All the remaining samples were good, excepted for one sample with cells that "were not well defined". I knew what all these things meant through prior study and the good links and wonderful stories posted on this web site.

I was in a daze when treatment options were discussed with my doctor. At my age, only 54, I felt I needed to do something to take a first step at fighting the disease. My doctor gave me a wonderful book to read that would help me fully consider my disease and treatment options.

How can anyone be prepared to be told they have cancer? I thought I'd be better prepared for this, since a close family member had cancer and survived, but it was tough hearing it in the context of you. I wasn't prepared for hearing the "C" word, but I worked through the ordeal by self-study and very good support from family and friends.

I decided to choose laparoscopic surgery to remove the prostate via the robot-assist Da Vinci system. Of course, I'd have time to change my mind if needed, since the earliest date for surgery was end of July or early August.

After my decision for the laparoscopic surgery option, I discussed my case with three other Urologists in different practices. Each Urologist agreed that the surgery would be a good choice at my age for a potentially curative solution. Each told me that is what they would do in my situation. This gave me some comfort, which I sorely needed.

I had looked long and hard at radiation since I started studying about prostate cancer and treatment options in early May, but I really wanted the deep pathology of the prostate that surgery could offer. I thought the post-surgery pathology would allow me to further understand what I was up against, including whether or not this first crack at the disease could provide further hope of eradicating the disease from my body.

The time came for my surgery the last day of July and I was really looking forward to making progress against the disease. I had studied the procedure using literature from the doctor and from the Internet and felt very comfortable with the pre- and post-surgery expectations. I was not nervous at all which surprised me and those attending me.

My surgery went off without a hitch. I had no problems in recovery or in the two-days I stayed in the hospital after surgery. I was on solid foods on the day after surgery and was very hungry! The pain was minimal and the only real discomfort was the catheter I'd need to wear for one week. I got used to the catheter and use of it in the hospital.

I went home with a typical "large bag" catheter for sleeping and a "strap to the leg" catheter for day time. Day-by-day, I got used to the catheter routine, but looked forward to getting rid of it!

One week following surgery came the post-op appointment with my doctor. It was hard to sleep anticipating the results of the post-surgery pathology of the prostate, which I was looking forward to as much as getting rid of that catheter!

I met with my doctor in the office, who greeted my with smiles asked two questions in succession at first entering the room: 1) How am I doing?... and - 2) Would I like to get rid of the catheter?

I just felt so good about getting through this first step, and so did my doctor, that my doctor said, almost as a side-note, or a "by-the-way" gesture, that my pathology report indicated that there were no positive margins on the prostate. This meant that there were indications that the surgery removed all the cancer. What a relief!

I know I'll be anxiously waiting my first PSA in five weeks to set my baseline. I expect it to be in the undetectable range, but doctor said if it is not, not to worry, because some "settling" of the PSA levels may need to occur and a later reading can be taken.

The other doctors I used for follow-up opinions also said that if the cancer does return, there are an increasing number of options to fight it.

I am so grateful for the blessings I've received from a good doctor, a supportive family and friends, and from Providence.

When you are as "young" as I am, please consider the many treatment options available to fight your first battle with the disease. I'm glad I did. I don't know what the future holds, but I feel I have "bought" myself some more time with my friends and family.

James' e-mail address is: jmmail22@yahoo.com

 

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