Kip
lives in Maine in the USA. He was 46
when he was diagnosed in February, 2007. His initial PSA was only 1.1 ng/ml, his
Gleason Score was 6 and he was staged T2. His treatment of choice was Surgery.
Here is his story:
On November 3, 2006, during a routine physical with a new doctor and persistence
from my wife to have a physical after not having one for three years, the Doc
found a nodule during a DRE and ordered a follow up with a urologist meanwhile
she did a PSA test.
The
test came back 1.1 ng/ml and she sent me a letter said "Good news you don't have
cancer". Great! It takes several weeks to a month to get into a specialist here.
Finally in February 2007 the urologist confirmed a nodule, then ordered a biopsy
three weeks later. Now I became really concerned. I could see in his reaction
that he knew that it was probably cancer. Now I started to do more research.
Sure
enough when the biopsy came back ten of twelve core samples were cancerous. He
gave me the options but said that a MRI was not needed, contradicting all of my
research. I felt that he should know what he may encounter before he goes in and
begins to explore, how could he know that no other organs were affected, etc..
My
family has a history of prostate cancer and other cancers on both sides of my
family, from past experience with cancer treatment in Maine I always said if it
happened to me, I am out of here, so guess what. I contacted Beth Israel Deaconess
Hospital in Boston and other Boston hospitals and was very impressed with Beth
Israels clinic. I met with the Docs and staff and was extremely impressed.
An
MRI showed the cancer appears to be confined to the prostate but there may be
some external penetration near a nerve. I can't have a laproscopic surgery, which
I was hoping too because the Doc wants to confirm this other than using a scope.
I
am having the surgery tomorrow morning, I will update when I can.
POSTED
APRIL 5, 2007
Kip's
e-mail address is: kipob@aol.com
