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PROSTATE CANCER SUPPORT SITE

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Lee Pullen and Patti live in California USA. He was 57 when he was diagnosed on Oct 16, 2007. His initial PSA was 4.2 ng/ml, his Gleason Score was 3+3=6 and he was staged T1c. His choice of treatment was Da Vinci RP. Here is his story.

We as most were devastated when I got the call that I had prostate cancer. After consulting many, we decided on the Da Vinci procedure. Dr. Neyssan Tebyani performed the surgery at Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach, California.

I checked in at 5:00 am on January 24th 2008, went into surgery at 8:00 am and got into my room at 4:00 pm. The only trouble/pain I had was from a spasm from the drain tube. I had three of those and it took a bit of morphine to get it relaxed. I spent two nights there and was released at 6:00 pm on Saturday January 26th. I had the drain tube removed the following Monday the 28th.

I started taking short walks every couple of hours as soon as I got home from the hospital. Still did not have any pain from the surgery just a little stiff in the mid section. I did not have any real issues with the catheter or changing from the leg bag to the night bag. I had the catheter removed February 4th 2008. Also got the post op pathology report. Gleason was bumped up to 7 with a positive margin. NOT quite what we wanted to hear. The doctor said to just deal with recovery now. He set up a follow up PSA which will be this coming Monday. I will go back to see him for the results on March 13th.

I was surprised that I stayed dry the first night although I was up every 1 to 1/1/2 hours going to the bathroom. I was changing pads every couple of hours the first few days, but stayed dry at night and while sitting. Sleep at night improved each few days to the point that now I sleep most all night. May get up once. I went back to work on February 25th. Used four pads the first day back, but by last Friday, that number was down to one. I still use more if I am active, but I see improvement each day.

Still have ED issues, but it has only been five weeks so I am not concerned with that. I have had total support from my best friend and wife. She never let me get down or discouraged. I only wish I would have found this site BEFORE surgery. I would not have had so many sleepless nights wondering. Just like now waiting for the first Post OP PSA. Even though I did have a positive margin, after reading through this site, there is still many options.

Thanks to all that have contributed. I'll update as soon as I get the results back.

 

UPDATED

March 2008

 

 

Well, I got my first post op results today. Another good news bad news day, although mostly good. My PSA was <0.10 and my recovery is still going well. Using 2 pads per day. Still have ED issues so my doctor gave me a prescription for Viagra to be taken 3 times per week.

The bad news is, the cancer was present on the edge of the prostate next the neck of the bladder. They got as close as they could without damage to the bladder. I will need to monitor my PSA monthly. He does not want to start radiation treatments at this time because of the continence and ED issues. He wants to give the nerves as much time as possible to heal. If the PSA starts to rise, then we will look at radiation.

They are doing a clinical study with pomegranate juice. I also read about the study with Vitamin D3 on this site. I may try one or both of those.

The other bad news was that my cure rate went from 90% to 20% according to my doctor.

All in all we are still upbeat and will continue living each day as it comes.

 

UPDATED

May 2008

 

 

Everything has progressed very well since my January 25, 2008 Robotic procedure.

I stopped wearing pads around the end of March. I still have minor leaks playing golf, tennis and riding my dirt bike. I do still wear a thin pad during these activities, mostly for peace of mind.

I had monthly PSA tests through May. All came back <0.1. The tests have been moved to every 2 months and my next appointment to the Urologist is not until November 2008.

Still drinking 8 ounces of Pomegranite juice daily. Quality of life is MUCH better than before surgery. No more getting up at night or really bad uncomfortable urges when the bladder was full. Have been back to my regular exercise routine for about 6 weeks. Running 3 days a week and weights 2 days. Not quite back to the pre-surgery levels of both but almost.

The ED issues are pretty much the same as everyone, works well with the "Blue Pill", but I really don't like the flushed feeling and minor headache. We are not overly concerned with this part of the recovery so we will see where it leads. There are other ways to the same end. I may or may not use the prescription I was given, have not decided. It will depend on how much the insurance company pays.

We are very happy with the progress and would follow the same path again.

Thanks again for this site and all the work maintaining it!!!!!

 

UPDATED

July 2008

 

 

I just received a call from my urologist with the July 1, 6 month PSA results. .01!! Great news!!!

Continence is almost a non issue at his point except for playing tennis and riding a dirt bike. I still wear a pad for these activities, also when playing golf. The pad is always dry after golf, but not so after tennis or dirt biking. Also as a lot of you, I wear one when I know I am going to have more than a couple of drinks.

ED issues still the same. OK with Viagra. My doctor is switching me to something else, I'll find out what that is when I pick it up.

All other quality of life issues are as good as or better than the pre-surgery levels. I would still follow the same path. Once again thanks Terry for this outstanding site.

Lee's e-mail address is: lpullen@cox.net