YANA - YOU ARE NOT ALONE NOW

PROSTATE CANCER SUPPORT SITE

BRONZE

Paul Diver and Sandra live in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. He was 51 when he was diagnosed in June 2008. His initial PSA was 4.8 ng/ml, his Gleason Score was 6 and he was staged T1c. His choice of treatment was Robotic Surgery. Here is his story:

Sandra and I are active people, both passionate about fitness and health and our # 1 passion, underwater photography.

My diagnosis came as a complete shock - I have never had any real symptoms and my initial PSA stunned me. I was referred to a urologist almost immediately had a DRE (Digital Rectal Examination) which detected nothing abnormal. I agreed to go the next step and had a biopsy almost two weeks later. The surgeon mentioned afterward that he thought there was nothing to worry about. The days afterward of passing clots and having bright red ejaculate really got me down, to the extent I started wearing condoms when we made love as I was so embarrassed!

A week later I was having coffee with two dive buddies when I got "that" phone call. The surgeon told me over the phone that 6 of 17 cores came back positive with no more than 20% cancer. I couldn't speak and hung up, left the guys and called Sandra.

The next month has been a blur. Bone scans, MRI, appointments, hundreds and hundreds of dollars down the gurgler. Plunging the depths of self pity, angst and frustration. Why me?

I am a crazy trainer, never smoked, always took it easy on the drink. However, all of my male relatives have died of cancer of some kind at about my age - my diagnosis came almost 37 years to the DAY my dad died of a brain tumour, something I still haven't gotten over. He was and is my hero. I was now paranoid...

As usual, this is when my beloved Sandra stepped up to the plate - slapping me back into shape. She found alternatives, checked out the web, googled surgeons, made calls and kicked me around until I "woke up". Yes, you have CANCER, but what are you going to DO about it...give in or manage this thing?

We booked into see Professor Stricker who jumped straight on board. We met with him one night after I finished work. He told us we were perfect candidates for robotic surgery - my cancer seems small, slow growing and hopefully able to be eliminated in one "smash and grab". I am an action person and cannot sit around just hoping and waiting. He has a great reputation and had just announced he was managing the cancer of a well known radio personality in Australia. Sandra had found the "go to" man!

So, October 3 is my day. In between we will travel to our much loved Borneo for two weeks of crystal clear warm water, sea gypsies, sharks, barracuda, mandarin fish, the jungle meeting the sea, Tiger beer, a million photos and most important - time for us. Time for me to thank my lucky stars for Sandra. Time to be humble but proud - of being me.

My story, like all of yours, continues - good health (and continence...and woodies!) to you all! :-)

Later: As part of my planning for our trip away to Borneo next week, I scheduled a visit to my family doctor to arrange for antibiotics etc., just in case they were needed whilst we were away.

Whilst at the docs, and on a whim, I asked if she would check my PSA again, which she agreed to. My initial diagnosis back in early June was 4.8 - imagine my surprise today (July 29) when I learnt that my PSA has plummeted in less than 8 weeks to 2.9 ng/ml!!

It's given me food for thought - I have changed my diet, included a lot more fresh green vegetables and also fruit (including, of course, blueberry punch 3 times a day). I also train like there's no tomorrow - I really push myself hard. Can this have affected my PSA so radically in such a short time?

I may not change my course of action, but it really has me thinking that I may defer surgery if things continue in this positive way.

Will update upon my return from beautiful Borneo come August end.

 

UPDATED

October 2008

 

 

Well, since my return from Borneo and my re-assessment after seeing my PSA drop, I was provided by some time to reflect. While it is apparent my PSA dropped the plain fact is that I have CANCER, and there is nothing that is going to fix it apart from ridding myself of this foreign THING in my body.

So, after discussion with Sandra I went to work one day in September and told my closest friends who said I had to see that boss. The work side of things worries us all - what will people say? Will I get time off? Will I be treated differently? This easiest thing to do for me was to "fess up".

As it turns out it couldn't have been a better decision. I told my boss straight up and he said "Paul, no matter what happens, you have my support. Whatever time you need, take it. Whatever you need from us, we will be there".

How can I repay the faith shown in me from this guy, my friends and my family? The answer was easy - by getting rid of this cancer and getting better, and coming back fitter, stronger and more confident than ever. Nothing slows me down, and I don't do anything half-arsed. I will train hard and show everyone how this THING is dealt with.

I had my pre-op meeting with Jayne Matthews, Dr Stricker's assistant, who runs through EXACTLY what is going to happen and when. Outstanding support.

On October 3, I entered St Vincent's Private Hospital and felt light headed after a night of the Picolax solution - that stuff hurts! Late morning I was given a sedative and as there was nothing in my belly it really unwound me - whatever was going to happen now, I was in no position to argue!

I recall entering the operating area after waving to Sandra - it all happened so fast we didn't even have time to hug! I can vaguely recall being moved onto the operating table but after that I was coming to after 4 hours under Da Vinci led surgery. To be honest I felt ok (if not a little euphoric!), and seeing Sandra's smiling face again was the best thing - although she was a little teary, I was a bit of a space cadet!

So - now I had no prostate, 5 small scars and one larger one near my belly button. I had a drip, a drain coming out of me, a catheter with the bag attached and compression socks and air-inflated things continually massaging my calves. Surreal.

Dr Stricker came by and had two surgeons with him - he said "Paul, this was straight forward - your prostate is removed, it looked a little larger but not unusual, your seminal vesicles good and we did not touch your lymph nodes and we carefully dealt with your nerves. You are in good shape". Strike one for me - for this part we felt vindicated by our decision.

I slept ok and buzzed the nurse at 5am the next day - "Can I go for a walk?" The nurse (bless those nurses) said "You are nuts, but as long as you promise me to be careful I will come with you". Off we went - back and forth in the corridor, clunking along with my bag, drip, drain and IV pole. At least I was up and at them! The best advice I can give you is GET UP AND WALK. Do not lie there and feel sorry for yourself - today is the first day of your new life, your second life after cancer. The drain came out Saturday morning - yeowch - what a weird feeling and the drip later that day. Sandra came by and we hugged and talked. Late in the day I had my worst nightmare - coughing. Now that was painful and yet another reason to get up and keep active.

By the next morning I was ready to leave. I convinced them I was ok to go and Sandra took me home with my new pet - the foley and bag…

The next few days were uneventful apart from the normal discomfort of dealing with that damn catheter. The more I walked the more sore I became. I tried moving the mount point, shifting the angle of the tube, moving the bag further down - nothing seemed to work. Thanks to Sandra I kept sane and busy doing this and that, reading Dr Walsh's guide to surviving prostate cancer and also Lance Armstrong's books on cancer survival and recovery. I also read Lincoln Hall's book on surviving Mt Everest. My problems are minor compared to some people!

6 days after my operation I was back at St Vincent's - time to see if the wounds had healed and if I was leaking. My cystogram came back clear - Jayne sat with Sandra and I and explained about continence (don't expect miracles), erectile function (same goes here!), but most importantly, went through in detail with us the Synoptic Graphical Report for my prostate. This is what separates great service from just good service - I want to understand what is going on inside me and what this cancer is doing.

The combination of Jayne's thoughtful insights, Dr Stricker's ability, Sandra's understanding and my family and employer's support, coupled with the knowledge of you folk (you know who you are - thanks guys) has underpinned my confidence to move forward.

The cancer was confined to the peripheral zone, had a volume of less than 4 % and I had a Gleason of 3+3=6. Nil margins, no extensions - I had the most common form of cancer - adenocarcinoma, and it was gone!

So, for now, I am walking a little each day, resting a lot, talking to my buddies at work (some of whom turn up at the strangest times - patrol cars area regular sight in my street now and there is no mistaking what I do for a living by the amount of Cops that appear day and night, along with the odd Ambulance containing my paramedic pals!).

The biggest mountain I am climbing right now is gaining confidence in continence - I am using 1 or 2 pads a day (maybe 3 some days if I am active). Once I get that under control, watch out world, my training will be back and I cannot wait to get back to work to repay my buddies for covering for me. I also have a urine test in ten days and my first PSA test four weeks after having the Prostate removed.

I am confident in myself - in love with my wife and family - and secure in the knowledge you folks have given me.

I am blessed. I will keep in touch! Don't hesitate to contact me if you need to, there is much to tell in between the lines of these pages.

 

Paul's e-mail address is: swic1502@bigpond.net.au