YANA - YOU ARE NOT ALONE NOW

PROSTATE CANCER SUPPORT SITE

BRONZE

Philip Press and Cindy live in New York, USA. He was 53 when he was diagnosed in November, 2007. His initial PSA was 3.4 ng/ml, his Gleason Score was 6 and he was staged T1c. His choice of treatment was Robotic Laparoscopy Surgery. Here is his story.

In November 2007 I learned that my second biopsy, I had had one five years ago, had shown a Gleason 6 micro-focal adenocarcinoma. No real surprise as my father had prostate cancer.

Of course upon hearing it I started what I'm sure all on the YANA site started . . . research. I learned what all this mumbo jumbo meant and started to learn about options. Quickly, I decided that radiation was totally out of the question due to it's lack of options should the cancer return. I read and spoke to Loma Linda about Proton therapy but it's lack of a track record was not something I was comfortable with. So I decided after my research and speaking to my urologist to remove my prostate.

How?, was the question: open, laparoscopy or robotic laparoscopy. My doctor recommended a doctor on Long Island that did the robotic who I quickly made an appointment to see. What was really amazing was the unbelievable support and quick action of some very close friends. One, who put me in touch with two survivors who had recently had open surgery. Another person, who sells pharmaceuticals, pretended, while speaking to the Head of Urology at a local hospital, that I was his brother and told him my story. The doctor said that if it was his brother he'd see the doctor at Cornell Medical. I immediately called that doctor and within one week had two robotic appointments and one open.

Long story short, I'm scheduled on February 13 (not a Friday) for robotic laparoscopic surgery. I've received a packet of info that I totally don't understand but I'm sure it will be more clear as time goes on . . . more later.

 

UPDATED

January 2008

 

 

I'm a month away. I suppose for the purposes of mentoring I should note that as much as you try to kind of forget about it until you have to . . . you don't. At first you go "glass half full" and realize that it will be out and by all the reading and research and conversations with others that you'll be fine. And then you go "glass half empty" and think it's there and it's growing. However slowly, it's growing.

I'm walking three miles a day past the United Nations up and down the hills of First Avenue.

I kegel the entire time and oddly hope I'm doing it right. Thank you for those that have contacted me. I'm totally at peace with my decision and with the surgeon. In fact, a dear friend of mine has just been diagnosed and I think he's going with my guy too. I could think of other things to have in common. More later . .

Later:

Two and a half weeks until the surgery. Had an Endo Rectal MRI and to say it was uncomfortable would be an understatement. The surgeons staff never told me what to expect so I just thought it was going to be a pelvic MRI. Boy! Was I mistaken. For those that might be having it prior to surgery, I suppose the only thing I got out of it is that this whole thing is very real. Very Very Real. I guess they use the same type of probe that they used during the biopsy but I was out for that not for this. Ask for versed or valium.

Thank goodness for good friends who happen to be going through this as well and get it.

 

UPDATED

February 2008

 

 

Less than two days til surgery. It's amazing how up to this point it was almost like someone else was having it. But tomorrow I start the prep and Wednesday I go in and hopefully Thursday I come home. I'm hoping my experience is similar to the countless men whose stories I've read on the YANA website or met through friends. We're all in this together and I feel this site has done nothing but strengthened me.

Later

Two days after the surgery. I'm catheterized and uncomfortable. The one good thing is a didn't come home with the drain. I came home yesterday and it was probably a mistake.

My wife is doing the best she can but with only 5 minutes of "teaching" managing the catheter is a challenge at first.

I'm bloated but passing gas like it's my job, not too uncomfortably. The one thing I've learned is take the pain meds. I sat around last night until 2:30 in the morning shaking like a leaf from the pain. Once I took it I slept for like 5 hours which was great.

Actually going to try to get out and walk a bit today. More later..

Four days later:

I'm much more clear thinking so let me tell everyone this. Robotic may be less intrusive but it's still major surgery and it hurts. It's not excruciating but it hurts. The catheter is uncomfortable, you're bloated like a Macy's Thankgiving Day balloon and you're stomach looks like hell. Now my experience will be very different for those that are able to take anti-inflammatory meds. I couldn't due to concerns about renal function so I may have experienced a lot more pain than most. But here's what I've learned.

It's all about the first bowel movement (FBM).

I walked the night after my surgery which helped start the gas moving. The hospital staff doesn't care about burping but they do back flips when you first start expelling gas rectally. I went home the next day and still was expelling but I knew the FBM was in my future. The first day home, I walked a slow mile. Up stairs down stairs, etc. When I could I expelled. I kept the diet very soft, Soup, Ensure, Gatorade, Eggs. Same thing the next day and added Mineral Oil at night. Last night my wife made applesauce and that seemed to really get the ball rolling. My FBM was easier than I expected. No real pain. ADVICE: Do a Lamaze version of breathing it really helps. Short pants is enough to make your bowel muscles move it along without you pushing which IS painful. Had another this morning and feel much better. Pain is less in the stomach which has gone down.

Having the catheter out in three days. More later.

Later:

Eight Days Post Op:

Found out that my cancer was only in 2% of the prostate and all surrounding bits and pieces also absent of any cancer. In the words of the nurse practitioner, I have a greater than 95% cure rate. No radiation, No chemo. Lose the catheter and get on with my life.

That was removed and for all those wondering the feeling can only be described as similar to the doctor extracting his finger after a digital exam. Not painful, just wierd and fast. Your mind makes you think there's three feet in you when, in fact there's maybe three inches. And the best news for me is I have full control. Urinating is a bit uncomfortable but full stream and ability to stop . . .remarkable.

 

UPDATED

March 2008

 

 

Five Weeks Post-op:

Hard to believe it was five weeks ago. All in all I feel OK. The last steri-strip fell off just a week ago so I feel I'm really done. There is some phantom pain I'm experiencing which I feel is nerves mending together which from personal experience goes on for a while. Urinating is still a bit uncomfortable. Sitting down is easier than standing which concurs with what I read.

Your testicles are really sensitive as things progress. They do "blow up" after surgery. Buy a jock strap and really tight underwear. They weren't kidding. As you heal it seems to diminish but mine are still a bit sensitive causing me to walk like I just got off a horse.

I go back to get my first PSA done next week and I'm seeing the surgeon in May. See you then.

 

UPDATED

April 2008

 

 

Made a big mistake going to my local urologist who I was scheduled to see. I thought it a good idea just for a follow-up. We talked about the surgery and my experience post-operatively. Then he started putting on the rubber glove to which I said, "Are you kidding?". Well he wasn't. Basically, he said I'll still be having rectal exams to make sure there's nothing else going on. Frankly, it aggravated the area and I haven't been all that comfortable since. Everything else is working fine but sitting is now a bit uncomfortable.

Seeing the surgeon in a month for the final time. Need to do more exercise.

Philip's e-mail address is: pressink@aol.com