Rick
Cyclist and Wendy live in PA, USA. He
was 52 when he was diagnosed on December 18, 2006. His intial PSA was 4.9 ng/ml,
his Gleason Score was 6 and he was staged T1c. His choce of treatment was radical
prostatectomy. Here is his story:
I've been under the care of a urologist since lesions were found on my rt. kidney
several years ago. Fortunately, these turned out to be harmless hemorraghic cysts.
I have been monitored continuously since the cysts were diagnosed, alternating
every six months with ultrasound and MRA. My family doctor ordered routine bloodwork,
and it turned up a rising PSA level. He noted the rise, but was not concerned
since it was below 4.0 ng/ml. I can't remember the actual reading. My urologist
was more concerned, and ordered another PSA to coincide with my regular check-up.
This one indicated another rise. Following 3 weeks of Cipro, another test was
done. The level rose again, this time hitting 4.2 ng/ml. I was scheduled for an
ultrasound and another PSA. The ultrasound was negative, but the PSA had risen
again, so I was scheduled for a biopsy.
This
was an extremely unpleasant procedure. I can only assume that the resident failed
to block the nerves adequately with the lidocaine, because I felt all 12 cores
being taken. I even felt the initial probe for each sample as the needle was aligned
and aimed. I was talking with the nurse afterward and questioned why you were
not sedated for the procedure. She indicated that patients were, if they asked
for it, but it was never discussed as an option for me. She said she would make
sure that her husband was knocked out for the procedure. Afterward, no pain medication
was offered. It was fairly painful, and felt like I had been hit inside with a
hammer. They kept me in recovery until I urinated.
I
had a pretty bloody urination within about 20 minutes, and was released. Within
an hour, the "hammer" pain had receded and I was feeling much better. I had no
other ill effects from the procedure, and was able to bike a week later, although
I would recommend waiting two weeks, as there was some discomfort. After about
a week, my first post-biopsy orgasm was painful, a reminder of the hammer, and
the semen was dark rust colored and quite runny, I assume from the large amounts
of PSA released during the biopsy.
In
the interval between the procedure and the pathology report, I searched the web
and read all about Gleason scores and prostate cancer treatments. I hoped that
I didn't have it, since there was nothing on the ultrasound. I assumed that my
increase in biking activity was contributing to the PSA level rises.
I
got the bad news at the end of the day at work, and then left to tell my wife.
Although I received the news over the phone, I wanted to tell her face to face.
Rick's
e-mail address is: rick@audubongroup.com
