Tony
Fantillo and Linda live in British Columbia, Canada. He was 65 when he
was diagnosed on September13, 2006. His initial PSA was 5.01 ng/ml, his Gleason
Score was 7 and he would have been staged clinically as T1c. He was staged T2b
pathologically. His choice of treatment was Laparoscopic Surgery. Here is his
story:
Hi, my name is Tony Fantillo. I am 65 years old. I have been punctual in doing
regular check ups on a yearly basis ever since I turned 50 years old. The year
before I turned 50, my father passed away from prostate cancer, he was 85 years
old. Having these genes I decided on the cautious approach. When I turned 59,
my PSA reading was 3.0 ng/ml, however my doctor was not concerned since he said
that the PSA will go up slightly as one ages. By the time I reached 65 the PSA
had changed to 5.01 ng/ml. My doctor had had prostate concer himself and had since
retired and had prostate surgery. My new doctor, looked at my personal history,
did a rectal exam, looked at my PSA and said my suggestion is that you see a urologist,
just to get his opinion. So I did. My urologist proceeded with his own exam, looked
at my personal history and then looked at the PSA of 5.01 ng/ml. His suggestion:
watchful waiting or biopsy? I chose biopsy.
Two
weeks went by and I had my biopsy...six samples. On Sept. 13 I had my urologist
appointment to discuss the results. Yup, he said, 2 of the 6 samples are cancerous.
Of course, you do a double take, this was never supposed to happen to you, right?
Well, once my wife and I settled down to the news, he went over some more of the
details of the diagnosis and the options I was faced with. He gave me lot's of
reading materials, he said to talk to as many people as I could, and make an appointment
to see him in two weeks to arrive at a decision.
Option
1: Watchful waiting, not an option for me.
Option 2: Radiation
Option 3:
surgery (open)
Our option was to operate, especially after we talked to many
people both with prostate diagnosis experience and without, professionals, the
internet, etc. We asked our urologist about RLRP, and he told us that in BC, it
was a fairly new procedure but that in Edmonton, Alberta, they had been doing
it for about 5 years. So we decided to go to Edmonton for the RLRP. Here's a shortened
schedule:
Dec.1
operation
Dec.3 discharged
Dec.6 flew back to Campbell River
Dec. 12
lab results in - The lab results showed a 15% cancer in the prostate. It was completely
contained, whew!
Dec.13 catheter out
Incontinence:
Day
1: 100% incontinent
Day 2: 80% controlled incontinent
Day 3: up and down
Day
4/5: 80% control
Day 6: good control
Sexual
functions:
Nothing
yet although all the feelings are active. The penis is too sore from the long
catheter stay (I am hoping). The doctor said that it would take anywhere from
4 weeks to six months for the regular function to come back. I am waiting.
My
first PSA appointment is on Jan.10/07 Physically I feel really normal The way
I felt before the operation. I was an active soccer and squash player, I am beginning
to think that I should begin again. I am giving myself the month of Dec. to recover,
hopefully it will work.
Will let you know how things go!! I want to thank the
administrators of this website and all the contributors for sharing their stories,
it has been a real eye opener for me. I really appreciate knowing that everyone
has had similar experiences, its reassuring and comforting!
I
had my first post op PSA and meeting with my urologist. The PSA is at the undetectable
level of 0.02. This is great news. I asked my uro if one is ever out of the woods
so to speak and he said that we have to monitor the PSA level for at least one
year post op, if it remains at the undetectable level then we can begin to relax.
He
seemed happy with my progress. The incontinence remains at about 20% (80% controllable).
It is quite manageable with the usual drips especially after lifting weights of
some types, or defecating. I guess the sphincter muscle weakens after such efforts.
Night time is good although I wear pads just in case.
As
for sexual functions, I am still at the dysfunctional level. My uro gave me a
prescription for Cialis to be taken once a week to begin getting the blood flowing
into the penis. I started yesterday, I have felt a little difference but nothing
to really brag about. This try out is to last till my next apponitment (April/07).
Meanwhile
I have returned to my normal activities without any discomforts whatsoever. People
ask me if I have been sick with the prostate thing and the answer is no. I am
feeling fine. I play squash up to five times a week (45 to 90 minutes at a time).
As you may know squash is quite an intense physical activity, I do not feel any
ill effects from the prostate procedure. Other than the 20% incontinence and the
lack of sexual functions so far, my life has returned somewhat to normal with
the hope that it will be completely normal (whatever that is!) eventually!
I
will keep you posted as to further progress or lack of it. I have really appreciated
this website for all the individual insights on our individual approaches to our
problem. At the beginnng one cannot see the trees for the forest is too thick
but with the sharing of experiences, the learning, the decisions and the outstanding
expertise and knowledge that's out there, we begin to see, reflect and acknowledge
our very existence. Thank you all!!
I
last updated this journal entry a year ago. Since then my PSA has held at 0.0.
I have been very relieved about this. I have resumed a "normal" life and am thankful
that everything seems to be ok. My incontinence is back to 100% controlled. I
do have the odd smallest leakage especially when I get excited about some event
or action. My sexual functions have not returned as yet. We have tried the pump,
Cialis and a few other ideas but nothing has worked yet. Our uro did say that
it could take up to two years for the functions to come back.
One
odd thing that has happened on this topic, and that is for about five times now,
I get a real stiff one in the middle of the night and it might last up to 40 seconds.
No idea what might bring it on, no dreams of any significance that I can recall.
I will have to ask my uro at my next appointment. I do get some blood flow in
there but still too soft to use with any confidence.
I
am very active physically (I play squash up to five times a week, walk and play
soccer at times), so this might not help I really can't say. I am thankful that
I am healthy for now and hope that the rest will resume with time.
If
I can be of any help whatsoever to anyone, please drop me a line. I am available
any time.
Tony's
e-mail address is: tony.fantillo@crcn.net
