THERE WAS NO RESPONSE TO AN UPDATE REMINDER IN 2019 SO THERE IS NO UPDATE.

Subsequent to a sudden rise in my yearly PSA (to 7.36) I underwent a 3-Tesla MRI for targeting purposes and an ultrasound guided biopsy session which revealed Gleason 7 prostate cancer in both lateral lobes of my prostate. I opted for a robotic prostatectomy with pelvic node dissection. My pathology report revealed a 60 gm prostate with Gleason 4+3 cancer in both lobes. The prostate capsule and seminal vesicles were uninvolved. A cancer micrometastasis 0.3 mm in size was found in one of five lymph nodes.

Postoperatively my PSA fell to <0.02 (undetected) and has remained there for 22 months. I suggest to everyone to insist on having pelvic lymph nodes removed. I'd have no chance of being cancer free today had my surgeon neglected to remove those nodes. Finding that single micrometastasis was a surprise to the surgeon, pathologist and myself and having it out has made all the difference.

After wearing adult pull-ups for incontinence for 20 months I had an AMS 800 artificial urinary sphincter implanted 3 weeks ago. The device will be activated in another 3 weeks and I'll report the results soon after. Until then I remain with urinary leakage requiring 5-9 pad changes daily. Once the device is activated I hope to resume daily walks, mountain biking and riding ATV trails near the Colorado continental divide. I thank my Lord and Savior every day.

Dick's e-mail address is: mju76yhn AT yahoo.com (replace "AT" with "@")

NOTE: Dick has not updated his story for more than 15 months, so you may not receive any response from him.