I had no symptoms. My doctor performed a DRE and noticed no abnormalities. We found out through my "you're turning 50" PSA test , which came back at 6.1 in 2012. He suggested that we check my PSA again in 6 months. Well, 6 months stretched into 9 months before I had my PSA tested again. It came back at 6.4. My doctor suggested I go see a urologist. I made an appointment at TUCC (The Urology Center of Colorado).
I was able to get in to see the urologist fairly quickly. The urologist performed a DRE and was concerned that he felt a firm area on one lobe of my prostate and ordered a biopsy. They performed a 12 core biopsy and ultra sound exam. My prostate looked normal on the ultra sound and the technician felt that, if there was prostate cancer, we were catching it an early stage. The biopsy results came back and your heart just sinks when you hear the word "cancer". Of the 12 cores taken, only 2 showed cancer. One was graded a Gleason 4+3 and the other a 4+4, so they round up to the highest score and grade the cancer a Gleason 8 and staged me a T2a as the cancer appeared to be confined to one lobe and in a small confined area of that lobe. So now I had choices. I read everything I could about the disease. My urologist scheduled an appointment for my wife and I to sit down and discuss what my options were.
We go over some paper work and my urologist shows me some nano grams from leading hospitals that show treatment options and success rates. I had already decided to go with the robotic prostatectomy. At my age, it just made the most sense. There will be risks with any treatment, but I liked the idea of knowing more about the numbers after the pathology of the removed prostate. You don't get that information if you decide on radiation treatments as they do not have a removed prostate to test.
I did my homework on the robotic surgeons at the TUCC and chose Dr. Juan Montoya. He had performed over 800 robotic prostatectomies. My meeting with him went well. I liked him from the very beginning. He felt I had an excellent chance of cure due to the small area of cancer and my low PSA number.
My surgery went well. The Dr was able to spare all the nerves. Any pain I had post-op was tolerable. I got the catheter out after 10 days and have been mostly continent since. Sneezes or heavy coughing may produce a leak now and then, but I can live with that. I do have some ED, but it's much less than I anticipated. My pathology came back 3 days after my surgery and it was good news. The cancer was confined to the prostate, the margins were clean, the seminal vesicles were not involved, no extra prostatic extension and the lymph nodes they removed were clean. As Dr Montoya put it: "It's the best chance of cure that is possible". I feel very blessed. The PSA tests done since the surgery have been undetectable.
If you are reading this, please remember you have options. Don't let anyone tell you PSA tests are unknown, inaccurate, or this and that. That test most likely saved my life. Read everything, but be selective. Like anything out there on the internet, there is a lot of misinformation. See a urologist and have them answer your questions. Talk to guys that have gone through this. They can be a lot of help and comfort.
I had my 8 month post-op follow up in March and am happy to report my PSA was undetectable and all systems are working quite well. ED, which was somewhat of a problem continues to improve. I'd say to around 90% of where it was before surgery. Incontinence is not a problem. I still may leak now and then, especially if I bend over to pick something up or if my bladder is full, but overall I stay dry all the time. The moral of the story is: Give your body time to heal. Things can and will get better. My next PSA and follow up is in September. Until then, God Bless and stay positive!
15 month post surgery update. PSA remains undetectable. ED is no longer an issue. Overall, I couldn't be happier with my decision to have the robotic surgery.
As I'm now having my PSA tested every six months, it was time for the 6 month PSA test. I received the test results yesterday and my PSA is undetectable. I cannot for the life of me understand the controversy over PSA testing. Lately, I've seen multiple articles, from journals and medical institutions, down playing the PSA test, some saying the test is completely unnecessary. Others saying the test should not be used anymore. I know most of us on this site would completely disagree with such statements. I know my urologist would. In my opinion, such statements are reckless, foolish, and completely misleading. At the very least, the PSA test is an indicator that something is amiss with your prostate and further examination is necessary. Sure, you might have an infection or BPH, or some other prostate related issue. But wouldn't you like to know for sure? I have no doubt the PSA test saved my life. The results of my elevated PSA test sent me to see the urologist. My DRE was normal. Had I not had my PSA tested and only went by the results of the DRE, who knows how long I would have gone without treatment.
I went in for my 6 month PSA and follow up and thankfully my PSA remains undetectable. ED is no longer an issue. I need no medication for ED. I think it's important to remember that if you had nerve sparing surgery, it takes time for things to start working again. Up to two years, and in some cases, longer. It's easy to get discouraged, but be patient. Things do get better. The same is true for bladder control and leaking. It gets better. Keep up the fight. Stay positive!
6 month PSA test came back undetectable. No real issues to report. ED is not an issue. All systems working almost as well as before surgery. No incontinence. Occasional leak when heavy lifting or a hard cough or sneeze. Time. Time is the key. Healing takes time. Until next time, keep up the fight!
Annual checkup time and 6 month PSA test. I am happy to report a continued undetectable PSA and all other systems functioning well. ED continues to be a non-issue. I do not need any pills. Incontinence is also a non-issue. I still have the occasional leak, but it's not a problem worth worrying about. I think the most important thing to remember is that healing does take time. I am three years out from my surgery, and I believe that the nerves are still healing. Things are still getting better month by month. I was fortunate that both nerve bundles could be spared. I am still very happy that I chose the surgery over other treatment options. Until next time, stay positive and keep up the fight!
I just received my results from my six month follow up PSA test and I am quite happy to report that my PSA remains undetectable. I have absolutely no regrets regarding the type of treatment I chose and all systems to continue to operate well. ED and incontinence are not an issue. Until next time, God Bless and keep up the fight.
I had my yearly appointment with my Urologist the other day and we discussed the past year. I have no symptoms to speak of. It has now been four years since my surgery. PSA remains undetectable. No ED issues. No urinary issues, other than occasional small leaks. Life is good. I make sure that I bug all my male friends that are over 40 to get a PSA test. Early detection is key. This disease may not be preventable for all men, but it is very treatable if found early. And new and effective treatments are being made possible through research for men with more advanced disease. Until next time, God Bless and keep up the fight!
6 month PSA test done and I am very pleased to say that my PSA remains undetectable. It has almost been five years since my diagnosis and surgery and I have absolutely no regrets regarding my choice of treatment. All is well and I'm grateful and Blessed to be where I am at this point in my life. Until next time God Bless and keep up the fight.
Time for my annual checkup with my doctor. This visit is somewhat special as it represents five years since my diagnosis and robotic surgery. I could not be more pleased with the results and the progress I've made. No ED and no other urinary incontinence to speak of. My PSA remains undetectable. I'm told that I no longer need a PSA test every six months, and will be tested annually as my PSA has remained undetectable for five years. I feel very thankful and Blessed. It has been hard at times, but I know many others that have struggled far more than I have, and are still struggling. The best advice I can give is stay positive and don't give up. Things do improve after surgery. Just be patient and give yourself time to heal. Until next time, God Bless and keep up the fight!
Hello all,
I had my One Year check-up back in October. My Urologist placed me on the one year check-up schedule after 5 years of undetectable PSA tests. My PSA remains undetectable. I would not change a thing regarding my decisions or the type of treatment I chose. I am grateful and Blessed that I have basically been side-effect free since my surgery. All my functions returned within 2 years after my surgery. No incontinence and no ED issues. As I have said many times, the key is to give yourself some time to heal after surgery and stay positive. My next check-up is scheduled for next Fall. So, until next time, God Bless and keep up the Fight! -Tom
I had my yearly checkup in October, but didn't update due to my recovery from surgery for diverticulitis.
Interestingly enough, they used the da Vinci robot for the diverticulitis surgery too. Recovery was quick and life is back to normal.
I am doing great eight years out from my surgery. My PSA remains undetectable. I have no regrets regarding my choice to have surgery. I still have a leak now and then, but nothing problematic. Zero issues with ED. I am so grateful.
Until next time, stay positive, God Bless, and keep up the fight.
Yearly checkup update: 9 year anniversary since prostatectomy coming up in June. Recent checkup went well. No changes to speak of. I still experience a urinary leak now and then. Nothing that is problematic. Everything else is working well.
I am thankful everyday that I had the surgery. I am thankful, and not a day goes by that I don't thank God for the blessings in my life. I believe that being diagnosed with a disease that can kill you really changes your perspective. You see things more clearly and appreciate life more. I know I sure do.
Until next time, God Bless, and keep up the fight. -Tom
Yearly checkup update: No changes to report. Life is good. On June 6th, it will have been 10 years since I had my robotic prostatectomy. I have zero regrets on having the surgery. For me, surgery was really the only choice.
I'm the kind of person that needs to know what's going on. I didn't feel that radiation treatments would allow me to understand specific information regarding the disease as I wouldn't have the pathology of the removed prostate to provide that information, such as final gleason score, size of the tumor, extra prostatic extension, etc. Dr. Patrick Walsh mentions this in his book. As Dr. Walsh states: "The removed prostate is a crystal ball of information". And that is the information I wanted to know. Information that helped me understand what was happening with my health and helped me understand what my prognosis was going to be and what I could expect going forward. That said, it's a personal choice and radiation treatments may be the best choice for many patients.
This battle is personal, and there are many options. Talk to your doctor about all the options and try to get a good understanding of your situation. Until next year, take care and keep up the fight.
God Bless,
-Tom
2024 Update. 10 years have now gone by since my surgery. Hard to believe. My latest checkup was great. No changes. I have zero regrets regarding my choice of treatment, and wouldn't change a thing. I was blindsided by the diagnosis 10 years ago, but I did a lot of research and stuck to a plan. It's what I have recommended to other men that have received the awful news they have prostate cancer. Do research, stay positive and follow through with your plan.
Until next time, stay positive and keep up the fight.
God Bless, -Tom
Tom's e-mail address is: hartselco AT earthlink.net (replace "AT" with "@")
