I want to thank everyone who has ever posted their information here. i have visited this site almost every day since I found it. The information here is excellent.
When the Dr. said the word cancer, I don't think i was shocked but I was stunned. The Dr. told me his suggestion was RP and handed me some paperwork and said here is your second opinion. Its from Duke also prescribing surgery. The Dr. he referred me to didn't have an opening until the middle of May. How could that be I thought? Its Feb 1st. My wife agreed, she just wanted the cancer gone, Damn the side effects. I wish I had found this site before I made the decision......I might not have changed the decision to have surgery but at least I would have been much more well informed. My surgery was on the 16 of April. I went back to have the catheter removed and get the pathology report. The Dr. said that he didn't have the best news. He said that the lymph nodes were clear but the margins were not. That the cancer was worse than they thought. How could that be ....I thought to myself? I thought they knew exactly what was there. Any way, I go back for another PSA check in a month and they tell me if my level rises that radiation is my best bet. Thank you all so very much.
I am really hoping that my PSA will stay at .1. I think being on ADT is sapping my strength.
My wife wants me to stay on the hormone therapy but I am contemplating going on intermittent.
My hair has started growing back. I hope this might help someone.
Hey guys. It's a huge decision. Get a second opinion. I did, from Duke. They said they agreed with my diagnosis. I had radical prostatectomy. Didn't get all the cancer. PSA tripled in 2 or 3 weeks. 40 rounds of radiation. Horomone therapy. I did not go to the surgeon I wanted because it would've been 4 1/2 months before I could get an appointment.
Have had extreme bladder bleeding. Had 40 or more Hyperbaric Oxygen treatments to try to help my bladder heal due to radiation systitus. Wish I had waited for the recommended surgeon. Haven't been able to have an erection since.
I now still have incontinence. Worst thing is that I can't urinate on my own. Have to catherize myself 12 or 13 times a day. Now am going to see a urologist in Texas to see if he can help me at all. I asked another urologist about what my surgeon said. Surgeon told me that the nerves weren't close to prostate. Urologist said "that's not true".
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Hey guys, maybe the preferred doctor wouldn't have gotten all the cancer cells, but there's no way of knowing. Please try to get the best doctor you can find. Don't have regrets about who you choose Like I do. Maybe you won't have to go through all the radiation or chemo and ADT that I had to endure. I had to have nephrostomy tubes put in to drain my kidneys for 5 months because of all the bleeding in my bladder because of radiation. That was awful. Then last year I went to a doctor in Texas that told me that my bladder was like wet tissue paper and could not be saved. I LOVE that guy. Send a text if you're in Texas and you want his info. He removed my bladder, 1 year ago today. I had a hard time at first with the stoma and having to drain the bag all the time. But wow, now no more 4 or 5 trips a night to the bathroom, no more bleeding. Still can't get it up......but oh well....I'm breathing and moving forward. Trying to spend as much time as I can with our grandkids in Missouri and Texas. Good luck to everyone out there that has to go through this. Don't make hasty decisions.
I have so many regrets for how I rushed into a decision. PLEASE RESEARCH ALL OPTIONS.
Read this whole site and get perspective on your situation.
Do look into whatever it takes to gain the ability to have an erection again.
Terry's e-mail address is: terry.sweet57 AT icloud.com (replace "AT" with "@")
