Well here is my experience, I had a PSA test as part of my normal annual check-up and it came back at a PSA of 4.3 after being around 3.0 the prior check-up. My doctor said it was likely nothing, but sent me to a specialist just in case. The specialist had a second blood test done and felt that even though the PSA was low, there were other worrisome indicators. He sent me for a biopsy which involved taking 12 samples, 6 from each side of my prostate, the biospy was like a slight twang with an elastic band 12 times, not pleasant, but no worse than getting a flu shot 12 times. I should point out that from a rectal exam perspective my prostate seemed fine, as it turned out that the cancer was on the other side and my prostate seemed normal, not enlarged or anything. The biopsy came back with a score of 6-7 indicating cancer, but not super aggressive. My doctor said I had a few options, 1) Do nothing and just watch and hope it does not progress to fast, not recommended. 2) Try natural medicines and hope they work and then see him again a year later with progression of the cancer and $20,000 less in my bank account. 3) Have the prostate removed with surgury. 4) See another specialist about having radiative implants put in the prostate to kill the cancer.

I decided to at least see the other specialist about the radioactive implants as the surgury would be less invasive and a faster recovery. I saw the specialist and he said I was an excellent candidate as the cancer appeared early stage and confined to the prostate where the radioactive implants could kill it. The option seemed enticing. However, the radioactive method would leave me with a radiated prostate and still PSA levels in the background after surgery and this concerned me, in addition, without the prostectomy it would be impossible to tell whether the cancer had spread or not. Also, the radiation option took away the option of having follow-up radiation later. Whereas the surgery, allowed for future radiation therapy if the cancer returned after the operation. So I decided to go with the surgical option and had the prostate removed, not knowing whether or not it was the right decision, but thinking it was the best choice given the available information.

I had the surgery and it was easy for my part as I was put under and then suddenly waking up in the recovery room, I had a rather uncomfortable night in the hospital mainly due to a bad case of the hiccups, the nurse brought me chocolate milk but it did not help, the next morning my son brought me a warm tea from Tim Horton's (located in the hospital) and all was well again. I talked to my doctor and he felt I would get a better rest at home and could check out once a nurse removed my surgery drainage tube and I showed that I could walk a reasonable distance on my own. The tube was removed (it was at least a foot long to my surprise) and I walked around and left the hospital, catheter still in place. The ride home was not pleasant in my son's bumpy truck, but OK and we stopped at the drug store to fill some pain prescriptions I had been given, but ended up not needing. At home with the catheter I determined that there was no way I could sleep in a bed, so I set up on my lazyboy couch and spent the next 10 days sleeping in the recliner. After a few days I was out and walking to the store etc, I found having pants that unzipped at the knee help as it was easy to empty the catheter bag almost anywhere. After ten days the catheter was removed, and I got some pads for incontenence, however, the it did not last long and bladder control returned quickly and has not been an issue since, although when I have to go and hold back it can be very uncomfortable, kind of a mind over matter type thing, but I sleep through the night without a problem.

After about 3 weeks I was back riding my bike, albeit a little slower and watching out for bumps. I went back to the doctor and was told that my PSA was zero, good news, but that the cancer had slightly broken out of the prostate, but the biospy of the surrounding tissue indicated that the doctor had removed it all. The doctor stated that because of the breakout from the prostate, I was entitled to follow-up radiation. Good thing I had not gone with the radiation implant alternative because it may not have killed the escaped cancer. I asked the doctor whether I could wait and see the PSA results prior to have follow-up radiation and he said yes. I also asked if the radiation would be just as effective if I waited vs having it right away and he said yes. So I opted not to have any follow-up radiation unless my PSA increased above zero. So every 6 months and now every year, I have gone through the stress of having a PSA test and hoping that it comes back zero, to date, after 4 years the PSA is still zero. Truthfully, I do not even think about the cancer or the side effects most of the time, except for the week or so before the PSA test. Erectile disfunction is an issue, but I can get erections, it is just not nearly as easy as it once was. But life is good and I am living my life pretty much as I would have had the cancer not occurred. Several people I know have had the same operation and my cousin had the radiation implants option, all are doing well, but all of them caught it early using a regular PSA test.

Dave's e-mail address is: dave.william AT excite.com (replace "AT" with "@")