I was diagnosed through a high PSA reading having gone from 3.47 to 5.07 in one year. My doctor did a free PSA and it was only 11%. The next step was a biopsy. I had a 12 core biopsy June 22, 2010 and received the news I had cancer in 4 of 12 cores @ 10% on the left side.

Like anyone other man I was in shock. I was in great shape, ate healthy, worked out on weights, swam, played ice hockey and was 100 pounds at 5' 10" tall. Cancer doesn't seem to care about these things.

As soon as I found out about my low free PSA the first thing I did was research the internet and read all about the treatments available.

I quickly concluded at age 62 and in excellent health that I wanted the cancer removed with about a 90% chance of a cure. I didn't like radiation, once its in there you have no idea what to expect, the prostate is still there, you never find out if it is indeed gone? The side effects from what I understand get worse as time goes on and the radiation works and the surgery is not normally an option if radiation fails.

The next step and I believe the BIGGEST one was to find an exceptional surgeon to do the job. I found Dr. Neil Fleshner at Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto and quickly e mailed his office. They agreed that if I had cancer he would see me once they received my referral.

My surgery was scheduled for Tuesday September 28th, 2010 at 12:30 pm. The operation was three and a half hours and post surgery I had terrible bladder spasms. My son asked them to put me on morphine so when I woke up the next morning I thought all was wonderful.

This didn't last long, the morphine was removed and they gave me two Tylenol at about 6 am. I was ok most of the day but in the late evening the spasms continued and the night was very unpleasant. The nurse gave me Tylenol and Advil through the night and neither helped. I had NO sleep whatsoever.

At 6am Thursday the doctor came in and prescribed me a stronger pain killer. I was released from the hospital that afternoon at 3pm with catheter in tow.

I had bladder spasms due to the catheter for three days and my pain killer was getting less effective each day. I ended up in Emergency Monday afternoon with violent spasms that had me screaming in pain. They gave me opium suppositories and sent me home. I took one at 12 pm the next day and another at 10:30 pm and since then the spasms have subsided.

I went to get my catheter out on Friday October 8, after 10 days, (what a relief) I did not leak a drop :) I wore a small pad home and kept it in for the first night and was dry in the morning. I threw it out the next day and have not wore one since.

So far I feel very lucky, I still have along way to go. My next appointment is on November 16, 2010 to get my pathology report and PSA reading.

I cannot emphasize enough that once diagnosed, if you decide to have surgery go where ever you need to go to get the best surgeon available to do the surgery. I also feel the Da Vinci is far more precise with 10 times magnification.

Good luck to all, I will update again in November.

John

Well it has been 18 months since my surgery September 28, 2010.

I had my first PSA reading in November 2010 and the surgeon told me my PSA was zero.

It took me at least 6 weeks to get over the feeling of fatigue after the surgery. Even walking for an hour or so left me feeling very tired and I am extremely athletic and fit. After six weeks I was able to start back at the gym doing my weight training and cardio, playing ice hockey and also swimming laps a couple of times a week.

Prior to my surgery I was 5' 11" 175 pounds, lean and athletic with no health problems what so ever, a resting heart rate of 46 so I was hoping for a speedy recovery in regards to ED.

After reading literally dozens of stories I concluded that there was little or no information on the actual recovery of ED. I searched the internet for hours and could find nothing so I have no idea at all how my progress is going. I have detailed my ED progress a little more graphically in the hopes of giving others some idea what is actually happening at each stage. [There are some suggestions for improving the erectile function at Use It Or Lose It.]

February 2011: I had my second PSA reading and once again I was told it was zero. Thank goodness, so far so good. I was prescribed 25mg of Viagra each night before I sleep to assist in the restoration of nocturnal erections. At this point the ED is severe, I can get approximately a third of an erection without anything but only standing up and perhaps 50% with 100mg of Viagra.

May 2011: My third PSA reading and so far still at 0. ED is much the same with very little change, once in a while while standing I get about 3/4 of an erection with 100 mg of viagra but the side affects really bother me, I get really flushed and very stuffed up with head aches.

October 2011: My fourth PSA test, had to have it early as I am heading South for the winter, returning in May. Again PSA is 0.

It has been a year and the ED progress is slow to say the least. I can manage to have sex with my wife but I have to be standing (lying down I get nothing) and the erection is semi firm using 50 mg of Viagra.

I have done extensive reading on this topic and understand it is quite normal for the recovery of the nerves to take up to two years or more. I am trying to do all I can to assist this and my overall health with a healthy diet and a lot of exercise and fitness. I am fortunate to have a young attractive supportive partner and am confident things will improve in time. My next PSA will be in late May when I return to Canada. I will update again soon. Other than the ED life is great.

It has been 10 months since my last update, the good news is that my PSA is zero after two years. I have an appointment at Princess Margaret Hospital in May of this year.

The only problem I am having is ED and it painfully slow, however I am the eternal optimist and feel there is improvement but it is measured in months, not days or weeks.

I can get about 60% of an erection with no drugs but have to be standing up, I get nothing laying down. With 50mg of Viagra I can get about 80% standing up. This is of course with a great deal of stimulation with my partner, I find the brain becomes a much bigger part of the equation than prior to the surgery.

What I am doing now is taking 1/2 or 2/3 of a 100mg Viagra waiting an hour and then using the vacuum pump with an elastic at the base of the penis. It is not great but it is usable and I can use it laying down for a short time.

It is far from ideal but I am grateful to be in good health and I do have a very active sex life. Passion, intimacy and closeness with some intercourse, what more can a man ask :)

I will continue to follow this procedure for the next while, I am experiencing a somewhat semi erection when I wake up some mornings and feel this is a positive sign that things are still mending and improving. I have read many times that it can take up to 4 years for the nerves to heal, so I am optimistic.

I hope this will help others to realize the importance of patience and persistence, sex is a wonderful part of life and worth waiting and fighting for.

Aside from the ED life is great and I am enjoying my retirement immensely.

Until next time, good luck to all.

Other than erectile dysfunction I am doing fine, life is great and I spend a great deal of my time in the tropical islands of the Philippines.

The erectile dysfunction is improving even 2 1/2 years after my surgery. I do have a very active sex life. I use Viagra which gives me terrible side effects, stuffiness, flushed and head ache. I have recently experimented with Levitra and to my surprise I get a better result and not near the side effects that I do get with Viagra.

I had tried Levitra 4 or 5 times in the past and it did nothing for me, so do not stop trying and experimenting. Never give up!! Recently I have seen an improvement in the quality of erections during sex, big difference.

I still get nothing unless standing up. To perform laying down I take a Viagra/Levitra and use a vacuum pump with a restriction ring. It works quite well and my partner and I are both satisfied.

I do believe attitude and a great partner make a huge difference. My wife is much younger than I and so passionate and understanding. She loves me so very much and also loves sex and this has been a tremendous help to me. Many times when I get so depressed and dejected she just kisses me and before I know it all is going well.

Considering being diagnosed with prostate cancer I feel so lucky with my life today and what I have, I still firmly believe it will continue to get better for the next year or two and I am considering experimenting with injections so we can have sex in a very natural way even if its just once a week.

I will keep this updated to let all interested to know the results in the next few months, in the mean time enjoy what you have, be positive and keep on trying.

It has been six months since my last update. It has now been 3 years since my surgery. Not too much has changed, my PSA as of September 18, 2013 was undetectable.

I am still dealing with the ED, I guess as most it is not near what I had hoped for. However I am determined to stay positive and will never give up. I still believe there is improvement although painfully slow. In August after almost 3 years I finally relented and decided to try Trimix injections. My goodness had I know it was so painless with amazing results I would have done it two years ago.

I had my first injection .2mg in the doctors office after a thorough demonstration and instruction on how and where to inject. I got about 80% of an erection that lasted about 90 minutes. The doctor said that with stimulation it would get to 100%

I experimented three times with a lesser dosage and finally settled on .2 mg. Each vile contains 4mg. so I get 20 injections per vile and the cost is about $50.00 total.

The first time I tried an injection with my wife it was really amazing, I used .2 and I was erect for about 2-1/2 hours so these injections do work and are an amazing solution to those who are struggling with ED. Not the spontaneity that most would like but believe me after 3 years of struggling to get half an erection this feels like winning the lottery.

Aside from this I am in good health, for the moment cancer free and enjoying life each and every day as much as possible. I am thankful to be healthy and alive at this age and have a loving, passionate partner and a sex life.

My message is to be persistent, never give up, stay positive and do whatever it takes to succeed.

Life is great but also for the most part, what you make it.

Cheers, good luck to all.

John

I apologize for not updating sooner. I guess we get in the habit of focusing so much on living and enjoying life when all is quite good that we forget to keep others informed.

It has now been exactly 4 years since my surgery. I have no side affects what so ever other than ED. I have discovered that erectile function if you are 60 plus and have the surgery is rarely even close to what you had prior to surgery.

Before my surgery I knew the odds and was well informed, how ever I was in great shape, 5' 10", 175 pounds, played ice hockey, worked out, cycling, swimming etc. My erections pre-surgery were like when I was 40 and it was great. So I believed that in time I would get most of it back. I drastically underestimated the effects this has on your erections.

I got about 50% of an erection without using anything months after the surgery and got about 75% with a 100mg Viagra. The side effects of Viagra were terrible for me, however I used it anyway and was able to have some what of a sex life.

As time went by I purchased a VED (pump) and restriction rings (silicone) this helped a great deal, along with the Viagra it was quite usable.

After nearly three years I was exasperated and my surgeon said to me when I went for my PSA test, do me a favor and try one injection. I took his advice and made an appointment to have an injection with an ED specialist. I was pleasantly surprised and got a good erection for about 90 minutes.

Wandered around the hospital pharmacy with an erection and nothing to do with it :)

I have been using Trimix ever since, two times a week with similar results. I bought an auto injector and I can honestly say I do not feel the needle go in what so ever. It is a simple process and the results can be fantastic. Don't be afraid of this, it can literally change your life.

I use the injections two times a week and get an erection for 60 to 90 minutes each time. In between I now can use 25 mg of Viagra with the pump and it is quite good.

I can only say to men who are in this position, DO NOT quit, do not feel embarrassed or less of a man. Do WHAT EVER it takes to get things to work as good as they can and ENJOY every minute of your life. It is not what I would prefer but I feel blessed to have a good sex life and be cancer free after four years.

Life is what you make it gentlemen, if life gives you lemons make lemonade.

I will be happy to answer any questions you might have, feel free to e mail me at any time.

Cheers.
John.

Not much has changed since my last update in October 2014. I am still using Trimix injections and having good success with that regarding the ED.

I now get my PSA tested yearly and as of September 2014 my PSA is undetectable or considered 0.

I am now in the Philippines with my wife and enjoying the very hot weather, going to the gym most days and swimming. Life is good and I really believe we all have to make the very best of it what ever the situation is.

Cheers,

John.

Hello, I would have liked to have seen my story prior to this as I am not really sure where I left off. However, it has now been 6 years and 4 months since my robotic surgery for prostate cancer.

I currently get my PSA tested annually and to date it is considered 0 or under .05

Aside from ED and a minor problem with urinary issues, just seem to go more often than I would like and need to go with a bit more urgency, I cannot complain. I am over seas for the winter in South East Asia with my wife and enjoying a very pleasant life.

As far as the ED goes I encourage everyone who struggles with this, and I believe it is most, to do everything possible to be the best you can be. Do not hide under a rock or feel sorry for yourself, there are so many various methods that can help. It took me 3 years before I finally decided to try injections with Trimix. They are totally painless ( who would have thought ?) and they work very well. I would highly recommend starting injections after 6 months if you don't have enough wood.

After 3 years using the injections I know can have an erection good enough to use with 1/3 of a 100 mg Viagra Pill.

Of course there is not the spontaneity of the past but one must except it for what it is, we cannot change it so we have no choice but to accept it with a positive attitude.

I am trying to live one day at time, to be positive and be thankful for each and every day and for everything that I have. To me it makes absolutely no sense but to be anything else but an optimist.

If there is anyone I can assist or help in anyway please feel free to e mail me and I will respond and help in anyway I can.

I wish you all the very best, just make the very best of your situation regardless of what it is and enjoy each and every day, life is precious.

Cheers,

John

I apologize for not updating this sooner. After my last update my next PSA was in September of 2017, exactly 7 years after my surgery. To my disappointment my PSA was at .06

I had it tested again 6 weeks later and it was still .06. I have no idea what is going on and of course it is somewhat worrisome. My ED has never gotten any better. I have about 60% of an erection using Levitra or Viagra. I find Viagra really bothers me, so I prefer Levitra.

I remarried in 2015 and have a sex life. I use Trimix injections once a week and I urge anyone with a willing partner to try Trimix. I use an auto injector and I can honestly say that there is no pain what so ever when injecting. The results are miraculous and if you have not had a full erection for years and use this you and your partner will be extremely pleased.

I have developed the attitude that what ever is happening, I cannot control. I feel great. I workout regularly and have changed my diet in the last year. I do not eat red meat, use sugar or use dairy products. I drink almond milk and my protein intake is primarily fish, chicken and egg whites.

I am currently in Ecuador with my wife and we have been away for the winter since November. We will go home in April and I will have another PSA test. I have no idea what to expect. I guess like many things in life we worry and stew over things for so long that one just gets sick of doing so and decides to move on with life. I focus on each day one day at a time and try to enjoy it to the fullest.

I could not feel any better, I am 5' 10" and 170 pounds, I eat healthy and work very hard to maintain my muscle mass. I have a loving wife and as far as I know good health. I will ride her till she bucks me. One day at a time my amigos. Cheers.

I will try to update this once I get the results of my next PSA test in May.

I wish you all well.

Hello again. I apologize for the delay in updating my story. Time does really fly by. In my last update my PSA had become detectable ( over .05) it was .06 and I was very concerned.

I went back to see my surgeon in November of 2018, six months since my last PSA and it was undetectable again? This means it was under .05 so I have no idea what it really was or what is going on.

The doctor told me to come back again in one year for my next PSA so I will be going back in November of 2019.

After my last PSA in November I went to the Philippines for 5 months returning to Canada on April 15 this year. Life is good and I have no side affects other than ED. I continue to use trimix injections approximately once a week.

I workout at a gym (weight training) 3 times a week and two days a week I swim laps in a public pool. I still refrain from dairy and sugar and eat red meat once a week. My main source of protein is fish, chicken and egg whites. After each workout I take a protein shake with whey protein isolate, a banana and almond milk.

I am 71 this year and it is almost 9 years since my surgery. My doctor told me last November that there was a one in a hundred chance that prostate cancer would take my life. I sure hope he is right.

I maintain a positive attitude, work hard to stay muscular and lean and enjoy life to the fullest each and every day.

I wish all of you on this forum the very best in your life. If there is any way I can help with information or advice please e mail me.

John.

Hello again. As I said previously time sure flies by. There is really no change from my last report. I went to see my doctor in October of 2019 and my PSA was below .05 or what they consider as zero or undetectable. It has been 9 years since my surgery.

My doctor then told me to come back in two years, so I will return in October of 2021.

Aside from ED and the odd bit of leakage when I cough I am doing fine. I am still using injections for the ED and they work well although they seem to numb the penis and detract from the strength of the orgasms. Viagra still works but not as well as the injections and they give me a head ache from hell and I get red faced and stuffed up. Consequently I rarely use it.

I will be 72 on Canada Day, July 1 and feel blessed to still be alive and in exceptional health. I still continue my fitness regime, of course altered due to Covid-19. I train 3 times a week with resistance bands and do a lot of walking. I am hoping in the near future that the ice rinks and gyms will be open soon so I can get back on the ice to play hockey and start to lift some heavier weights.

I firmly believe that getting your body fat as low as you can and maintaing your muscle mass is a big factor in preventing recurrance. I am 5' 10" and weigh 170 pounds.

I have found that having a positive attitude and making the very best of your situation is by far the best way to approach any kind of medical problem or set back.

If I can be of any help to anyone please feel free to e mail me. I wish everyone here the very best and good health.

Cheers, until next year.

John Ferguson.

Hello again. I apologize for not updating last year. Apparently there was a problem with the websites system and I did not get a reminder until yesterday.

Thankfully nothing has really changed since my last update. I continue to use injections as Viagra and Levitra do work but the side effects for me are terrible with stuffiness and terrible head aches.

The injections still work but they numb the penis so the sensation is not near as good as having an orgasm with Levitra, Viagra or nothing. On the odd occasion I do use Levitra but I have to remain standing for it to stay firm, although the sensation of an orgasm is much better and enjoyable.

The bottom line is to do what works for you and be grateful that you are still here to even try :)

For those of you who are cringing at the thought of sticking a needle in your penis, believe me it is not near as bad as it sounds, I use a very fine needle and an auto injector and for the most part you barely feel it. It is worth it to be able to satisfy your partner and you are good for a lot more than ten or fifteen minutes.

At Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto they consider your PSA to be 0 if it is under .05 For years mine was 0 until 2019 (I had my surgery in 2010). My PSA in November of 2019 was .06 I was obviously quite concerned and I had to go back again in six months. Six months later in May it was under .05 or 0.

My doctor told me to come back again in two years. I returned in November of 2021 and this time on the UHN website they showed my exact PSA and it was .03

I will go back once again in November of this year. So far so good after 11 years.

I don't know if it makes any difference but there are some things I did that I believe could help in staving off a recurrence. I am 5' 10" and when I got diagnosed with cancer I was about 185 pounds. I have worked out and played ice hockey most of my life so I had a fair bit of muscle mass but also in my opinion too much body fat.

In 2013 I decided to go on a program to lose body fat and retain my muscle mass. In six months I reduced my weight to 166 pounds. I lost mostly fat and kept most of my muscle mass. My shoulders, biceps and quads stayed about the same size. I lost mostly fat from my stomach, chest and my butt. This morning 9 years later I weighed 167 pounds.

I also changed my diet to eliminate sugar (sugar causes inflammation in the blood) Most dairy products, I still drink skim milk, mimimized red meat, perhaps once a week. I live mostly on fish, chicken, vegetables, fruit and I drink lots of water.

I take some daily supplements also. I take Turmeric Curcumin, vitamin D3, 3000 IU,

vitaminc C, 1000 mg Magnesium biglycinate, and K2.

I also play ice hockey once a week and go to the gym and do weight training 3 times a week. On the days I do not go to the gym I walk for 30 to 45 minutes and ride my stationary bike for 30 minutes.

I am very grateful to be turning 74 today actually and be able to play hockey at a good level and be strong and in good health. I have worked at it, it does not happen by accident.

If I can offer any help or advice to anyone feel free to e mail me at elevenferguson@yahoo.ca

I wish each and everyone of you good health and a long happy and healthy life.

Cheers,

Jack (John Ferguson)

Hello, the time sure does fly by? I had my surgery on September 28, 2010. It is nearly 13 years since then.

As you can tell by my previous story I have been very fortunate considering what some others have had to endure.

My last PSA reading was .03 I go to the Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto Ontario, Canada and they consider anything under .05 as zero.

In the last 13 years I have been under .05 except for, I believe 2018 and it was .05 I was concerned of course but since then it is been under .05

In many ways the cancer diagnosis changed my life. I definitely learned to express gratitude and I still feel I am fortunate and living on borrowed time. It made me really realize how precious life is and although I was athletic, fit and ate relatively healthy, I have made significant changes in my diet, workout regime, and supplements etc.

I just turned 75 on July 1 and I go to the gym 3 times a week and I play ice hockey once a week with a great group of guys, all over 60.

My fitness goal is to stay very lean with good muscle mass and very little fat. I have found a way to do that and I enjoy learning about health and fitness on a regular basis.

The only thing that was really a negative for me was my erectile function, I lost most of it and I believe it was necessary to infringe on the nerves to save my life. I think it was a good trade off.

I have been using penile injections for about 10 years now. I know it sounds horrific but I went to get my PSA tested and my doctor said to me: "John, do me a favor, just try the injections once."

I decided to go for it and I was petrified! I can honestly say that the pain of injecting your penis is about a 1 or 2 out of 10. Just use the very fine diabetic syringe, it is a very fine needle.

The first time I got the injection was at the hospital, and then I was given a prescription for the medication. So I was waiting in the crowded pharmacy for my number to be called with my first serious erection in 3 years and no where to use it! :)

I am still using it up until now. It still works and after injecting it takes about 3 or 4 minutes to get an erection. It will last anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour depending how much you use and the strength of the medication.

I just want to mention when you are diagnosed just take your time and relax. Try to find everything you can about the treatments available and weigh the pros and cons of each as well as the odds of success.

Most importantly find a VERY GOOD surgeon or doctor. Don't just go where your family doctor sends you. Do your research and find one that is very highly rated. I found Dr. Neil Fleshner at Princess Margaret in Toronto. It is one of the top ten best cancer hospitals in the world and he is the head of the urology department.

Feel free to e mail me if you want to correspond or ask me any questions. I will help any way I can. I wish you all the very best.

Cheers,

John Ferguson

Hello again, where does the time go. I cannot believe it is 2024. I just turned 76 and I had my surgery on September 28, 2010.

If you have read my story from the start to now, you will see that overall the only real side affect I have had is erectile dysfunction. Unfortunately nothing has really changed.

I still use the penile injections, not that often but it does still work well.

I have no regrets really over the decision I made to have the surgery. I had a very long and satisfying sex life for most of my adult life so living as long as I could was the main priority at the age of 62 when I decided to have prostrate surgery.

As I have said many time in my story the most important decision I made was finding the best surgeon I possibly could to do my surgery.

I know a few men who have had the surgery and they simply go to what ever surgeon their doctor sends them to, they do not research him or look for someone with a very high rating. Unfortunately 3 of the chaps I know did not have great out comes as a result.

Also I know how devastating it is when you get diagnosed. It feels like your world has ended and it is quite easy to get depressed. I know I was for a few weeks and I finally realized that this is one of those things in life that you have no choice but to deal with, and make the best of this that you possibly can.

First do a ton of research to decide what treatment is right for you, some are more invasive than others with different outcomes.

Once you decide, (don't wait long) find the best surgeon you can by searching online, read reviews, forums etc until you find one that sounds exceptionally good and highly rated.

Then contact the surgeon and see if he will take you as a patient. If he will, contact your family doctor and ask him to send your entire file to the surgeon.

From there you will problem have to go for a biopsy. I won't candy coat it, it does hurt like hell but only for a minute or so, they take cores from your prostate to determine how serious the cancer is, you will get a Gleason score (read about this) Mine was 7 3 + 4 4 + 3 is different.

After your surgery the best advice I can give is to try everything, change your eating habits (diet) to eat healthy, lots of lean protein, vegetables, fruit and carbohydrates.

Also be thankful for each and every day! It is a blessing and a postive attitude will make a huge difference in your quality of life and your overall outcome.

Never give up, keep trying things. Stay active in many ways if you are able, anything strength training, walking, swimming, sports etc as long as you possible can. This is one of the top precursors for longevity and health span.

At 76 I go to the gym for weight training 3 times a week for about 90 minutes. I still play ice hockey twice a week and I have 3 rest days where I walk a bit, do grocery shopping, visit friends and I study a foreign language. I truly believe the fitness and exercise regime has added many years to my health span.

As always if you want to chat or have any questions that I can help you with my e mail address is: elevenferguson@yahoo.ca (John Ferguson)

I wish everyone all the best and hang in there till the bitter end.

John's e-mail address is: elevenferguson AT yahoo.ca (replace "AT" with "@")