I was having a physical at age 48 and complained that peeing wasn't what it used to be. The young woman nurse practitioner standing in for my doctor in an embarrassed state did a DRE (Digital Rectal Examination). She rushed and didn't discover that my prostate was very enlarged. She did order a PSA test which came back as 8.4 ng/ml, so I was sent to an urologist.

He said I had a prostate three times the normal size. Put me on antibiotic then retested. It went up to 8.6 ng/ml. Did a biopsy with negative results.

Six months later, a follow up visit revealed more difficulty urinating and a PSA of 13.4 ng/ml. He put me on Flomax which helped peeing. I don't understand why he waited so long before another biopsy, eleven months after the first and five months after the rise to 13.4 ng/ml but the result was positive. I wanted more information and opinions so went with a surgeon at Mass General that has been operating for twenty two years with this procedure. Note I also got an opinion from a top radiation oncologist at Mass General. He ordered more tests and thought I was best served with the surgery. He said I would probably pee much better as well.

I had the surgery six weeks after the positive biopsy. I was reluctant to risk my sex life but with three young children, all indications of the best chance of long survival were with surgery. Though my PSA was on the high side, all indications were that it had not spread. I had CAT scan, bone scan and an MRI.

I'm 15 months out with no detectable PSA.

It is more than 3-1/2 years since my radical Prostatectomy. I'm due for another PSA test but my January reading was still undetectable. My doctor told me that the January reading was far more important than the previous one!

My personal life has changed quite a bit since my surgery. I am no longer married. I was divorced September 2007. I feel very well and still have ED issues but am glad I had the "gold card" treatment. I recommend it to anyone young, healthy and expecting to otherwise have many good years ahead.

My story remains as I had last updated it. I continue to have a zero or undetectable PSA. The last one was two months ago in August 2009. I am fully continent. In fact, urinating is even better that the first years after my surgery because I can go for quite long periods between bathroom stops. I easily go through the night. I have not a single drop ever leak out except at the urinal.

ED is the only long lasting side effect from the surgery. At five years out THIS week, I can get an erection that doesn't seem to last long. I am quite committed to using Viagra for the rest of my life. Spontaneity is a little difficult as I need at least two hours for the Viagra to kick in. Once taken, it seems to have a long lasting effect. Probably 18 or more hours later, I can get a second round.

As updating before, please do not hesitate to contact me via email if anyone has any specific questions.

Life is busy being busy with life. My involvement with prostate cancer is quite minimal since I seem to be cancer free since my surgery in October 2004. I just had a recent PSA that was again zero. I have my yearly check up next week and hope/expect to remain clear.

ED is an ongoing issue but is relieved with the use of medicine.

Hello,

I just had my yearly with Dr. McGovern at Mass General. I am doing great. Zero PSA and he says there is no evidence of any tumors detectable from the DRE. My very slight ED is better using Viagra but I can get by without it. I have no incontinence issues. Never did have any. I do have what seems to be a smaller bladder capacity and still need to go frequently. It could be nerve response, but I get intense urges when I need to go. Other than that, I am doing great and would recommend sugery if one had the same circumstances as me.

Peter

Nothing new to report from last time. My PSA is still zero and the result of my yearly check-up with Dr. McGovern (MGH) is that I am clear of cancer. This is my ninth year since my RP. I am alive and healthy. I believe in the PSA. I feel it has saved my life despite what the insurance companies and their lobbyists want you to believe. Before my cancer was detected, my PSA was increasing by a huge amount and I was probably destined to lose the battle if it had not been discovered at an early stage from the PSA screening.

In my tenth year since my RP. My health is fine (just ten years older!). My bladder either doesn't hold much or the nerves send a signal too early so I go frequently. This is not a new side effect but I don't think I mentioned it before. This is not a problem. I am happy that I made the decision to have RP by a top surgeon. I could in all likelihood, be six feet under by now. I am still here for my kids and my doctor said I will be here for a long time.

It has been 10 years and ten months since my surgery. My health overall is fine. I still need to urinate frequently and my ED is the same. I don't exactly need Viagra but it helps sustain the desired effect. As I might have mentioned several updates ago, my doctor says I will not die from prostate cancer but something else. I am certain that since I developed prostate cancer young, got early detection from the PSA and subsequent biopsy, my life has been saved. There is a lot of medical media frenzy about the over-treatment of prostate cancer resulting from more early detections from PSA tests. I think the discussion should emphasize more the ages of the individuals. Putting it more simply, the younger your age of developing prostate cancer and detection, the more likely treatments would save your life. Older gents may suffer more side effects than actual life saving consequences. Please contact me if I can offer any support.

I am still very healthy and cancer free. I have stopped getting yearly check ups from my surgeon. It is almost the 12th anniversary of my surgery. My PSA is still zero. I think I would have passed away by now had I not had my surgery when I did. My PSA was on a rapid rising slope prior to my surgery. I would have undoubtedly been a victim of this horrible disease by now. Probably several extra years have already been added and likely many more thanks to Dr. Francis McGovern of Mass General Hospital in Boston and to modern medicine.

I am truly a very lucky and very blessed man. I am now 13 years out from my diagnosis and treatment (surgery). I won't repeat all of the above as nothing has changed. My PSA is still zero. I recenly did the Zero Prostate Cancer Walk in Boston. I met some very interesting people and supporters. I get chills every time I learn about another man either passing or diagnosed. I am happy to be here for my growing children and enjoying my life.

I am starting to sound like a broken record. All of my previous updates remain the same. Undetectable PSA and same ED with successful use of sildenifil. If anyone needs advice with my successful treatment, please contact me.

I am doing the same as in previous years. Thanks to early detection, modern medicine and having the "gold card" performed by a leading surgeon, I continue to be cancer free. I am very appreciative of the people who diagnosed and treated me. I am a lucky one. I know the surgery has in recent years been considered overkill and unnecessary. I take issue with that. I was 49 years old when it was detected and had surgery at age 50. I have lost three friends from prostate cancer. I would be long gone had I not had the treatment when I did.

Peter

It has been almost 18 years since my radical prostatectomy! My previous updates would still stand today. Most important, I have not had a reoccurance of cancer. I have ED to a minor extent which is easily dealt with using Viagra. My pee capacity is the same and I find that I don't have a huge amount when I am urged to go to the bathroom. I keep fit and excercise 3-4 times per week. I also go on easy hikes. I'll be 68 in a few weeks. I believe I would have passed a decade ago or earlier had I not had the proceedure. Key is early detection and appropriate action. I have lost 4 friends to prostate cancer. None had early detection.

I turned 69 this past July. I am now 19 years out since my radical prostatectomy. Please read my previous updates for a more complete picture. I am so glad I had the surgery to end my cancer. I know it is possible that the surgery is not 100% for all individuals but it seemed to be 100% in my case. Several reasons for this are one, early detection and two, a top surgeon performed the surgery. I am glad to be living in a world of so many medical wonders and constant improvements. You will read above that I had met with other cancer specialists and chose the path that was best suited to me. I would highly recommend that an indiviual that has had a recent diagnosis of prostate cancer see more than one specialist and get thorough tests to get a clear picture of where they are in the spectrum of developmental stages of the disease. From this, read all you can from reliable sources and chose a path of treatment that suites your expectations to survice and recover.

I am not a doctor but it appears to me the younger you are at diagnosis, the more likely the disease will shorten your life. In addition to friends and relatives that have passed away from this disease, I also know many older ones that have not been encumbered much at all from it. Conclusion here is that your age and current physical shape needs to be strongly taken into account for your course of response and treatment.

20 YEAR SURVIVOR

I am two weeks away from the 20 year anniversary of my radical protatectomy! My side effects described many years above are unchanged as would be expected. Despite dealing with ED and somewhat frequent peeing, I am so glad I had the surgery. If you have early detection and the doctors tests indicate the cancer has not spread outside your prostate, surgery is the way to go. The younger you are, the more urgent my suggestion.

Peter's e-mail address is: peter AT cassidybros.com (replace "AT" with "@")