I was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer on February 7, 2008. I was seen by my internal med doctor for some other health related and mentioned to my internist about my low testosterone results that I just had. He suggested that we do some blood work and my PSA came back at that visit of 5.97 ng/ml.
I was referred to a urologist and had an appointment with him within 6 weeks. Another PSA was done at that visit and came back as 6.93 ng/ml. A significant rise in just a few weeks. He suggested that I have a biopsy and was scheduled for one a few weeks later. Had the biopsy done. Didn't like the ultrasound probe, but the sampling wasn't bad at all. 12 core samples in all. Was out of the office within 30 minutes. Not to bad.
Went to see the doc a week later and he told me that I did indeed have prostate cancer. My cancer is contained on the right side with Gleason Score 3+4=7 involving 30% of the specimen (1 of 2 cores contained cancer. Gleason score 4 in 10% of the cancer. Another Gleason score 3+3=6 involving 5% of the specimen (1 of the 3 cores contained cancer and Gleason score 3+4=7 involving 10% of the specimen (1 of 3 cores contain cancer. Gleason score pattern 4 comprises 10% of the cancer.
My wife and I discussed all the options and have decided to have the surgery and will have that on April 8, 2008. We decided to go this route as my father passed from lung cancer that spread into his spine and brain. I couldn't see myself living with this inside me even if treated with radiation or any other treatments.
I'm having my good days as well as bad days now. I have a good urologist who I like and trust and he was in agreement with our decision. Now we wait until the surgery date.. Its tough, but we made the decision that we had to make... I'll get back and reply after the surgery. I'm getting strength from reading all the positive messages and now that this site is one that I will keep dear to me.
Thanks for the wonderful site.
Sorry that it took so long for me to post my surgical experience with y'all. Let me go through my last few weeks for ya so you can experience it all.
I was to be at the hospital on April 8 '08 at 0500 for admission for surgery. Admission went smoothly. Went next to the pre-op area for changing into those lovely hospital gowns and leggings and compression stockings. After a few attempts at starting and failing with my IV, they had to get the main anesthesiologist to start it. He mentioned that the colon cleaning does leave a lot of people dehydrated and with veins that they cannot find for IV's. he took one look and placed an IV without difficulty. I visited with my family, saw the surgeon one last time, then the nurse came and put some Versed in my IV line, said it was time to go and I kissed my wife and kids and to the OR I went. I remember going down the hall, to the OR, to the operating table and thats it.
I awoke from surgery in excruciating pain on my right side where one of the incisions was. I told the nurse that I was in a lot of pain, she gave me some morphine to quiet things down for awhile, but I was still in pain. I asked the nurse if I had a PCA pump for morphine and she said that my doc doesnt use one for post op pain. Only Percocets by mouth. (So make sure you check with your provider about what type pain relief you will get after surgery!) I took a few more pills and still was uncomfortable in my bed. This went on for a few hours until I was able to reposition myself in bed, then the pain went down immensly. I was able to rest for awhile and then visit with family. Nothing for dinner that night until the next morning. Sat in a chair and walked a few laps that night. Slow and steady.
Wednesday April 9 '08 Woke in the morning and did a few laps. Was offered liquids for breakfast, had a few sips but my stomach wasnt ready for foods yet. Pain really wasnt an issue for me. Just a dull ache in my belly. As my bowels werent making any noise yet, decided to pass on the liquid lunch and sips of water. Still that night wasnt making any stomach noises. My doc stopped by and said that this was from the anesthesia and sometimes takes a few days for your stomach to wake up from the anesthesia. He said to rest my stomach, and get out walking as this gets the stomach working. Walked a few more laps, visited with wife and kids and to sleep I went. They woke me up that night to check my vitals and my temp was up to 100.3. Had some tylenol, puffed on the lung machine and back to sleep.
Thursday April 10 '08. The doc came around asked how I was doing. He listened to my bowels, pressed on my stomach (still hard from all the gas), but no bowel sounds. Now my stomach seemed to be bigger and firmer and the doc took my off foods except for sips of water to see if this would help. Got a suppository in my butt to help with some gas relief. As I was susposed to go home that day, he decided to keep me on more day to see how things go. Walked, walked, and walked some more but nothing from the suppository.
Friday, April 11 '08 Doc stopped in the am to check on me. Still with no results from the suppository, no gas, no bowel sounds, no appetite. Was still with a fever that night of 99.9. Stomach still big as before. He mentioned that I had an Ileus ( blockage of intestine). I was still kept without foods except water and another suppository was up the butt. This one seemed to work a bit and I did pass some gas. Doc decided to keep my another night and possibly go home on sat morning. So I walked and walked and walked the halls praying that I would have some relief and pass some more gas. Visited with family and friends then to bed.
An important part of today - my doctor came into my room, sat down in a chair and told me that he received my path results and asked if I wanted to hear them. Of course I said yes. He went to tell my that all the cancer was confined to the prostate gland, some slight involvement of that margins, but everything was contained! He told me this and I had big tears in my eyes about the news. I told the doc thanks for the good news and he left. I thanked God, thanked my dad who passed many years ago from lung cancer and took a nap. That was the best news I had heard in a while!
Saturday, April 12 '08 PA came in the morning and asked how I felt, asked if I had passed some gas (which I did but not a lot). He decided that I needed a "reverse enema" which puts some warm liquids into you and then reverses and removes the liquids and some of the gasses in you. Had that done and actually did pass some gas and felt better after. Started me on liquids to see how I felt. he came back after lunch and took out my JP drain. Not really painful at all, but hard to describe the feeling. Said that he would check on me in a few hours to decide if I wanted to go home. Decided I felt ok and was discharged that afternoon at 3:00pm. Felt really good to be home.
Sunday, April 13 - Tues April 15 '08. Pretty uneventful and with some pains that that Percocet took care of. Haven't had any problems with my Foley catheter. Not much irritation at all but was starting to bother me. Had a velcro leg strap that I was able to adjust which leg I wanted to have the Foley on. At night I put it on my left leg and was able to sleep on my side for much of the night. Kept walking outside with the legbag for exercise. Still with a slight appetite but my stomach sounded like it hadn't eaten much since the surgery. Took it slow and ate toasts and the such and drank lots of water to keep the Foley clear.
Wednesday April 16 '08 Went to the doctors office to have the Foley taken out. Brought some Depends underwear to wear after removal. Doc comes in and we chat a bit. He looks at my incisions and says that I'm healing well, the swelling is going down in my stomach and that the bowel sounds were definitley there and to keep eating. He then gets a syringe and deflates the catheter, then pulls it out in a quick motion. Sorta like the JP drain, really didn't hurt, but a hard to describe feeling. If you went through it, you can understand. He told me to drink lots of water to keep my bladder irrigated and to get the pee flowing. He gave me instructions on doing Kegels which I told him I was already doing. Went home, had a bit of dinner and to bed I went.
Thursday April 17 '08. Not much on this day. Didnt have any problems with peeing night before and that day. Was able to go without any problems or leaks. Found it was easier to sit on the pot and pee instead of stand as it was easier for me to control. As the day went on I felt a bit under the weather, had some chills, I took some Tylenol and went to bed. Didn't sleep much that night as I was up and down to the bathroom every 1.5 hours or so. Still had chills, took my temp and it was 100.8. Decided to call the doc in the morning.
Friday April 18 '08. Called the doctor first thing in morning and talked to his nurse. Described the symptoms I was having and she decided for me to come to the office for an urinalysis to see whats going on. I was still having chills, fever and had to pee frequently. My urinalysis showed that I had a Urinary Tract Infection. This explained the frequency, burning, chills and fever. Started me on some antibiotics and told to drink lots of liquids to help with the infection. Let me tell ya, a urinary tract infection really does hurt and burn!!
Thursday April 24 '08. Have been on the antobiotics for 6 days now. I am feeling better now. Not much pains, occasionally where the incisions are. I am drinking liquids like they are going out of style. No activity down below, but its only been 2 weeks since my surgery. Have a follow up appt on May 21 '08 for results of my 1st PSA without a prostate. Hopefully that will be low and life will resume to normal. I cannot really lift anything greater than 5 lbs, so just resting here at home for a few more weeks then back to work I go. Will fill everyone in on my doctors appt and how that all goes.
Thanks for the support!
Scott Anderson Spokane, WA
Later:
Well things are looking up here after my surgery.
I recently went to my urologist for my first PSA after having my surgery. Doctor came into the room and told me that my PSA was 0.03!!!!!!!! Boy, what a relief that was. After taking a minute to thank the Dear Lord and also my father who passed 13 years ago from lung cancer I let out a big sigh and felt the relief!!
The doc was surprised that I was continent and wasn't wearing a pad. He said that after 6 weeks and not wearing one was a good sign. Now all I need to do is work on waking up the sexual side of things down there.
He gave me some Levitra and Viagra to try and to report how these are working. Will post back after the next PSA in august. Feel free to contact me regarding anything since I recently had the surgery. And most of all.. Keep the faith!!!
I initially had surgery done here in Spokane, WA in April 2008. PSA's have been in the 0.04 to 0.02 ranges. Had another 3 month follow up appointment with my urologist and most recent PSA is 0.02.
Still dealing with the ED concerns. Viagra gave me some blue colored vision, but really doesn't seem to work well. Have tried some of the others with same results. Wife and I aren't too worried about the ED, its been only 8 months since the surgery. I am living in 3 month increments now with doctor appointments and blood draws the norm until I get the all clear from the doc. I dont really think about the fact that I am a cancer survivor now.. but when I go to the doc, I do have a moment of apprehension before I hear the results.
Keep the faith all.
Scott Anderson
Spokane, WA USA
I am now two years and a few months out from my surgery. Seems just like yesterday that I was in the hospital having this done.
I had my last six month appointment in March 2010. Reading came back at 0.03. Whew...I was sweating this one for some reason and I am glad that it came back low.
Not really having any problems, no leaking or anything, the only thing is some ED concerns. Have been using Levitra with success; but notice that some arousals without the med...yeah!! I also asked my doc about testosterone replacement, he's not a big fan of it, but I keep pestering him about it. I feel so run down and tired all the time. He was going to a conference in San Francisco to discuss this and other things so hopefully I can get on it!
Keep the faith everyone...sometimes the ray of light in the tunnel isn't the train coming to hit you, but the hand of God coming to guide you thru this!
Scott Anderson
Spokane, WA USA
Another year come and gone. I can't believe that its been over three years since my surgery. Still remember walking around the hospital hallways with my IV, foley catheder all in tow...
As for me; nothing much to report, PSA nice and low at 0.02; no problem with leakage, Levitra doing what its susposed to do... even waking up in the morning with some firmness.. Cant beat that!! Even talked to my doctor about testosterone replacement, will have to get some current bloodwork and see where that all is at. Medications soon!!
Keep the faith everyone...My prayers are with you!
Scott Anderson
Spokane, Washington USA.
Just doing great!!! Returned from the doctors office for my yearly visit. Had the labs drawn for PSA and also testosterone...My doc is one that is a believer of starting people after 3 years of non detectable and I took him up on his offer. PSA still at 0.02, testoserone near 500.. couldnt ask for a better doctors appt!!! I'll see him in a year for another physical with bloodwork at that time!!
Has it been a year already?? Had my blood drawn about 2 weeks ago and saw the doctor last week. Levels staying consistant at 0.01; this is with testosterone replacement!! No problems with peeing, no problems with erections, Doc says "see you in another year"!! Can't ask for anything better than that!!
Keep the faith!!
Scott Anderson
Spokane, WA USA
Well its been about a year and a few extra months since I was seen by my urologist. Had my blood drawn a few days before my appointment.Let me tell you, at least for me, the time between having my blood drawn and my appointment causes me to stress out waiting for the results. Every year I'm in the exam room just waiting for him to come into the room with my results. This year my levels were 0.02 or less, that's as low as the machine can test. Another sigh of relief, quick prayer and out the door with a smile on my face.
Keep the faith everyone, we are all here to help each other.
Scott Anderson
Spokane, WA, USA
Well.. another year has passed since my last testing and entry. My PSA remains undetectable again. I've been on testosterone therapy for the last 1½ years with no effects on my PSA. I'm glad I have a doctor who is in favor of using this. My testosterone level was 102, which is very low before I started, Now about 350. Keep the faith guys, I know what you are going through. I'm 7 years out now from surgery and feels like it was just a few days ago instead of years.
Been many years since i have been on this site, As of today; 11/15/2021 I am still cancer free; God willing, and still plugging along. No side effects, get erections, Everything is working just fine. Feel free to contact me at my e-mail address below.
So I'm updating my profile, Am feeling well overall, was surprised to see my last PSA done in 2023 was .5, taken by surprise. I called and made an appointment with my urology surgeon, he drew another PSA and now 0.88. now waiting on a psma testing to see if cancer has spread to other parts of my body. I'll get the test done, wait until I see him again on 3/22/2024 and go from there. Hope that their isnt any spread to other organs etc. To say that I am shocked would be an understatement.
Well, had my PSMA done and it shows 2 spots near where my seminal vesicles would have been. Discussed with my Urology and sent to radiation oncology for further eval and treatments. my urologist started me on ADT treatments every 3 months right now, luckily Im not having any hot flashes as some guys do. After discussion with the doctor, my wife, and myself, started radiation treatments. Will be going for 5 days a week, for 7 weeks. Right now im 4.5 weeks in to my treatments. Easy peasy, just lay on the table, after proper placement , treatments begin. Im usually out the door in 15 minutes or so. Ran into some wonderful folks also getting radiation treatments for different ailments. We all compare notes, give each other support, which is wonderful. I also looked thru the internet and found a local mens support group that meets on zoom every 2 weeks, which is helpful to ask questions. All in all, Im doing ok.
More later as I get closer to the finish line.
Feel free to reach out to me if needed. Scott414atGmail.com. Replace the at with a @.
Scott Anderson
Spokane, WA
Scott's e-mail address is: scott414 AT gmail.com (replace "AT" with "@")
