Dont really know where to begin. Two days ago my Life fell apart.. I have been diagnosed with PC gleason 7. Thats all I know so far. Have been reading the boards and I guess now its time to join the club. History > 58 year old male. Have had fairly healthy life till last two years. 3 Yrs ago while being tested for thyroid conditioin ( positive hypothyroidism ) My PSA was 5 doctor did a digital exam and said didnt detecte any abnormalities. Recommend to have PSA tested on regular basis with thyroid. Only had 3 PSA since then.
2nd one was still a round 5 2 years ago. 3rd one part of my plight... about 8 months ago started experiencing difficult urinating, dribble, off on weak stream etc. Doctor refered me to a urologist. with 3d PSA 6. Urogolist did a rectal biopsy. Said she could not feel any abnormalities with digital exam executed biopsy with 12 needles. Needless to say Tonto didnt like that :)
Two days ago went back for results. Dr informed me I was positive for PC and a gleason scale of 7. Told me tumor was right side and intermeidiate agressive.level. dont know stage or other things I see you all discussing. So am ignorant of the jargon. A major concern the doctor has is I had a Heart attack a year ago and a stint placed in left side. I sort of let my health slip after that gained wait and faild to quit smoking ( 2pks Per Day 12 + years) and said surgery was probably the best route to go... I have to return in a couple of more days to be evaluated on cardiology to see if i can survive or handle a major operation. Will probably have to do a stress test and a few other tests. Im scheduled in two weeks to discuss treatment options. If all is well surgery is schedule for jan 16, 2007.... Guys im scared crapless of this beast... especially after a recent heart attack etc. Im not totaly afraid of death but not ready to go either. Edith it the big un :) Im so lost at present that I dont even know what to ask. From what ive read so far doesnt look lke a pleasant trip ahead... Catheter omg wrong way up the one way street. I guess im looking for maybe some of you that have had complicative health issues along with PC and how it went for you.... I feel the surgery is best route as I want it all done and if possible over with too. But so many options. Robotic maybe but since VA will be doing the surgery not sure if they offer that option. Will have to find out on next appointment. Any other that have had VA do thier surgery PLEASE let me know how it went. Im a little nervous of VA doing it here as it is linked with a learning hospigal in san antonio tx. Not sure i want a 25 year old resident cutting around tonto...
any support help or just chatter would be appreciated... god bless us all

Yeah, I was sleepless for a while after getting my diagnosis, also. I remember the feeling, just like it was yesterday.

I ended up having surgery about 20 months ago, and so far, I appear to be cancer free. Other folks on this board have had success with conformal radiation, such as proton therapy. I'd recommend reading Dr. Patrick Walsh's Guide to Surviving Prostate Cancer. It helped me a lot. My best advice is to find a surgeon or a radiation clinic that has a documented record, among hundreds of patients, for success in cancer control while minimizing side effects. I've heard that there are some very good urological surgeons in the VA system, but I don't know too much about what they will cover for the various radiation approaches. If you have some money to spend, I would consider going outside of the VA if you can't find an excellent provider within the system. I agree with you, you don't want a beginner doing the treatment. Ask your doctor the hard questions listed in Walsh's book. Get several opinions, You are in charge of selecting the doctor, and if you can choose anyone in the VA system, choose the best you can find.

My husband came home from the doctor after having been diagnosed with PC and said " I don't want to do this." He had a bit of a tough time, but he got through it, and you can too. First of all, you are on the right path by trying to find information. All Sevens gave you good advice in the book to read. My advice is to get someone to go with you to your doctor's appointments. Have a list of your questions ready to take with you, and have your friend write down the answers. Keep track of your numbers, ie: PSA. It is a huge amount of info all at once, and your fears tend to cloud the visits. I went with my husband to each appointment, and he just had his two year check up and I went then too, but probably won't go next time. Ask lots of questions on this board too. good luck to you.

Sorry you've joined the fraternity of PC, but all is not lost. Many good treatments available and agree that Dr. Walsh's book essential to informing yourself. Something you may not want to hear - quit smoking, exercise, and learn to do Kegels. Besides surviving, you need to prepare yourself and your spouse for possible quality of life changes - incontinence and impotence.

After you read Dr. Walsh's book, you'll have a better idea of what you're up against, the treatment alternatives, and the possible outcomes. Also, use this board to get answers that aren't in the books. We're all here for you.

Best of luck.

Hi Sleepless - Yes, you have had quite a shock, but believe me you are not alone AND you have a future - my psa count was 795 gleason 9 and no other option but for harmone therapy. I had a second psa test three months later and my reading was 1244. But my last reading two weeks ago was down to 20 and I am confident of single figures next time. My prognosis is 6 months to 10 years with a 2 year mean average - I have beaten the 6 months, I will beat the 2 years and my target is now the 10 year mark. My cancer is inoperable at present, the mets are all over my skeleton, but I am still confident that a cure will be found within my prognosis term and this is the attitude you need to take on board.
Bear this in mind - lots of men with pc die from something other than pc - so the odds are on your side. Stay positive and read the book - it will get you through it. Also take along your wife as stated earlier - she will hear 50% more of what is said than you will.
AND as I was advised on this board myself - keep smelling the roses.:wave:

Thanks Aitchee for some feed back from some one else that may not have had the opportunity to get teh " standard treaatments" So glad your doing well. It encourage me to hear that. I hope in 10 years we can shake hands and laugh about all this.

Ty Wfrank for recommending the book by walsh ... we are going to pick it up tomorrow.... and thanks for respodning to my plee.

Ty liane for responding to me. My wife is holding me down and encuraging me to go forward...

you all have helped me sit back a second and look at it from a different pont than oh no im dying outlook

i guess the first few days are always the emotional side. Ive felt sad, hopless,
deprressed, angry and furstrated.

Finally im starting to look at this and say to myself nothing can prevent what has happend to me now so what do i do next

Feeling much better today than on original post day... People like you and my wife will be what gets me over the hump.. Not making any rash decisioins till my next meeting as then i will have more information towork with from the doctors and also know if i can have surgery and if not what may be available for me....

have already thought any decision i make right now will be wrong so wait till im forced to decide and do the research.

god bless you all and thank you wonderful people for being here for me...

oh a couple of things i forgot.. 1. aitchee my wife is english from Chesterfield derbyshire. She says hello

2. wfrank my wife and I have already discussed the after affects of impotance and incontinence and her only comment was What sex life .
as were past the child stage i guess we wil survive that part ... :)

3. Liane i will take my wife with me on the next one and have alreasy started a list of questions... some i will not ask as they came in the moment of panic.
:)

Hi Sleepless -(hopefully now fully rested) glad to hear that you now have a much more positive mind - they can treat you however you wish, but without this positive attitude you will find it much harder. Hello to your good Lady, and tell her the crooked spire is still there.
Chin up and all that -(She will explain that to you)

Clayduport,
One of my church members had the surgery at the hospital at Lackland Airforce base (Wilford Hall?) about 7 years ago, with one nerve spared, and he speaks highly of the doctors and staff there, so I think you're in good hands with the VA. My urologist in New Braunfels, TX, apparently did many surgeries at a VA hospital when he was learning, and he's an excellent surgeon. Good luck as you make the decisions.
doj

Thanks to all for advising me and the words of encourgemant. update:
Today was to be expected I guess, I sort of lost it some. I guess times of aprehension and feeling sorry for ones self happen in times like this. I got the book by dr. Walsh... have found a few good things in it about the proceedurse etc.. Most is still greek to me... The doctor has not given me enough informaion to have a clue as to where I am.. I think that is what is bothering me more than anything right now. Im going to call or go to the hospital and ask them for more info. I think I need a lot more information then the you have a gleason 7 scale. Would like to know my tc and stage too if possible... I dont even know if im 3+4 or 4+3 and so far no more from them.
If this is all they are going to give me to make a MAJOR decison then I may mortgage the house and find a good civilian doctor... DOJ if your reading this and dont mind would you tell me who the dr in new braunfes is... It only a hour a way and I think i would like a second opinion outside the VA system.

I dont like the idea of mortgaging the house as it and my land is paid for and if all fails my wife will have a roof over her head.
sorry if I seem negative tonight i think after I talk to the VA im going to take a day or so and not think about it and go do somting crazy like fishing :)
Maybe a day away will do me some good... Dont worry i wont jump out of the boat or anything :)

Later my freinds and god bless you alll THANKS !!!!!

Clayduport,

If you've just recently done a biopsy, you've got some time to do a little fishing for fun, and do some fishing for a doctor. If you are tending toward surgery, I'd talk to several doctors, and include the questions listed in Walsh's section on selecting a surgeon. I've heard through a patient grapevine that Raoul R. Salup is a good doctor at the James A. Haley VA in Florida, and I'm sure there are other ones. Maybe Salup's office could refer you to a few in your area. I suggest you make a few appointments and start interviewing some doctors.

In my opinion, a good urological surgeon is one that who tracks his or her results, and has:
a) done over 500 successful operations, with hundreds of them being nerve-sparing
b) excellent record of achieving negative surgical margins (this is explained in Walsh's book).
c) at least a 90% record of continence recovery
d) at least a 70% record of natural potency recovery for double nerve sparing.
e) at least a 50% record of natural potency recovery for single nerve sparing.
f) a good record of doing follow-up work for cancer control and minimizing side effects.

Don't get hung up over robotic or non-robotic, it's the long term results that count.

You'll get through this. After you get several opinions, the choice will become more obvious.

clayduport,

My urologist is Dr. Mansel Harris in New Braunfels. As I said, I was quite pleased with him. He might could give you a referral closer to your home in Poteet if you feel you'd rather not make the drive.
doj

Hi all, Just to let you know im still here... i got my results and found out im for sure a gleason 7 with 4/3 so i guess its not great but could be a lot worse. Last visit was sort of a mess.. I think im over concerened about my surgical risks ..I had a heart attack a year ago and and real ( to be straight ) Scared of the surgery but do feal it is the best way to go... Very concerend about the first week or so after surgery as i will have moderate risk of blood clots possibly causing stroke or new heart attack.. . Any other heart attack survivors input would help. I am real concerned.. My mind plays all the worse case scenerios so getting very nervous.. I know i sound like a kid with this but im really scared crapless... I want the cancer out ... but guess im getting depressed.. i may have gotten too much info if that can happen.. regardless i want you all to know i appreciate all your help when i was first diagnosed. I think the most fear im feeling right now other than the surgical risk itself is the recovery period... I dont like the thought of the catheter but know it is part of the proceedure.... and will get past it... you all did and so can i
any way please keep me in your prayers and kick my butt af few times to get my head clear....
god bless you all

Lots of great info/advice in these posts. My brief 2 cents worth: I was 7.1 PSA, Gleason 6 back in March. Surgery went very well, PSA undetectable, the normal side effects getting better. Great feeling to be cancer-free so far. I had the same concern with the catheter as you. Uncomfortable but not that bad. I've heard of great results from radiation/seeds etc. You're doing the right thing gathering info., as far as having too much, well maybe there's something to that but I'd rather have too much than not enough. Learn what you can, make your decision and stick to it. I found 2nd guessing can be very stressful. Keep us posted, God Bless. Oh, I was stationed at Bergstrom AFB (Austin) in the early 70's, you near there?

I live just south of san antonio so not far from bregstrom... Thanks for your response... ill get past it just got the pre op blues lol.
in some ways i wish i could just get it over with. the suspense is the biggest danger i face i think. God bless you and thanks for your service to our country. Im a ex vet retired too but still appreciate all the others that took the plunge...

Do you have any other options than VA - do you have any other insurance? Since you are in Texas MD Anderson has proton therapy available and that would certainly be easier on your body with the heart attack background and also the side effects are minimal.

Best of luck,
Major

Hi Sparky, Thanks for the reply. I dont have insurance that will be enough to cover it as after my heart attack my insurance checked out on me. At least they paid first :) I could finance or sell some of my land but too greedy and dont want more debt :) That is one reason I choose surgery as it probabably a little more risky for me but one way or the other it is over. I ve just been going through the old pre op blues and have had the old mind playing tricks on me.. But I do appreciate all the replies from all of you...
God Bless you all and MERRY CHRISTMAS....