Another DaVinci Experience

Due to strong family history, I started getting my PSA tested in my late forties. It sat in the mid 2's for several years, then shot up to 4.7 in August. Retested, same result. Considering family history and the jump, my urologist recommended a biopsy. The result was being diagnosed with PC in September, at age 54... one side only, Gleason 6 (3+3).

I gave a lot of thought to treatment options, mostly looking at surgery and radiation seeding... ended up choosing DaVinci surgery.

My DaVinci surgery was 11/8/07 at the University of Minnesota Fairview hospital, and it went well except for some issue with breathing tubes... I had a bad sore throat for a while, in addition to the usual recovery needs. My doctors and other staff were wonderful, making an experience nobody wants as positive as they could. The surgeons said they thought the nerve sparing and reconstruction had gone well enough to give me good prospects for recovery of continence and potency. They were making no promises though, which is probably appropriate.

My catheter was removed 11/21 (whew) and I got my pathology report that day as well... margins looked good, no signs of spreading to lymph nodes (bigger whew).

I returned to work (desk job) half time the week of 12/3, went back up to full time the following week.

It appears I'm doing all right continence wise... 6 weeks after the surgery I'm using a few pads, but it's mostly precautionary against leaks/dribbles. At home on the weekend I'm transitioning to going without pads, but I don't have the confidence to leave the house without them yet.

I've had less progress on the ED side of things, and my concerns over that issue were the primary reason I was searching the net and discovered this forum. After reading many others' experiences, I can see that it's way too early to be obsessing about it! Hopefully the minor stirrings will increase with time, as the nerves recover from their trauma.

My first PSA check is scheduled for February, hopefully I'll get that undetectable result! My Dad had an open RP in 2001, has been undetectable since.

Happy holidays!

John

TC-LasVegas said...
Hi John and welcome to HealingWell.
You have been wise and on the ball of awareness. That is something we always strive to get the guys to do. Many of us did not get their too early. So for me its awareness that I spread and hopefully never again cancer. But with you I'd be preaching to the choir. Have a safe and peaceful holidays and I wish you luck on the February doctors visit.

Tony

John

marang keru said...

 Were you prescribed and ED-type meds?  If not, and if your doc agrees, it might do the trick.

John

Edit: I checked, and my doctor advised contacting the specialist after a couple of months, which would be in a week or two. It's interesting to see how much variation there is in how early they advise you to pursue drug/other solutions.

Post Edited (jrponalameda) : 12/23/2007 2:15:58 PM (GMT-7)

Just got back from the doctor, and my first post-op PSA came back undetectable.

Between this result and my good pathology, he was willing to estimate a 95% chance that the PSA would never rise again. That's about the way I was looking at it, but it was interesting that he was willing to give a number.

I'm doing well with respect to continence, I've been pad free for several weeks now although there are some activities for which I might still wear one as precaution. The urgency of reaching a restroom is still sometimes higher than it used to be, but continues to improve. Stress incontinence is a concern, but I've pretty much learned to control it unless I'm off guard.

ED progress is a little slower but also good, reasonable results at times even without drugs.

I continue to find this site to be a wonderful resource! Thanks to all for the great information and support!

John 

Welcome, John. My father had prostate cancer too, and had his removed in 1997. As soon as he was diagnosed I immediately got tested and had been doing so every year until I was diagnosed last year. I credit him with saving my life.

Congratulations on your pathology report and good luck with your recovery. And here's to 0 PSAs for the rest of your life.

Jack

I was 64 when I had surgery.

Had DeVinci surgery 10/07 at City of Hope, CA. Prior to surgery was taking Cialis. After surgery was advised to take Viagara everyday for next 12 months. I found that Cialis worked best for me. After surgery when I used Cialis I got about a 40% erection. My ED doctor put me on Trimix Injections and Cialis. Started 2 months after surgery. I inject Trimix(PGE1 8.33mcg/ml, PHENTOLAMINE 0.833mg/ml, PAPVERINE 22.5mg/ml)  2 to 3 times a week. After injection I wait 24 hrs. before taking 20 mg of Cialis then must wait at least 48 hrs. before injection. I use a BD Ultra Fine 1 cc. 30 guage neddle. I started at .05ml and increased .05 mls until I reach the right dose for me which is .20  The injections are painless and work. Get erection in 5 min. last for about 1 hour. Can not get full erection on Cialis yet. Dr. told me when you inject you must get blood to flow back into the syringe before you inject. I found that when I did not get back flow of blood I would not get full erections. Sometimes to get blood flow I had to back needle out just a tiny bit to get blood flow. Must be in the right spot or nothing happens. I almost did not go for the first injection at Dr. office. I have fear of needles. However, once you are shown how to do it right you find that it is not bad at all. I still cannot beleive that there is no pain. I have only been doing this for one month but I am very pleased with the results. You do not have to have sex everytime you inject. The purpose is to get the smooth muscles to react like they did before surgery. Dr. says I may be able to get by with just Cialis in about a year. It can take that long to get the muscles working again. Trimix must be refrigerated but you can buy a little case that holds a cold pack and the Trimix for traveling. I was told that Trimix can be left unrefrigerated for 24 hours if the temp is not above 80 deg. I find that to make it less of an interuptions you can have proper dose in the syringe in your bath room overnight if you put it next to the cool pack wrapped in a wash cloth or in the small storage bag that holds cool pack ,syringes and the Trimix that you can buy from the drug store.

mayzee

I had my De Vinci surgery in Oct. 07 and the only thing that worked is the injections. I am told by my Dr.s that you have to get the blood moving into the Penis as soon as possible or you may loose your ability to get good erection. They all say use it or loose it. I started on the injections two months after the sugery. The Cialis or Viagara, which every works best for you, is being used  in conjuction with the shots to keep blood flow and relax the smooth tissues working. My Dr. told me to try the shots and if I did not like them to go back just to the pills and pump. I am so happy that I tried it. It took me back to the way it use to be before all of my hpertension medication and the prostate surgery. It is unbelieveable what it has done for me. My dr. told me to make sure to get a little bit of blood flow back into the syringe before injecting the Trimix. At first when I did not get the back flow and went ahead and injected I had not result. I found that he was right. I have read that it is not important to get this but my Dr. and my first had experience indicates you must get some back flow of blood to get the proper response. I only say this because I became frustrated when the first few shots I did not get the back flow and hence no response. It takes a little practice to get good at it, but don't give up. Dr. told me that if you don't automatically get a very tiny back flow of blood into the syringe. to just draw back the injector handle of the syringe and also withdraw the needle just a very little bit to get it in the right spot. 95% of time I do not have to do this. Once again, it was a major step for me to do the shots but now it is a non issue. I can not even imagine living the way I did prior to the shots.

Hope this is of help.