New to all this

I didn't know this forum existed. I would have posted long ago. I'm a 60 year old guy, in otherwise good health, whose ride on this roller coaster began last Sept. with a biopsy of Gleason 7, had robotic surgery November 4, released the next day, catheter out at 14 days, continence continues to improve, physical recovery very slow, some aches and pains, but mostly much fatigue and some emotional ups and downs. Pathology report showed Gleason 8 T3a, some breach of capsule but margins negative. Returned to uro/surgeon 1/26 PSA undetectable, and he assured me all my minor aches and pains complaints were very typical of this surgery and at 3-4 months out is where one can really begin to feel physically more like yourself again. I'm working with my primary care doc as well as my uro, both have the same data. My primary care guy's assessment is very optimistic saying that negative margins are a very good and meaningful sign and the undetectable PSA icing on the cake. My uro was much more sobering with discussions of stats of rates of recurrence in the future. He is ordering PSA's every three months, until then just go home, be patient continue to heal, take every three months as they come and if PSA goes up we will pursue other therapies right away.
All this seems very sensible. Unfortunately, I'm a born worrier(runs in the family) I can't quite figure out if I'm getting good news or bad news.
I've scoured the internet over the past few months and find it mostly just clinical, as well as self promoting or downright weird. I know these concerns may seem naive to you veterans on this forum, but I've seen some sage advice on these pages so I would appreciate your thoughts. Do I just try not to worry every day waiting for another shoe to drop. How meaningful are the negative margins and the undetectable PSA 3 months out after surgery? If my PSA were to rise, is that the end of the world as we know it, that things are back with a vengence, or is it more likely I merely move on to other treatments and other wise just keep living a normal life. Can these other treatments be curative or are they just plans B and C, etc.?

I've got a very supportive wife, family and employer, and I'm about a year away from retirement. I guess what I'm really asking is where am I in this continuing adventure and where can I expect to be going. Thanks to all.

ET, first, welcome to HW, glad you found us, if late.

Yes, the Gleason 8 isn't what we/you would want, yes the negative margins are a positive, as is the zero psa so far. Really, the facts are that you can do little beyond your current course. Your doctors have a good plan in place, so I am sorry to say, you're gonna just have to accept that everything that can be done is being done, it appears. You're gonna have to sweat out those 3 months PSA tests. Maybe with each one, you will toughen up some, but the reality is you're gonna have to do them, there's no guarantees of the results, but the process will play out, worrying about it or not. I suggest that you decide that you will take each day and make it THE day, and live like you're gonna be here for another 50 years. You can (and will) worry, but you need to try to minimize it, in relation to the rest of your life. Be/stay active, exercise regularly, choose to do other things, remember the good things in your life, and let the worry go, as much as possible. In the meantime, hang here with us and we'll be glad to share with you...

English Teacher

Glad you found us!  This forum has a lot of members who will jump in and provide all sorts of information and advice.  Also you will find the support excellent.

Glad that you are over your surgery and that your PSA is undetectable.

Everyone has their own road to recovery.  From your posting, it sounds like you are on par for your recovery.  I was told it would take up to a year to feel completely like yourself again and after three months I can say that even though I found the surgery fine and had little pain, I am still not myself -- too tired too easily and still working through this disease in my mind.

Michael gives very good advice above.  I would be the kettle calling the pot black if I did not admit that I too should take his advice.

Keep us posted about your journey.

Skeener 

.

English Teacher,
I neglected to add on the above reply, yes, BE CONCERNED, but do not worry and let it control your life. Abe Lincoln's story above relates to this as well. We don't make light of these things, but we do need to be realistic. Take courage and don't cross the bridge until you have to.
Marc

English Teacher,

I hope you Sieze the Day instead of ceasing it. The guys above are saying it like it is. We are dealt a card hand, we have to play it.

The first line treatment has the highest percentage chance of a cure. If you have salvage radiation next, you have about a 30 to 40 percent chance of cure. The HT is more of a prolonging treatment, but can be effective for nany years.

That being said, you will have to decide how yiu want to live the next 10 to 15 years. You can either Sieze the Day, enjoy life, and throw caution to the wind, or you can worry about things you can't change, be angry, miserable and depressed.

I have chosen to love my wife and family more, smell the roses a little more, take time for things I enjoy, and of course, keep my uro appointments, but without the worry.

Good luck. I think yiu will find this site therapeutic. You will find guys who have a much tougher row to hoe than we do, who have taken life as it comes, thankful for each day, and hoping for a good day tonmorrow.

Goodlife

ET

You have good advise here. Try not to worry too much in reality most of us have thought about and had some fear of PC biting us again. As time moves on we get a bit more confident. The truth be known if you look at post from the past almost all of us have had anxiety waiting for the results of our PSA.

Do keep us posted. We are a bunch of mis-fits and are here for each other in good times and in some not so good time.

Stay well

Jeff T
Cajun Country

Et,
A good mantra is never worry about things you can't control. Your numbers look good and there are only two possible outcomes; you will be fine or you will have a reoccurrance sometime in the future. There is nothing you can do about it. You can only take action once a reoccurrance occurs and then there are many tools you can use.
"Don't worry. Be happy"
JT

Hello English Teacher, good to have you on board. I am a (newbie) too but just want to let you know that you will learn alot from all these guys. Many have been here long years with a lot of experiance of dealing with pc. I learn something new each day by just listening to the chats. It is a tough cookie for any man to swallow but each day I move forward and I don't look back. Each experiance in life teachs us somthing, mine was that what I thought was important is not quite as important as I thought.
I now see how important the little things are and cherish each day. Each day I read how each guy handles the problems of pc and moves on to a new day. Each day the sun comes up and we start the new day. Learn not to waste that day by worrying but learn how to handle the pc. These guys will help you though the day. I too have entered the great (watchful waiting game) we all play and if I get the psa climb I will start somthing different but I will know that we all together on this.
Welcome to the group
Dragonslayer
age 56