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Interesting article: Surgery regrets, I want my prostate back

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Posted 4/29/2010 3:47 AM (GMT 0)

Hi All,

Just saw this link on msnbc mens health...   It was an interesting read from the authors perspective... 

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35874966/ns/health-mens_health/

pasayten

P.S.  I am happy that I DO NOT HAVE my cancer filled prostate!

Posted 4/29/2010 11:49 AM (GMT 0)
An enjoyable read with no real surprises. (Just the fact that he did not have relations with his wife 2 days before the surgery. What kind of a monster... How does she sleep nights?)

I wouldn't want my old, rotten prostate back. With a PSA of 23, 7/12 cores hot, and 70% involvement, I figure it was quite rotten and beginning to smell.
If I could have swapped it out and replaced it for a new model I would have in a heart beat. Maybe that will be commonplace 20 years from now.
Jeff
Posted 4/29/2010 12:13 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Pas,

That's a great story, and thanks for the link! No regrets for me either. I liked the author's take on "watchful waiting" where he said, "Wait for what?..... for cancer cells to colonize my spine"? The comment the author made when his urologist was probing his prostate was like a door bell being pushed on Halloween made me spit my coffee. You know how persistent kids can be pushing that door bell.
Posted 4/29/2010 1:43 PM (GMT 0)
As others have indicated, a very good read but with a different ending from what one expects. Also interesting was something I hadn't heard or read before in that cancer that may have spread outside of the lower portions of the gland are more apt to return causing problems. Expected to read that this guy actually felt he had made a mistake only to find out that while having ED problems and a leaker pad for incontinence as his only beefs he feels his decision was the right one.


74 years old / last PSA 12/10/09 6.5 / Biopsy 12/23/09 - 2 of 12 with 30% / 70% - Gleason 3+4=7 / enlarged prostate size of a lime / Henry Ford DiVinci nerve sparing 2/10/10 / - Pathology confirmed Gleason 3+4=7 margins and associated components clear......Five week PSA undetectable - zero pads night and day except when going out socially and then few if any sneeze leaks. ED? Where I was 12/09 or 50 MG Viagra.....Cannot say enough great things about my surgeon Dr. Peabody and the Vatikutti institute.
Posted 4/29/2010 2:28 PM (GMT 0)

Interesting article.

Worried Guy, I didn't have relations with my wife for two months prior to surgery.  Some young idiot doctor at MD Anderson told her that it was "theoretically possible" for her to "catch cancer" from me.

Nothing since either.  After awhile, you just stop thinking about it much.

Zen9

Posted 4/29/2010 5:44 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Zen9 I can relate to your note as my wife wasn't to keen on playing games either. Have to admit it would seem reasonable that fluids passing through or originating from a an organ containing cancer would perhaps pass on some cells although my surgeon assured us it wasn't possible.
Posted 4/29/2010 6:40 PM (GMT 0)

Your wife's body's defense mechanisms would immediately destroy any cancer cells that might conceivably pass from you to her.  They wouldn't have the correct biochemical markers for her body and would be correctly singled out for destruction as "invaders."

Your body doesn't do it because it recognizes the cancerous cells as being your own.

Hope your wife got over her concerns!   smilewinkgrin

Zen9

Posted 4/29/2010 7:04 PM (GMT 0)
Catch the cancer????? Surprised to hear such mishigas from a doctor at an institution with the reputation of MD Andersen. And I bet Dr. Logothetis would be pretty surprised to hear that one of his colleagues gives such advice!
Posted 4/29/2010 9:28 PM (GMT 0)
Good article in that it covers the realities in a pretty straightforward way, without varnishing the truth either way. 

I felt for him on the marriage front.  I was in the same boat (since divorced).  Been dating again but without the blessing of an already established mutually supportive relationship, becoming sexually active is impacted at least as much in the sex organ between the ears as it is below the belt.

Of course, it could be worse.  Much worse.  As I frequently come back here to read the stories of others and remind myself.  Peace and good luck to all here.

Posted 4/29/2010 10:54 PM (GMT 0)
I thought that the risk of tumor at the bottom (apex) had more to do with typical surgical margins in that area as opposed to anything inherently different in that part of the gland. In other words, cancer has no greater or lesser chance of escaping the prostate from the apex on its own accord than from other areas. Someone please correct me if this is wrong.

Sometimes I wish that I was "overtreated". If I truly believed that, then I wouldn't have the dreaded PSA anxiety.

CaPCa
Posted 4/30/2010 12:34 AM (GMT 0)
Zen, my poor friend, that idiot dr. cheated you out of some good pre-treatment sex with bad advice like that. It's hard to believe that he actually said that.
Posted 4/30/2010 2:29 AM (GMT 0)
Purgatory,

I could tell you stories about my stay at that hospital that would make your hair stand up. Well, maybe not your hair, after everything that you have been through, but most people's hair ....

Zen9
Posted 4/30/2010 2:29 AM (GMT 0)
Enjoyed reading the story. We all have gone through it. I'm glad I have a loving and caring wife who is very understanding.
Posted 4/30/2010 10:29 AM (GMT 0)
I miss mine everyday. I miss it even more when I am slap in the face with articles and news reports that say I was wrong in having it removed. But, I like the idea of having no worries about prostate problems of the future.

The good sex. The really good sex. I miss that the most.

My good friend battles an enlarged prostate daily. We take a two mile walk every morning. I can drink several cups of coffee before our walk, with no problems. He can hardly tolerate the tiny amount of water he uses to brush his teeth. Even then sometimes he has to race home for a tiny pee.

Would I have died from prostate cancer if I had done nothing? I just don't know. I'm sure I wanted to live with that unknown.
Posted 4/30/2010 12:00 PM (GMT 0)
Zen,
I'm sure there is a special place reserved for that "Doc" in Prostate Hell.
What a raw deal.
Jeff
Posted 4/30/2010 1:27 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the link - it was worth reading. With my 9 of 12 positives, G 4+4 in most, I didn't find a place for doubt of my DaVinci, and still don't. I don't like the changes it brought, but we all are forced to establish a new "normal".
Posted 4/30/2010 2:10 PM (GMT 0)
Really good article. Thanks for the post. Especially since I have my RALP scheduled for 19 May, the expectations are important to control. Thanks again.

Bill

Posted 4/30/2010 8:55 PM (GMT 0)
i would think it would be better start a PSA at 40 then look at rate of increase and not worry about a single test by itself or what the number is for the most part. That way you would catch the guys who have the really aggressive kind early. If not then these guys don't stand a chance.
Posted 5/1/2010 12:30 PM (GMT 0)
My Dr started talking DaVinci as he gave me my results. Claimed there were no side effects then went on to tell me the side effects of all the other options. Doing nothing wasn't even an option. My DR neighbor practices nephrology and internal medicine. I told him the story he said he was not surprised since that's what my doc specializes in and that's where he makes his money. He told me to get all the results of my tests, scan and cat being done Tuesday and he'll look them over. Together we'll call his urologist friend and have him look everything over then I can make a decision on what is best for me. Told me not to get depressed and if I do give him a call. His parting words "almost every man dies with prostate cancer not from it".
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