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Went back to urol. doc at VA in Nevada

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Posted 1/27/2011 12:49 PM (GMT 0)
Hi,

I saw the same urol doc on Monday. I talk to his assistant first and tell her I have some soreness and cramping in my rectum and testicles and haven't felt right since my 11/24/10 prostate biopsy and my PSA has doubled as of 1/17/11 (5.6 to 10.96) and I'm alarmed and don't know what treatment to do.

Then I see the doctor and he is looking irrritated like my previous appointment. I start by asking him how he is... twice... and he says ok the second time. Then I say, I imagine you want me to tell you my treatment choice, but first I have a couple of questions. His immediate response is to let his chin hit his chest in disgust as if I have ruined his day once again.

I then tell him I was going to do the wait and monitor approach but my PSA has doubled since my biopsy and this gets his attention. The fact that he doesn't know this already know this bothers me, as I told his assistant 15 to 20 minutes earlier. He asks me as of when and I tell him I found out PSA doubled the week prior. His response is he doesn't know why it doubled. Yeah, kind of knew that, I did.

I ask if there's any chance of error on the test(s) and he offers to let me have another blood test that day. My PSA is now at 11.6 I find out yesterday. Apparently my gland is cooking up the antibodies pretty good.

So, he offered an RP option in our December consult but he can't answer any questions about it on 1/24, like what kind of surgery or if they can do nerve sparing, so I'm off to San Diego from Vegas on 1/31 for a surgery consult there.

I guess this Dr. is pretty overwhelmed, busy and maybe needs some serious time off. I really hope the San Diego experience is somehow better. But now I'm worried that my rising PSA is diminishing my chances of encapsulation and reducing my treatment options.

Michael W

Stage t2b, Gleason 3+3=6, 3 (left lobe cores) of 12 total cores adenocarcinoma - Weight=56.5 grams. Verified with second pathology opinion.

Posted 1/27/2011 1:17 PM (GMT 0)
Michael , sorry you are caught in the gears of the machine. Did you get to discuss starting a routine of anitbiotics while you wait for your San Diego consult? If not, that's what I would recommend getting started on. That is the normal first action to take when you have fast rising psa. Maybe your Gp can prescribe you some Cipro, the drug of choice of most doctors for prostatitis.
Posted 1/28/2011 12:03 AM (GMT 0)
I'm in San Diego - I'm not sure if you're looking for a urologist and a surgeon, or both.  I'd be happy to provide the name and full-hearted recommendation of the surgeon who did the DaVinci surgery on me. Click on my profile and my email address appears.

The surgeon has done 500 manual surgeries and 1,500 Davinci. 

Posted 1/28/2011 11:55 AM (GMT 0)
James C,

Thanks for your response. I had no idea that antibiotics might help me. I am going to San Diego VA urologist on 1/31 and will ask about it. I am prescribed and am taking flomax, but I don't know if it's the right med for me and the only urinary symptoms I have is weak stream, urgency and sometimes frequency.

I can't remember if I told you, but I went through a lovely 4 day stay in the hospital on an IV antibiotic drip and two weeks of pills for a UTI after my 11/24/10 biopsy. So, that's almost 3 weeks of antibiotics through 12/15/10. I had my urine tested in Dec. and was told I had no infection, but it stills smells much stronger that before the biopsy.

A health supplement friend told me about tetracycline stopping the spread of cancer and I asked the urol doc about it, but this idea was dismissed immediately. Plus, I don't really hold a lot faith in it either. But to treat rising PSA? I don't remember reading this in the books recommended to me.

What about antibiotic tolerence build up issues?

Thanks again,

Michael W

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