Happy about your Prostate Cancer Treatment

I am 3 weeks post my BT.

I was very tired the 1st week and had urinary urgency.

I feel great now.

The only SE I have is about a 50% reduction in my ejaculate, but, that was discussed with my RO and URO

beforehand.

My cat scan follow up is the end of this month, and my 1st PSA test post BT is in November. 

E"Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" +15--Mr WW should be thankful that you are "ramrodding" his treatments.
ME: Extremely satisfied in choosing a treatment that was "right for me" after a rocky start. At the initial consult, the young urologist stated that I was "high risk" and that we needed to schedule a date with Dr--, a name I couldn't pronounce or spell, for open surgery with nerve removal and that she would be there with me; I had just met her! I kept shaking my head no while she described taking larger margins, etc. I finally said no and she then offered me hormone absolution which should keep me going for a few years. When I asked her about radiation she informed me "that we don't do that here, that's done by the RO's in Milwaukee and that I'd have to live there for 9 weeks..Talk about pushy!

I left suddenly never to return and decided to have treatment at my local HMO where I had been paying premiums for 16 years although I had never used them. I drove home from Madison on the back roads since I didn't want to rear end anyone. I'm not an internet person so I read every book at my HMO medical facility and spent days in the physician's library reading journals, etc. I wore a tie for these forays and was never questioned.. I decided to do it right the 1st time with imrt and hormones and did it! Bill

I'm glad I took the route I took, with some 4-3 and some 3-4, nodule on dre, I was advised at Dana Farber in Boston and another surgeon that they would not operate since they thought that with the nodule the cancer had already escaped and would only advise RT with HT. I was given 5 year prognosis.

Fray Marshall at Emory said he could help me with surgery. If you have never heard of him. He and Walsh started together at Brady before he took over at Emory and was considered one of the leading prostate cancer surgeons in the country. He invented a devise that allowed him to perform a RP with a smaller incision, my incision was only 3 inches instead of some who went to the navel.

But to answer the post. He and I fully expected that I would be having salvage RT especially when the path showed 40% gland involvement. But I have been undetectable for 6.5 years, with last psa 0.02. Due to his skill I was fully continent 2 weeks after cath removal. ED, still have to take Cialis when the wife and I want to tickle the ivories. I am completely satisfied with the treatment I received and the decision I made. God is good!

On a sad note, my surgeon passed away from throat cancer 3 years after my surgery.

montee, congratulations on your continued good numbers!

I'm surprised they would make a 5 year prognosis with a G7. That seems pretty pessimistic. Do you know what they based that on?

This disease isn't like a lot of other cancers; it's course seems individually quite unpredictable.

I'm exactly 145 days post op.
It is too close to call, all precincts (body parts/function) have not reported in.

More at 11.

Tud/Jim - you are still our poster boy for seeds, and the original one at that. I am glad the tide of opinion has changed in our 5 years here about seeds, and glad to see just how many men since, have chosen seeds for their primary treatment. There's definitely no longer any stigma or doubts about it as a treatment choice.

Still wished I could have had it, perhaps I would have been spared all that I have endured, and perhaps could have even been "cured" so to speak.

David

great posts, all of them.

Reading through this thread reminded me of how uplifting it was for me to read through Yana when I was first diagnosed.

This is good stuff for anyone who comes here shortly after a diagnosis. Hope at least a few newbies get to benefit for your collective victories and stories of success.

29 months post op and I'm still in the zero club, so I am satisfied with my treatment choice and its results.

 S.E.'s include slight stress incontinence and I'm 80% good in the ED department, but I can pee like a 12 year old!

 It's never "just" prostate cancer.

I agree that this is a great thread. I prefer the term observer to "lurker". Lurker seems derogatory to those newly diagnosed and reading these threads to gather our wealth of experience in this fight.

Hubby is 3 months post brachy and he is very happy with his choice. He had pretty minor side effects. Currently everything feels normal. His first PSA isn't until November at the 6 month mark.

Nice thread - I'll add my positive experiences to the mix...

Diagnosed in April 2013 at age 48: PSA of 5.6 and an abnormal DRE. The biopsy id'd me as a T2b G7 (3+4), PNI+, and my scans were clear.

After weighing the options, I opted for RP, which was performed at Cedars Sinai on July 1st. I also had an inguinal hernia repaired at the same time, the procedure for which was performed by a 2nd surgeon.

The post-op path report confirmed the biopsy findings: pT2bN0M0, lymph nodes and seminal vesicles clear.

At 7 weeks post-op, I am 99% continent, and have no ED. My first post-RP PSA test will take place at the beginning of October.

Both before and after the surgery, I went for pelvic floor rehab sessions, and practiced my kegels faithfully - I just had my last session this past week - a nice milestone.

So...yes, I am very satisfied with my choices and with the outcome - and I am optimistic that I will soon be able to put the whole ordeal behind me.

Some positives: I am now gluten and (nearly) sugar-free, and have gotten down to a weight that I never thought I'd see again - I also reduced my caffiene intake to almost zero, and have increased the amount of fiber I eat. I intend to make these changes permanent.

I also see life a little differently than I did before my diagnosis - I'm committed to enjoying more time with my family, and pursuing activities other than work - and I'll never take my health for granted again.

Only negative at this point...still bothered by some mild pain from the hernia repair, which is taking longer to heal than the RP incisions - but I trust it will heal eventually.

Hope this is helpful to folks who are weighing their options - it is important to consider both the potential positives as well as the negative outcomes - and my experience has thus far been very positive.

Doug

Doug, that's a fantastic post. Indeed, life can be good.

I'm very happy with my treatment. Well.... it all happen SO FAST. Got a call Oct. 1, 2012 of my DX, very aggressive and high volume, started on Bicalutamide 50 mg, daily (Casodex) the same day. Oct. 2, bone scan (cancer from right skull to my toes) and CT, Oct. 3, first double injection of Firmagon (Degarelix) and Xgeva. My PSA has came down very fast and staying very low. Overall, dealing with the SE hasn't been that good, but still I can't complain (could be a lot worse).

Enjoying each and every day and trying to be a blessing to everyone that I come in contact with. I always say: my glass is Full!!

Dave in Bartlett, TN

Over two years after open radical prostate surgery and everything working well. Never had ED or incontinence (very lucky and happy about this). Just had PSA test and reading was 0.01.

Even though I don't contribute much to the forum I am thankful it exists because I come back here often to read and learn - thanks!