Almost forgot, it has been 5 years to the day, that I received the news that I was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Like many if not all here, it's a special day in our lives that I doubt we will ever forget.
For those that don't know the story. Started getting PSA tests as advised by my PCP at age 50. Each year, it kept going up in leaps and bounds. As soon as my dutiful doctor (using the old standards) saw it hit and pass the 4.0 mark, he sent me to the urologist. That was in 2007.
First biopsy, 12 core, came back negative to PC, but lots of PIN, and some HGPIN. He advised waiting a year and see what happens next. There was no evidence of infection, and always had normal DRE's.
Fast forward a year. PSA went from 4.x to 12.3. Huge alarm from my PCP. Back to urologist. Had second 12 core biopsy. No PC, but lots and lots of HGPIN, and he said he saw some suspicious shadows on the left side. Normal DRE again.
I was fed up with the whole process by then, told the uro that I want to wait another year, and see what happens. He strongly argued that he was convinced there was cancer, and he wanted to look at the shadowed areas. Took a lot of convincing on his part (which in hindsight was a blessing), and I agreed.
Six to 8 weeks later, can't remember, had the 3rd biopsy. He only went for 7 cores, right into theses "shadows". And it turned out to be 7 out of 7 positive, with all cores being 40-90% pure, Gleason 7 (4+3), and no staging for whatever reason. And still a normal DRE.
When I got the call, he was having a day full of emergencies, I was scheduled to see him as his last patient at 5. By then, the office had closed and pretty well cleared out. Was taken to a small conference room, and waited and waited. He finally came in, and the look on his face told the whole story. He told me the scoop on the biopsy, handed me a pretty handy book on PC treatment options, and we briefly discussed all the options, he never once pushed for surgery. Said he would reschedule another appointment in a week, and spend all the time we needed.
He had to apologize for leaving early, as he had still another emergency at the hospital to deal with. When I left, no one was left in the building and the lights were off. I got in my car and tried to call my wife, but I broke down and couldn't talk sensibly without crying. This was my 4th strike with a serious cancer, and I didn't know enough at the time to see this coming.
So that is how I came to find out that I had prostate cancer, even the uro originally said there wasn't much chance of me having it, and even if I did, it would only be a tiny amount. He was wrong on all counts.
And thus began my twisted PC journey, 5 years ago this date. In the 2 plus months between dx. and surgery, my PSA continued to shoot up, from the 12.3 to 16.x.
david