Newly dx. weight loss and depression

I have been lurking here for a few weeks and have read most of the threads. I am 63 yo had no symptoms but requested a PSA. It was 3.9 (Had been 1.2 years ago). My Uro did an ultrasound and noticed an irregularity. He suggested a biopsy. It was positive with 5/12 cores positive. Two cores were Gleason(3+3) and 50%. with one core having PNI. The others ranged from 5 to 20%. Two were Gleason (3+4) No other PNI.

I reviewed all of my options and have decided on a robotic radical prostatectomy. I have also had a CT Scan which was clear (except for my reaction to the contrast media). My surgeon feels very positive that the surgery will take care of the disease. Both of my parents died from cancer so I have no qualms about the surgery and it's side effects. Both my wife and I have concurred.

I am posting this because I am having more internal distress about this than I thought I would have. I am a health care provider and I thought that with my family hx this could happen. It's just that this situation is the only thing on my mind and I still have three weeks until the surgery.

After the biopsy, the levaquin really did me in. I lost nearly five pounds in four days. Since then (three weeks), I have lost another three pounds. I know that I have lost my appetite but otherwise I am physically okay.

So now I am a little paranoid about the weight loss and feeling like a hypochondriac. Have any of you had a similar experience?

Southern Comfort

Thanks so much for the reply. I have checked my temperature several times. I have been either below or at normal. Yesterday for my pre surgery clearance with my internist my temperature was 98.5. BTW, never had any blood in my urine after the biopsy. Just a little sore in the butt.

I don't see how your weight loss would be a result of the PCa directly. Probably a result of the stress/anguish.

Hope things turn out okay, no reason to think they won't.

Thanks so much. I guess I have to calm myself down a bit. Easier said than done.

Welcome aboard Scooterdu,

I loss about 10 lbs from dx day to surgery, about 8 weeks. Part of it was diet and exercise, preparing for the surgery, but my appetite wasn't the same either. Welcome to our world of anxiety! It doesn't stop with the surgery either, ex. pathology report, positive margins, ED, Incontinence, follow up visits, PSA test, recurrence, etc.

My doctor was concerned with a rising blood pressure before the surgery and he put me on Xanex. You might ask your doctor about a prescription. In my pre-op, the anesthesiologist made a comment about my blood pressure being elevated. I told him, "If you and I switch places right now, I bet my blood pressure goes down".

BTW I loss another 8 lbs. the week after surgery, I was on a rather bland diet until the catheter was removed. Think of it as a welcomed diet, we can all usually afford to loose a few pounds.

Good luck with your upcoming surgery, you'll be fine.

Bill from Florida

Scooterdu said...
Thanks so much. I guess I have to calm myself down a bit. Easier said than done.

you got that right. It's for me, two years later, it's easy to say calm down. But I do remember the state I was in and how hard that was. The only thing I can really say is that you need to do something good for yourself - some favorite activity, food, drink, something - that makes you feel better and can distract yourself from the problem for a little while and give your mind a break.

I spent a lot of time in my workshop right after DX and a lot of time writing in my blog. It helped a bunch.

Andrew

anxiety... when I was dx with a T3 stage PCA...loss about 5+ lbs during the period of Dx, Biopsy, RALP till recovery of 3 mos. Now I m eating better have recovered about 3 lbs.

I think is quite normal reaction after knowing some turning-points of life.

Anyway...we have to move on.

All the best to your surgery...

I'm not much into JW - blends just aren't me. A good single malt from Islay, yeah, we can go there.

You're at what I call the wall of shock, which some here mis-characterize as denial. It is really something you face, and have to scale to get to the other side. Weight loss, change of attitude, wondering how you got stuck with this diagnosis ... been there, maybe still am there four years later. After years of sleeping with one eye open, it was a different thing.

As our mentor Sonny would tell you, every day is a bonus. Take advantage.

ScooterD,

I just want to add to my post....and I hope this didn't happen but sometimes in tough moments somebody would say to me "be grateful" or people without cancer saying they could walk out the door and get hit by a bus and they don't worry about dying...once a friend who is in his 60's in good health addressed my fears saying "I'm going to live until I die"....

I have been thinking of the courage you have raising your hand at the start of your journey and your honesty about your feelings...after I said be grateful it brought back memories of people trying to say anything to help me, and too many times I made the decision not to let them help.

Please stay connected and active because you are newly diagnosed and have 4 posts and you have already helped someone here..thanks.