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Surgery Date Set, new surgeon, new plan, new direction

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Prostate Cancer
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Posted 8/10/2016 6:03 PM (GMT 0)
http://briantinsley.com/2016/08/10/two-miracles-in-one-day-thanks-and-glory-be-to-god-almighty/

I can't believe what happened to me yesterday with being able to get into see Dr. Porter at Swedish. I wrote about it above and I am scheduled for the RP along with the other special technique to remove they lymph nodes. Dr. Porter had just recently got back from training in Florida with Dr. Patel who's apparently done more of the RP that anyone in the US. I believe Dr. Porter told me he was there to train him in the Lymph node removal process and/or train other surgeons as well. Point being... he's highly acclaimed :) I had asked GOD for a sign and I got it yesterday by a sequence of events that blew my mind. I sure as heck would not call it luck.

Thanks,
Brian:)
Posted 8/10/2016 6:05 PM (GMT 0)
Glad to hear you've got a plan going.

Keep us updated on your progress,
Andrew
Posted 8/10/2016 6:14 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks. I like your blog very much. What skin did you use in WP? Great woodworking stuff! :)
Posted 8/10/2016 6:16 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for looking at my blog. I use the twenty ten theme.

and I do most of that woodwork - In The Shop. ;)

Andrew
Posted 8/10/2016 6:42 PM (GMT 0)
Congratulations! Dr. Patel has been touting a new technique for nerve-sparing where he covers the neurovascular bundles with an amniotic sac. Go figure! Maybe Dr. Porter will do that for you.

- Allen
Posted 8/10/2016 6:49 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Allen, I have to be honest, I was a little taken back that even thought I have got confirmation on the CT/MRI/Bone, Trus Biiopsy and 3T Pelvic MRI, that I am still not out of the woods. Which to be honest, I had this what appears false sense of security that if they take it out, I will be cured. After speaking with Dr. Porter's fellow and then him, he said that he would take out my prostate, most likely save the left side nerve and then have to take out the left never and lymph nodes (through another procedure) during the operation, he said around 4 hours for the entire surgery. And... the most important thing is that another biopsy on the prostate and never/lymph nodes would be the final verdict. So....... I was a bit down and out but kept that to myself, although I did share with my wife. At this point, and I said this to my mom, I AM DONE with reading and watching Youtube videos about other avenues to proceed with and have turned it over to my boss :) to get my through the surgery and hoping for another miracle that it is INFACT not anywhere out. I JUST HOPE it's not. I can't seem to get any number that granted all the other tests are clear, that what % will be the likely hood I will require further treatments? I honestly don't think I am ready to face that yet and want to remain as optimistic as possible for me and my family. Thanks!
Posted 8/10/2016 7:23 PM (GMT 0)
If you want to know the probability that surgery will be successful for you, you can click on the link below, and enter your numbers in the form (called a nomogram). If you need help filling it out, just ask.

/www.mskcc.org/nomograms/prostate/pre-op

Among other things, it tells you the probability that the surgery will be successful (progression-free probability), and the probability that the surgeon will discover other danger signs: non-organ-confined disease, extracapsular extension, lymph node involvement, and seminal vesicle invasion). If those things are found, you will probably have to have radiation soon after your surgery (with increased side effects).

This is all stuff your surgeon should have covered with you. I hope you asked him the questions that I pointed you to, and wrote down the answers. I find that for me, knowledge helps relieve anxiety.

- Allen
Posted 8/10/2016 9:50 PM (GMT 0)
Good luck Brian. Sounds like you know what you want and got a great surgeon to do it. I wish luck with the treatment plan. Take care! -JR
Posted 8/10/2016 9:55 PM (GMT 0)
Wow.. JR, reading what you have been through, you sound like an incredible fighter and what a testimony of all the treatments you have gone through. I appreciate everyone's support. I am so thankful that I have Dr. James Porter as my surgeon and feel like I can't get anyone better. So, it;s really out of my hands and hopefully when I awake and see my wife, brother and mom and dad, I will begin my 3rd chance at life with hopes that we are able to move on and start living again and having the joy of each day. Kind Regards,
Brian
Posted 8/10/2016 10:51 PM (GMT 0)
Best of luck, Brian. We are all in this together, and I am glad to hear that you have a great plan in place to beat this challenge. The fact that you are happy with your surgeon and his plan gives you a real advantage, as many patients just go with the first guy they talked with, while you have done your homework and gotten the surgeon you want. All good!
Posted 8/11/2016 4:29 AM (GMT 0)
Good on ya Tennis23...
Posted 8/11/2016 4:53 AM (GMT 0)
Nice Brian. You have worked hard. What a relief you must feel. You really went through it there for a while. The Lord has blessed you by leading you to the dr you were wanting ,and made that happen in an amazing way . Prayers to you for continued blessings. Stay in touch, Mark
Posted 8/11/2016 5:07 AM (GMT 0)
Brian, Keep being your own advocate. Do your research and you will be in a better position to participate in the medical teams treatment plan. Congrats to you .
Posted 8/11/2016 11:47 AM (GMT 0)
does anyone know the owner email of this site? This is the best site for sharing information regarding specific areas, like prostate cancer I have seen. I would appreciate it if someone has the email. I tried the admin link and it bounced back. Getting close to surgery date, 8/26 at 0740am... :) Dr. Porter at Swedish. I just honestly can't wait to wake up and see my family and start the journey towards a full recovery.
Thanks,
Brian )
Posted 8/12/2016 12:37 AM (GMT 0)
Brian -

What was your reaction to the information on the nomogram?

- Allen
Posted 8/12/2016 3:17 AM (GMT 0)
Well, I did it and what I read seemed to be very positive for me. That's about all I got out of it as I didn't want to read anything negative. However, now I have the term "margin" in my head and not 100% what that actually means and that they won't know until the operate on me to "see the margins?" Thanks!
Posted 8/12/2016 4:19 AM (GMT 0)
Brian-

I gave you that link because you wrote "I can't seem to get any number that granted all the other tests are clear, that what % will be the likely hood I will require further treatments?" As you probably saw before you turned away, that % is high. That's why your kind of PC is called "high risk."

I don't think avoidance is good for anybody. Acknowledging what the risks are, and how all this is affecting you, will help you deal with what you are signing up for much better than sticking your head in the sand. I believe it is better to go into this with your eyes wide open instead of shut -- that's what helped me deal with the anxiety I was feeling.

- Allen
Posted 8/12/2016 1:37 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Allen.... Luckily, I have one of the best surgeons doing the operation. However you are right that you won't know until the pathology report is done after everything comes out to be reviewed. And as you said, then you can form the next plan of action should it be required. My hope is that Dr. Porter will be able to get the prostate, save the left nerves and with the lymph node removal as a precautionary measure, well, actually from what I am reading Gleason 7 and above it's protocol to remove them. So.. I can only hope this is part of the plan.

Thanks,
Brian :)
Posted 8/12/2016 3:53 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Brian. Good to see you have selected your treatment. That really is the toughest part because of all the unknowns.

Interestingly, I also had a very undeniable GOD moment shortly after diagnosis when I was in the total fog as well.

A doctor's office called and left a message on my office phone number, which is totally unknown to the outside world, and mixed in with 2,500 other totally unknown numbers from my work location. Also, I had never heard of this Uro, and he has zero affiliation with either my GP or DX Uro, so it was a totally unexpected call. The other thing about the message was that it wasn't for me. It was for some guy I never heard of. What it did do for me was have me start looking into options, which had me ask my Uro for a referral to Sunnybrook, which inevitably led me to Dr Morton and Triple Play HDRBRT/EBRT/ADT instead of what the Dx Uro wanted me to do. (RP/ADT/EBRT).

As was expected anytime there is Divine Intervention, my treatments went very well thus far, with SE's I can only describe as a "Cheaters Path" considering I have weathered the storm very well with only 3 days off work around the HDRBRT and what are in my opinion, mild side effects. I am very grateful!!!!

Good luck on your journey Brother and I hope you keep on getting those signs!

 

Posted 8/12/2016 4:54 PM (GMT 0)
Synchronicity...a phenemonon...first noted by CG Jung...the word itself was coined by him...
What is the meaning of life?...to give life meaning!...Synchronicity affords one mechanism to do that...there are others...at its most basic level..to me... it simply shows the connection between everything.. I have seen it in my life for over 50 years...it always surprises me...yet...as every thing else it has its negative side.. " evil mixes truth with lies" Father Merrin...The Exorcist... Ah yes...a tricky existence to navigate...especially...alone...but navigate it we must...choose with wisdom....
Posted 8/12/2016 5:24 PM (GMT 0)
TruDat. In every lie is a little truth.

when you can snatch the pebble from my hand.........
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