First post, about 9 months into this

Hi - I was referred here by a good guy on one of the other PCa forums I frequent. Just thought I'd make myself known. I've thrown together a sig and not sure how it will look yet, so here goes.

I had rising PSA for several years but DRE's negative as was first biopsy. Two years later MRI revealed a small, dense tumor at the right base... biopsy had two cores 100% G8 + two more 40% G7. RP was scheduled for 8 weeks later. Surgery went well. I was told I had seminal vesicle invasion and would require salvage radiation in six months.

Meanwhile, my wife had persistent back pain for several months, which was being treated as a muscle strain or bruised rib. Having learned from my own experience we insisted on an MRI, which revealed a spinal tumor. Long story short, it's a rare form of NHL/DLBCL. Her final chemo and MTX/LP is next week.

At six months I was still going thru 8-10 diapers a day. Most days I use condom cath & leg bag. I'm told I have intrinsic sphincter deficiency and recommended the AMS800. Put on Lupron to keep my PSA down until all THAT is over (and hopefully will not require revision) then hopefully begin IMRT. My RO is a great guy, explains everything thoroughly. I see him again Wed to map out the months ahead. Big fear is AUS fails or PSA takes off.

All this piling up on me in a short time has had an affect on me. I suspect the Lupron may be making me a little moody as well. The hot flashes are tolerable but annoying. No other SE's so far (knock). Big fear there is potential bone loss - known osteopenia, prior injury. There are a few guys on the ACS survivors network forum with the AMS but this is still a big life changing step for me. Admittedly I'm a little scared.

Welcome to Healing. Well Rob. IT sounds like you had a lot to deal with recently. I do hope that your wife is doing well at this point. My view is that we all have fear from time to time, it just comes with PCA. While your surgery went well, it appears you got hit hard by incontinance. Hope that you stick around and keep us posted on your progress and chime in to answer any questions asked by others.
Michael

Welcome. I'm new here also. My PSA level went from 2.5 to 5.6, and my regular doctor referred me to Kaiser Permanente's urologist. Had a 12 sample biopsy and every sample sowed cancer. Every since the biopsy, I've had to use a catheter. They scheduled me for an MRI and bone scan. The bone scan seemed all right. The MRI showed a very enlarged prostate, encroaching into my bladder. Too big for removal, and too big for radiation treatment (internal OR external). So, now I'm on Luprin. I go in on June 2nd for followup MRI hoping to see signifcant shrinkage of that prostate.

I have learned, too late for me, NOT to rely on PSA levels. Get the PSA tests, yes, BUT,also get the digital exam. They would have caught my cancer early had they been doing BOTH tests. After the second MRI we'll go see the doc again to get the results, and talk about what to do then.

birdmove,

Two questions for you: (1) What Gleason scores were given for your 12 positive cores; and

(2) How big was your prostate? That should be on your pathology report, assuming that they did an ultrasound guided biopsy.

The more info you can provide, the more and better suggestions we can offer.

Thanks everyone for the greetings. I have updated my sig and see it does not automatically update on existing posts. I had left out a few things...

I'm 66 and my wife 64. My PSA had been on a slow, steady incline and was 4 in late 2012. Then in early 2014 shot up to 9. The negative tests were deceiving. We were in the process of retiring and moving from Ohio to Florida, so did not have time (or money!) to research and shop around for specialized clinics as some recommend. Things might have gone differently, but then, this was not the only thing on my plate at the time. I've learned to never look back or second guess, and what is done is done.

BTW Lori is doing just fine and has tolerated the RCHOP well. The IT/MTX LP's otoh have not gone well, but that too will end soon. We are looking forward to hopefully clear scans in a couple weeks and an end to these 4X/month all-day excursions to Tampa.

Be seeing you!

Good luck Tony! I'll be just a couple weeks behind you. Activation probably around July 4th, exactly one year after my PCa diagnosis. Hope to see you on the other side!

BTW, I posted a somewhat lengthy tale of my issue with incontinence in another recent thread here last night, because the AUS had been mentioned there:

www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=35&m=3809719&g=3822159#m3822159

and

www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=35&m=3809719&g=3822391#m3822391