HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Decision has been made

Support Forums
>
Prostate Cancer
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 9/21/2017 4:24 PM (GMT 0)
After battling the demons of questioning should I, shouldn't I - if should which treatment -- I have opted to go the surgical route. Surgery is October 2. I have that Gleason 8 in one core, a 7 and a 6 in 2 others. I have found a surgeon at the Cleveland Clinic - a top hospital - who is very experienced in the robotic surgery. I just feel that at the age of 56, the indication that the cancer has been contained to the prostate, the possibility of a permanent cure and the experience of the surgeon gives me the best option -- though I know many here may differ.

Thanks to all for your comments and help. If there are any who have had positive results after surgery in recovery - elimination of this disease, etc - -- Maybe keep the negatives til after the 2nd tongue

Appreciate all

Ron
Posted 9/21/2017 4:27 PM (GMT 0)
Wishing you the best, Ron!
-Norm
Posted 9/21/2017 4:45 PM (GMT 0)
Good luck Ron. Sounds like you've done your research and have a good surgeon. Hoping all goes well for you!
Posted 9/21/2017 4:54 PM (GMT 0)
Now you can get completely prepared both mentally and physically for the surgery. You will be in the best hands. Your process and decision is the only one that counts. That men here and various specialists may offer up alternatives is a positive that helps you in your research and decision making. But, you should only be looking forward and focusing on being in the best condition possible going into the surgery. Don't worry about what any of the rest of us have thought or advised. All I own is myself. Same with you. And you certainly aren't beholding to anyone but your self.

Your choice has served many men very well and we should be confident that your experience will be great. With PCa we have many excellent proven treatment methods. I think this is a blessing and a curse. A blessing for the flexibility to choose and personalize, but a curse in that we often do too much second guessing as to whether what we did was the best. With most other cancers there is often only one course of action to take.

Best wishes and do well
Posted 9/21/2017 4:59 PM (GMT 0)
Ron-
Congratulations on reaching a decision that works for you. I had my surgery on the first Tuesday in October last year. One year later I'm happy with my decision and the outcome. I've had undetectable PSA, great continence, but still working on ED.

I wish you the best of luck.
Posted 9/21/2017 5:00 PM (GMT 0)
It sounds like you've made a well-thought-out decision and decided for the treatment that's best for you. Good luck!
Posted 9/21/2017 5:35 PM (GMT 0)
Are you doing your kegels?
Posted 9/21/2017 5:36 PM (GMT 0)
Congratulations on making a decision.

Now, get it done.

Andrew
Posted 9/21/2017 6:15 PM (GMT 0)

Ron42661 said...
possibility of a permanent cure and the experience of the surgeon gives me the best option -- though I know many here may differ.

Ron

That's true but at this point it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks. What is important is that you are educated about our disease and comfortable with your decision. I wish you the best of luck going forward and hopefully being cured of this.

Jim
Posted 9/21/2017 11:10 PM (GMT 0)
Great for you. May you be well, happy and have a great outcome.
I am still deciding even though I do have surgery scheduled for the 4th of Dec.
Posted 9/21/2017 11:28 PM (GMT 0)
I'm not as concerned over which procedure you have as the quality of your Doctors and the facility. I was at the Cleveland Clinic for a heart problem and the staff and the Clinic are second to none. I am very happy that this is where you are going and I expect a very positive outcome for you. Keep us posted.
Posted 9/22/2017 12:20 AM (GMT 0)
I will. Thank you all for your comments and support
Posted 9/22/2017 12:52 AM (GMT 0)
Congratulations on the decision. Making up your mind regarding treatment option is the first step toward recovery. I'm a Cleveland Clinic surgery alumni myself. You are in good hands.
Posted 9/22/2017 12:57 AM (GMT 0)
Good luck Ron !!!!!! we will all be waiting for more !!!!!!!
Posted 9/22/2017 1:11 AM (GMT 0)
If you're like me and a bunch of others here, you started feeling better as soon as you made your decision. Congrats and make us proud!
Posted 9/22/2017 1:29 AM (GMT 0)
Ron, we'll be thinking of you a week from Monday. Do something enjoyable the weekend before. Eat well, start doing kegals, and make sure to spend plenty of private time with your intimate partner.

Catch you on the other side. (We don't expect you to have your Ipad in the PACU after you wake up. But come back as soon as you're able.)
Posted 9/22/2017 10:46 PM (GMT 0)
Good luck. With confidence in your decision, lots of backup study on options on your part and the wise choice of a great facility with great staff, I expect nothing but a positive outlook for you.
Posted 9/23/2017 3:24 PM (GMT 0)
Ron - Where we may differ is the choices we have individually made. Where we are the same is that each of us made the choice that is/was right for ourselves. You've selected a top-grade solution at a top-rated medical facility. You did your homework and made your own carefully considered decision. You are to be congratulated on that.

And, on a personal level, thanks for sharing your journey with us. You can now relax a bit, having made your choice. Just read up on the things to do now and after surgery. You'll do fine, and we invite you to come on back and keep us posted.
Posted 9/24/2017 1:48 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Ron,

First post for me. I've been reading the forum for a few weeks now and found it helpful.
Maybe we will connect in Cleveland. I am also scheduled for surgery at Cleveland Clinic on October 2 . I'm going "old school" with the open procedure by Dr. Eric Klein.

I feel like I went through much the same decision process as you did. Not thrilled about what is to come but ready to get on with it.
Posted 9/24/2017 2:25 PM (GMT 0)
You will do great!

Bobby Mac
Posted 9/24/2017 2:28 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Ron,

I don't think you will regret your decision. I'm pretty much in the same boat as you. Underwent robotic RP in May, and two months later I felt like my old self again, except my psa was undetectable and my pee now comes out like it's from a firehose, not a leaky faucet.

You can drive yourself nuts with survival statistics and cure rates. The single most important factor is skill of surgeon. If your tumor is contained and you have negative margins, it's likely you'll be cured. Just because it's Gleason 8 doesn't mean they can't cut it all out.

I'm not going to say that the disease has been a blessing for me, but it has had it's silver lining. It has focused me on the more important things in life. I've come to understand that all we ever have is the present moment in time (although I still forget now and then). The past is a memory, and the future is an illusion.

You're going to be fine. You're at one of the world's best facilities. I'm looking forward to hearing in two months that you're fully recovered and your psa is <.01.
Posted 9/25/2017 2:06 AM (GMT 0)

shmittski said...
Hi Ron,

First post for me. I've been reading the forum for a few weeks now and found it helpful.
Maybe we will connect in Cleveland. I am also scheduled for surgery at Cleveland Clinic on October 2 . I'm going "old school" with the open procedure by Dr. Eric Klein.

I feel like I went through much the same decision process as you did. Not thrilled about what is to come but ready to get on with it.

Best of luck to you - Maybe we will connect on that day -- The day we both beat this thing
Posted 9/25/2017 2:10 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you nyc lawyer -- too bad I can't hit a fast forward button to November -- sure the view will be different from the rear view mirror than a crystal ball
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply