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Newly diagnosed 47 Year old...

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Posted 10/16/2018 1:27 AM (GMT 0)
"I am a healthy, fairly muscular guy and I am so worried that with testosterone dropping, that I'll become weaker and frail. That's my biggest fear."

really funny about what we worry about. my fears were 1) death, 2) incontinence, 3) untreatable ED. your URO has planted the seed that "young men should have surgery" but as a surgeon he probably tells old guys the same thing.

look at the treatment I went through. I never stopped lifting even when my testosterone level was at 6 -- it's over 600 normally. i'm 63 and I still weight train. more importantly i'm still alive, never once been incontinent and can achieve a very usable erection with the aid of Cialis.

our numbers are similar, BTW. good luck to you, Man!
Posted 12/28/2018 8:24 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Everyone, a mostly good update.

I had Davinci Surgery on December 14th. The surgery went well.

The pathology report showed some cancer that broke through the margin towards the left nerve bundle (about 3 mm). The Doctor said he removed about 50% of that bundle, so there is a good chance he got anything that "escaped." He said there is about a 15% chance that there is still cancer there.

Will take blood test at 6 weeks and 3 months to start, if PSA is not zero, he recommends targeted radiation. Even if it is zero, he said I could choose to do radiation as a precation? Thoughts?

The great news is, I was out of pads with no leakage after 12 days. No erections yet smile
Posted 12/28/2018 9:01 PM (GMT 0)
Jason, a great report for 2 weeks post RALP. Your first PSA (6 weeks) will show the downward trend, and the probable end point. At 3 months, that will be determinitive. As far as adjunct radiation therapy--there are varied opinions on it. It's sort of a 'one the one hand, on the other hand' situation.

On the one hand, starting promptly--say after the 3 month PSA--has a better chance of stopping things where they might be headed and increasing your odds for cure. On the other hand, waiting for a PSA trend--which can take several years to develop--decreases the cure chance BUT increases the time before worse side effects show up.

You might consult a second doc about it. But, certainly, don't start the ART until you have some more recovery from the surgery. Waiting for the tissues to heal first has definite long term benefits.
Posted 12/28/2018 9:30 PM (GMT 0)
Depends on how credible you think your surgeon’s prediction that he got all the cancer is. If before your first post-surgery PSA he puts the likelihood of cure at 85%, surely an undetectable PSA at 6 wk and 3 mo would raise it above 90%, as some of the no-cure set would be detectable by then. If there’s really only a 1-in-10 chance your PCa will recur, why put yourself through adjuvant RT?Myself, I’m skeptical of these cure rates that surgeons like to cite when there’s been EPE and PNI. If your post-RP pathology report upgraded your 3+3 and 3+4 to some predominant 4, or 4 at the margin, ART might be worth it. Maybe a forum member who tracks studies better than I do can point you to the literature.
Meanwhile, you’ve had a great start to full recovery. Keep your focus there till after your first PSA.
Rooting for you,
SP.
Posted 12/28/2018 11:59 PM (GMT 0)
Jason, Glad to hear your surgery went well. I assume you had it done at Swedish with Dr. Dru? I'm scheduled for mine on the 15th with Ruyle at Swedish also. Any tips on post surgery?
HF5280
Posted 12/29/2018 1:28 AM (GMT 0)

Somebody said...
The pathology report showed some cancer that broke through the margin towards the left nerve bundle (about 3 mm).

Dr is probably talking ART due to the positive margin. I had path report 3/3/4 so very little 4 but positive SVI and ECE and am 4 months out with undetectable uPSA. You should check out the RO situation before you need to go so you are ready if needed.
Posted 12/29/2018 3:36 AM (GMT 0)
Great that you are past surgery.

Recover and rest up. Don’t think too much ahead till you have your 3 month PSA.

Ask your surgeon if he plans to get Prolaris test on your removed prostrate.
Posted 12/29/2018 3:38 AM (GMT 0)
HF 5280-

Yes, Dr. Dru. How did you know? He’s been incredible. Never imagined more access with texts and phone calls. I feel like it all went smooth. First night home was not great, because Swedish nurse at discharge sucked. Make sure you get full catheter info before leaving hospital. Like slight discharge around catheter opening: normal.
I freaked out because I thought it was infected. Lol. Get up. Walk. Take the oxy and stool softener. I tried to not take it, but it helps. First bowel movement really sucks with catheter, but don’t worry. It leaked outside catheter but that’s normal.
Posted 12/29/2018 3:55 AM (GMT 0)
Glad you came out the other side ok. Walk. And walk some more. And then again. I tried ibuprofen but still needed my Vicodin a couple more times to help sleep. Then the ibuprofen plus some Tylenol worked well.
Posted 12/29/2018 8:56 PM (GMT 0)
Jason sounds like you are doing good remember it's a major surgery so takes some time to recover but keep up the walking that helped me more than anything!

Larry
Posted 12/29/2018 10:58 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome to the good side Jason. Glad you got through the surgery ok. As others have said, walk. A lot. Then walk more. Even beyond the first few weeks that you’ve gotten through. It will help you regain your energy level.
Posted 1/2/2019 5:50 PM (GMT 0)
I was diagnosed at a younger age like you.

I am glad you caught it early enough before it got any worse.

For me, I waited 6 months before I got back in my normal exercise routine. I did. It want anything bad to happen.

Take care!
Posted 1/25/2019 5:57 PM (GMT 0)
My 6 week blood test came back...

PSA= .01

Dr. Dru said with the Margin found at Pathology this is a good result!
Posted 1/25/2019 6:01 PM (GMT 0)
.01 Good?

Outstanding!!! Amazing!!! Wonderful!!! Life Changing!!!

Your doc needs better adjectives ...

PARTY!!!
Andrew
Posted 1/25/2019 6:27 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Andrew! I was pretty choked up and happy when he called!
Posted 1/26/2019 5:33 PM (GMT 0)
Sorry about your diagnosis. All the great advice has been given all I will say in response to your concern above becoming weak or frail. Obviously you will if you go for surgery and the guys on here with radiation treatment say its way less. You have to recover from your surgery but you will return to full fitness. Because I changed up my diet (vegan) and began a fitness regime Im fitter now than I ever was. Expect your Errectile function to drop at least a little but some guys recover completely. This is all very raw and Im aware Im just giving information. Stay with this group is my best advice and decide what you can live with when choosing treatment. Your health going in and a good surgeon are very important when looking at surgery. Personally Im very happy with my surgery but there are no guarantees. But over all you have a good chance at being cured. Trust me I know that a "good chance" is no comfort at this stage but you will learn to deal in your own way and like I said, stick with this forum its fantastic.
Posted 1/26/2019 10:19 PM (GMT 0)
Great results Jason! Congrats!👍
Posted 2/13/2019 5:38 PM (GMT 0)
Just over 8 weeks and played my first doubles tennis match. Felt pretty good...out of shape!

I peed a little bit when stretching for the ball a couple times. LOL.
Posted 2/13/2019 5:49 PM (GMT 0)
Great to hear you are back at tennis! LOL on the pee.
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