On Sept. 19, 2006 I was diagnosed (after 2 biopsies) with PC. I have had annual physicals with DRE and PSA tests for the past several years. This past January, my PSA levels had increased from 1.3 the previous year to 3.1. While still in the normal range, my doctor was concerned with the velocity and sent me to a urologist. Initially, the urologist prescribed a strong antibiotic, which I took for 3 weeks, hoping that I had a prostate infection. A week after taking the last pill, I had another PSA. This one came back at 3.8, so I had the first biopsy (6 samples). The results here were clean, with only what the pathologist reported as 'atypia' in 2 of the samples. SO, I was told to come back in 5 months for another PSA test. This time, my PSA came in at 4.1 so I had another biopsy done (12 samples this time). One of the samples came back positive (35%) with a gleeson of 3+3=6. So I had to make a choice as to treatment. That's where you all come in! I found this site, and while this is my first post, I have been "lurking" and reading for quite a while. It was here that I learned about
the DaVinci and after reading everyone's comments I decided that's what I wanted to do. I felt I was too 'young' (52) to consider radiation, and basically just knew I'd feel better if the cancer was OUT of my body. The problem here was that most of you all were talking about
Dr.'s in Philadelphia or St. Louis. I live in KY, but, after searching and finding the Davinci website, I found a Dr. for me in Nashville, TN., about
50 miles from home. Dr. Dasari has been WONDERFUL!! I learned that he had done his fellowship under Dr. Mellon at the Henry Ford Center and that he had conducted over 800 surgeries using the DaVinci. I had my surgery last Monday (11/27) and have been doing great. I not had to use any pain meds and I am looking so forward to Monday when this catheter comes out. So, while I will continue to lurk and read, I may not post much (I'm just not that good at it) but I did want to thank all of you who have shared your insights and answers for everyone to learn from.
THANKS