Pathology

Howdy,

This has been quite a journey for me. Its hard to understand getting this at my age. It was pure luck that I caught it as early as I did. My wife's company offered wellness tests for their employees and decided to include spouses. She immediately hounded me to go with her and as I was just turning 40 I couldn't really think of a good excuse not to. Thing of it is, the PSA was optional for my age group and I only had it taken because she said it was free. We got the wellness tests scores back on May 19th, 09. The overall score encompassed like 15 different tests and the overall score was rated 1 to 4 with 1 being the best. Mine was at a 3 and a red flag was issued for one of my tests. When I looked fourteen of my scores were all at 1. The only problem area was the PSA which was at 5.8......

I did what we all do. I became a junky for all things prostate. Studying and researching in those two weeks following and getting more nervous with each page or web site. I finally scheduled an appointment for a regular uro. His DRE found a soft nodule that didn't alarm him except that he new my original psa. So he had me take a second test. It came back 4.6 with a free percentage of 9.3%. A biopsy was scheduled and 2 of 12 cores were found. His specialty is open surgery. He felt that wasn't the best route for someone of my age and health. He went over a number of possible solutions but it was his opinion that robotic was probably in my best interest. After researching it I agreed. He recommended a couple of surgeons for me to interview and asked me to keep him informed. He is, in my opinion, a great doctor.

I chose one of those he recommended. One of the odd things for me is how swiftly everything has gone. I had my operation on August 19th. Six weeks later my incontinence is under control and almost gone. While ED is a struggle I have surprised my doctor and myself in that I am seeing some results. At my younger age I am possibly able to heal faster. I attribute much of my recovery to my wife helping me get up and walk every day after I was released from the hospital. Kegels are good but the walking is the difference maker in my opinion. Also, drinking plenty of water and holding it as long as I could helped me. Don't know if that worked for anyone else.

My pathology came back today and I had all negative margins. Cancer was encapsulated. I will get my next psa results early next week. Doctor is very pleased with the results. So am I.

T40

T40,

Welcome to Healing Well Prostate Cancer, glad you found us. Thanks for giving us your own PC journey. Sounds like you have and are doing well so far, hope it contnues for you. Sure you are looking forward to joining our "zero" club when you get tht first post surgery psa test.

Yes, you are way on the young side, we have some men in their early 40s, also with PC. Does it run in your family? Gosh, my own uro/surgeon said I was one of his youngest PC patients when I was dx. at 56.

Please keep us posted of your continual journey, and I wish you all the best in the weeks and months ahead. Welcome to our brotherhood.

David in SC

Hey T40, no fun to be getting this PCa at 40 --- my son's age! --- but how wonderful it was found so early and dealt with.

Do keep posting and letting us know how it's going. Good to have you here.

Sheldon AKA Sleepless

I feel crapped on sometimes for getting PC at 58. I cringe when guys like you get it at 40. Thanks heavens for PSA testing. You should be testifying in congress or be on Good Morning America, to help men realize the threat of PC.

Thank goodness you have done so well. I hope your age does help you recover most everything you've lost quickly.

Somehow we have to get this word out to the world. PSA testing is a must!

Thanks for sharing with us.

Greetings, T40.  Glad things are going well with you and glad you had the tests to find it early.  My son is just over 30 and my doc tells me to make sure he gets tested at 35 with our family history.  Glad you are doing well - look forward to hearing good follow up reports.  David

T40,

You should audition as the "poster man" for getting psa tests at 35 or 40. Had your Pca been detected at 50, it is a good possibility that it would not have been curative. In fact, most men who get diagnosed with Pca relatively early in life find that there cancer is aggresive. At the early stage you caught this monster you are very very fortunate.  Best of luck to you!

Well, just got my first PSA post surgery at a .004 which is undetectable. I was pretty sure it was going to be good news but its still nice to have it confirmed.