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Posted 2/6/2011 12:17 AM (GMT 0)
I have been reading here for the past month or so since I was diagnosed with PCa.  I appreciate the information and experience here.

Although my PSA values have been steadily increasing over the past 6 years, it was really an increasingly abnormal DRE that triggered doing a biopsy.  I participated in a POPs (Prostate Onsite Project) program at my workplace.  I have to credit the POPs program for making me aware of my PCa.

My biopsy revealed PCa on the right side with 4 of 6 cores positive and 40% of the tissue involved (GS = 3+4).  The left side biopsy samples had only 1 of 6 cores positive and only 1.5% of the tissue involved (GS = 3+3).

I educated myself regarding the available options and read Dr. Walsh's book.  I pretty much decided on the da Vinci RRP for myself.  I met with another urologist for a second opinion and asked if I should get another biopsy.  He responded, "If it quacks like a duck...".

I had the da Vinci RRP on 1/26/2011 and the catheter removed on 2/3/2011.

So now I am hopefully on the road to recovery. 

 

Posted 2/6/2011 1:20 AM (GMT 0)
Sounds like the surgery went well and that you did your homework before making a treatent choice. Not sure where you work but the POP program is a winner in my book. Keep us posted and hope for continued smooth sailing for you.

Michael

Posted 2/6/2011 11:30 AM (GMT 0)
Welcome Axle!

It sounds like you did your homework prior to the surgery. At the moment the focus should be on healing from the surgery, you are only 10 days out and there is plenty of healing left to do.

It's certainly good news that your Gleason score was not upgraded. And that the biopsy did foretell the post op outcome quite well. And that your surgical? margins were negative.

An area of concern is the involvement of the seminal vesicle and the right bladder neck. Perhaps this is something to bring up with the doctors the next time you see them.

However, for now, the cancer is on a lab bench somewhere and not in you. That is the thing to remember.

Heal well,
An
Posted 2/9/2011 6:25 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the words of encouragement and advice.  At my post-op appontment my doctor said, "I think you made the right decision.  I think we got it out just in the nick of time."  He was referring to the pathology report.

My post-op pathology report noted that my right bladder neck margin was within a fraction of a millimeter of being invloved.  But all margins were not involved.  So I interpret this to mean that it was close but clear and good to go.

I am not sure I fully understand the implications of the seminal vesical being involved.  If the seminal vesical is involved and fully removed doesn't that mean that the tumor is also fully removed?

Posted 2/9/2011 7:59 PM (GMT 0)
What was your final staging after surgery, you don't list it in your signature. Glad you are on the recovery road at this point, with the surgery behind you.

David in SC
Posted 2/10/2011 2:18 AM (GMT 0)
Well, I guess I didn't see the final staging at first look.  The report says "PATHOLOGICAL STAGE: Primare Tumor: pT3b".  So I guess that means T3b.  From the Dr. Walsh book this seems to mean that the tumor was palpable and into the seminal vesicle.

My report also references a term called "Regional lymph nodoc: pNY".  or it could say something else because the report is a scan of a FAX and that line is a little distorted.  It could say "pNX".  Either way if the lymph nodes were involved I assume the text would mention that as it did for the seminal vesicle invasion?

 

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