Well, what for me was the roughest part is over now. I've under gone Di Vinci surgery performed at Memorial Sloan Kettering in Manhattan by Dr. Karim Touijer.
My "slow growing", "aggressive", "intermediate stage", cancer ridden prostrate has been removed. I'm hoping I can finally say good riddance to this ****** cancer after my follow up and pathology results come back.
I've had a few things preformed to me that I found to be a bit more uncomfortable then -they- really let on. (Those who most likely haven't under gone the procedure!) Top of my list has to be the Specific MRI for the prostrate. The device didn't look a third as big as it felt when inserted. If you can picture this: Take a semi-inflated football, grease it up good then insert into you rectum. Once inserted, inflate the football and lie perfectly still for close to an hour in a confining MRI machine. Oh yeah, twist the football every now and again to fine tune it. No kidding, it wasn't fun, but once it was all over with, I felt close to "normal" again in an hour or so. If it helped the surgeon to determine how to best remove the prostrate then it was all well worth it.
What I am left with knowing so far is this. At age 50 I was a Gleason 3+4=7. There was no way to determine how fast the cancer was growing and monitoring for months was not the answer for me. I developed a nagging lower back pain that became unbearable at times.
Three visits to non-cancer type doctors and none of them even hinted that it could be the prostrate causing all the problems in the lower back.
I was up and walking the night of the surgery, and it felt great to walk. One strong suggestion to all, WALK as soon and as often as you can after the surgery, it's helped me tremendously. I stopped taking the vicodin ( Hydrocodone/paracetamol aka hydrocodone/acetaminophen) on the second day, the pain wasn't that great and I have a strong tolerance/ resistance to codeine based medications. I had taken enough of it to feel foggy for another day or so. darned sure wouldn't drive while taking a high dose of this stuff! Well, I have a few more scars on my body most match roughly where some old ones are from a hernia operation years ago. I'd compare the pain to that of a hernia operation, at least for me. I also gained a new friend to carry around with me for 10 days or so, Mr. Plastic Pee Bag.
I'm resting much better, I can even roll almost completely over while lying in bed. Another great bennie to me from the surgery, the friggen lower back pain is almost 100% gone! I haven't figured out if my back is sore from compensation of other mussels I'm using to move around with. Any ways what little pain I am having is bearable. The Dr. managed to save the nerves on the left side, the right side were removed.
So, my concern now is did they get rid of all the cancer? My prostrate was split when they removed it, but the Doctor said he didn't see any signs of the cancer having spread. My PSA which was steady up until my pre-surgery testing should drop to zero. There's still some more worrying to do, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed this man eating beast is done with me!
Post Edited (Sparrowhawk) : 6/29/2011 2:26:42 PM (GMT-6)