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Posted 9/14/2011 12:51 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Everyone ,, I am new to this forum and I suppose like many people here ,, not a forum you realy want to be by choice,, however over the past 6 months I ave read through a lot of the posts and see there is soo much information, candid, frank and very supportive..

A little bit about me
Age 50 ,, reasonably fit active and otherwise healthy

Dx with PC gleason score 6 and scheduled for a prostatectomy ( though the date has not been set because I have to have a gall bladder out before , so feeling somewhat down about going thru 2 operations is succession..

I do have the normal ( I suppose) apprehensions about the surgery ,, have explored the options and it would seem that the operation , given my age is the best ( if there is one) option...

I am trying to keep positive and active ,, but know that this is going to be a long tough road

Being single -- ( divorced for a few years now) there is also the apprehension of a future relationship... yep damaged goods syndrome

Anyway that's a bit about me
not feeling at my best at the moment but looking forward to sharing with you all
Posted 9/14/2011 12:59 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Tones, while sorry you qualify to join this not-sought-after club, I do welcome you.

And, thanks for saying hello.

Yes, I found one surgery daunting enough, the thought of two makes my eyes water. I understand da Vinci is used for gall bladders, might you arrange for a two-fer? (That, I understand, is retail talk for: Two For The Price of One.)

Sheldon AKA Sleepless
Posted 9/14/2011 1:08 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Sleepless
Thank you for the welcome
yes I had thought of the two for one deal but unfortunately it doesn't work that way over here in New Zealand
All the surgery is under the public health system which in many ways is good but different surgeons and different hospitals :-(

The Gall Bladder surgery is laproscopic with I think is like da Vicni ,, but the prostatectmoy is open surgery ( the only type publicly funded and available here so its one after the other ,,, and with the waiting list I do have the apprehension of waiting especially thinking the PC is no getting any better in the mean time , though the urlogist has said there is no real rush, the cancer is slow growing and the delay shouldn't be a concern ,, so I really hope that is the case
Posted 9/14/2011 1:26 PM (GMT 0)
Tones,

Welcome to our Fraternity no man rushes to join. To bad about the ability to get a 2 for 1 deal on the operations.  With your younger age and lower Gleason do you have the option of looking at any radiation treatment like Brachytherapy seeds in NZ? If so you might at least get a consult for this if you are a good candidate. Being single and young the upfront side effects will be a lot less with long term cure rates about the same as surgery.

Terry The Water Guy

Posted 9/14/2011 1:40 PM (GMT 0)
Tones12

Welcome to the club no one wants to be in, though if you qualify this is the best best for you to be!

Bud
Posted 9/14/2011 1:51 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome Tones12 but sorry about the circumstances. One thing I like about this forum is it allows us 50-somthings and 40-somethings to realize that we are not so alone. Wishing you the best for a very positive outcome with your upcoming surgeries.
Posted 9/14/2011 4:20 PM (GMT 0)
Tones12,

You got some good advice above. If BT/seeding is available in NZ, you are an excellent candidate for it. It is certainly worth your while to ask about it. That said, the final choice is up to you. There are lot's of guys on this forum that are OK with the way their surgery went. Best wishes,

Joe
Posted 9/15/2011 11:21 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you everyone for the welcome and the advise

It is good to know that I am not alone in the 40s 50's age group. Unfortunately the Brachy seeds is about $30,000 but with no private insurance is not an option ,, the only radiotherapy option is external beam which to me seems too radical

I will just have to trust the process and take the punches
Posted 9/15/2011 11:28 AM (GMT 0)
G'day Tones

Welcome to the forum. It's good to hear from someone else in the antipodes, although we would both much prefer to be posting under different circumstances.

Best wishes on your future treatment. If you do choose surgery, it's not that bad and at your age you should recover quickly.

Are you watching the World Cup? NZ have gotta win this one!
Posted 9/15/2011 12:00 PM (GMT 0)
G'day Ozbob
hey good to hear from someone else down under ,, yes I agree would much prefer different circumstances , however its good to know there is so much support here. I see you ave recently been thru surgery ,, seems to be going relatively well for you so far ,, good luck with your recovery

Yep definitely watching the World Cup ,, was down at Party Central this evening mixing sound for a band, there is a real buzz here at the moment ,, I think its early days yet as far as the AB's go and what with loosing to the Wallabies the other week , anything could happen , and if the French beat them this time hmmm the World Cup nemesis ,,still there is a real energy around which is good distraction for sure

Cheers
Tones
Posted 9/15/2011 12:31 PM (GMT 0)
Tones,

Sorry that you find yourself here but it is a great resource. Like you, I'm 50, active and healthy (at least until the Dx). As you have mentioned with your "youthfulness," I saw surgery as the best option. I'm now seven weeks out and I can say that I haven't felt this good in many years. I'm dry, 80% plus good on ED, great energy level and received my first zero PSA this week. The surgery and recovery were far better than I had expect but then again maybe my initial persceptions were too overboard.

I also had two surgeries this year, in May I had an umbilical hernia repair, June Biopsy/Dx of PCa and August Da Vinci surgery. I figure I'm good for another 50 years.

Here's to you soon being undamaged goods and out on the market beating the women back!!! Good luck with your decision and journey.
Posted 9/15/2011 12:52 PM (GMT 0)
Tones, welcome to this forum, where some of the finest people in the world hang out together. Do not hesitate to throw any question you have out here. I can almost promise you that someone here has had experience with that same issue.

Anyway, good luck with your surgeries, and do keep us posted with your progress

K
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