John's Visit with Urologist

Every 6 months, John meets with his urologist/surgeon. He's doing great 3.5 years after surgery. Doctor B brought up the subject of recent news about PSA testing which, of course, is not making him happy. To illustrate his concern about PSA screening for "healthy" men, he brought up John's medical history on his computer and ran through the pathology. He told John that had our regular MD not checked John's PSA yearly starting at age 40, they would not have caught his disease. Dr. B stated that there was a good volume of PCa in John's prostate and the EPE shown on the path report was close to breaking through the capsule. Had this happened, we would be facing an advanced case of PCa right now.

On the more humorous side, Dr. B announced that he was going into a new business: he was going to put back all the prostates he has removed!

Not looking to start another debate because there are pros and cons for both sides. All I'm saying is that for us, had the doctors not been tracking John's PSA - which jumped up between the ages of 53 and 57 leading to two biopsies - we might be singing a totally different tune right now.

Sephie,

So glad to hear that John is doing GREAT. This is wonderful news to me and I am quite sure to you and John.

I am not posting much these days. But seeing your post I could not pass the opportunity to pop in and tell you how much seeing that things are going well for you guys means to me. I have enjoyed your posts and our brief conversations over the last couple of years.

My blessings are with you and John and I hope that all of your future posts are only to report continuing GREAT news for you and John.

Sonny

Great news about John.  If his doc can put back prostates can I get my lost length back too?

Terry

Sonny, your posts always warm the cockles of my heart! I follow yours and Lynn's journeys regularly but just don't post that often. You both are so dear to so many of us, and I personally always appreciate your gentle, kind words.

Terry, I'll see what Dr. B can do to "restore" to your pre-PCa condition! I'm sure there are lots of guys - my John included - who wistfully remember the "good ole days."

Michael, somehow I don't think $5 would do it...to be more competitive, I would throw in a 42 inch plasma TV as a bonus for anyone who signs up to have their prostate put back. For those wishing to have someone else's prostate, perhaps you could up the ante to include a lifetime membership in Netflix!

Clock, that was Dr. B's point exactly...regular PSA tests saved my husband's life. I like your idea about weekend use...wonder what Dr. B would say to that proposition? Perhaps he could just attach it on the outside and you could unattach it come Monday morning. Gotta look into that one!

You all take care and thanks to everyone for celebrating our good news with us.

David, your post hadn't shown up when I responded to others'. I hope you and Peg are doing OK...how are the new pain meds working for you? Are you still planning a trip to NYC in December?

Terry, thank you as well for your kind words. Hmmm...it's a shame that Steve Jobs succumbed to his cancer. Since he was so creative and innovative, I'm sure we could have enlisted his help in figuring out a plug-and-play for men without prostates!

Aimzee, of course you and Ron can join us...Healing Well would be nothing without the comraderie and friendship of everyone here.

Hi Sephie,

I am so pleased to hear of John's results. That scare you had with the PSA going up and then down stays in my memory.

Like you, my husband and I are completely puzzled about the new recommendations. If it wasn't for the yearly PSA tests Paul would have never worked out that he had prostate cancer. The same disease that killed both his uncle and grandfather, both men dying long before they should have.

Regards,
An