New PC information for the knowledge base

Hi, I've been happily using this forum and the fantastic information for the last few months. Time for me to add my data to the river of knowledge. I'm hopeful that someone finds this both interesting and useful.

dx June, 2013 age 59. No known family history, not a black man although I've told my trainer DeMel to let me know if he senses any kinship. Rising psa, no symptoms. Psa 2009 - 3.56, 2010 - 3.87, 2011 - 4.21 (no worries had a 4.20 that dropped under 3.42 in 2008), 2012 - 5.53 (uh?), 2013 -7.02 and it's biopsy time.

Biopsy June 2013, Gleason 4+3, no PNI, EPE. Did not enjoy biopsy other than pain is over very quickly. Knew biopsy trouble was coming when very pleasant nurse/PA asked if I had pre-medicated. "What type of pre-meds are you asking about?". "Oh you know, Vicodin, Percoset". Just when I thought I'd never use schedule 2 or 3 painkillers except recreationally. I'm kidding, former migraine sufferer and still know my way around painkillers and prefer a light dose of Vicodin for pain, sleep and anxiety. Too bad about the misuse of this this one (Vicodin) causing drs to forego the hassle and risk. And I'm back. Sorry.

DaVinci August, 2013. Gleason downgraded to 3+4. Surgery on Thursday, home Friday. While having JP drain removed on Monday, my doctor, uro/oncologist sees me in the hall and asks if we can talk. I'm wearing the "sport bag" and feeling great until he tells me that I have a positive lymph node <1mm. Fortunately, I hadn't read ahead so had no idea of the full implications. I am pT2c pN1 and ready to start the psa lottery. My last lottery number was 304 in January, 1973. And that was good since I had both a high draft lottery number and no men were called to service from that lottery.

Here it goes.

psa, 27 days (4 weeks) .11
psa, 42 days (6 weeks) .05
psa, 56 days (8 weeks) .04
psa, 84 days (12 weeks) .04

Searching for nadir. Next test, 16 weeks. My solution to psa anxiety is to test when I feel like I can use the data and this forum has given me great comparative data, for which I'm grateful.

I have a great wife and as you already know, life's been good. I did under estimate complete ED. A common response as I've read. And it's not just the lack of intimacy with my wife, it's the loss of an old and reliable friend. So, I'm working on it! I never thought I'd have a medical reason to get a boner. Work, work, work.

Thanks, I will add a signature shortly.

Post Edited (Luther) : 11/12/2013 9:28:01 PM (GMT-7)

Without going too far off-topic, I also remember the draft lottery as I sat with hundreds of other guys in the main floor meeting room in my college dormatory at Indiana State. A couple of the guys were among the first numbers chosen -- and they went out together to get drunk & enjoy their last days on campus before being drafted.

I was very lucky in that I felt no emotional tugging while watching the TV because I had previously been classified as 4F (medical deferment) after taking an Army physical a year or so earlier. So I knew that this lottery had no real affect on me. Even if it did, I was in the last quarter of the birthdays chosen.

Well, I'll shut up now since this isn't exactly prostate related -- except to recall how healthy my prostate was way back then. LOL

Chuck

Resident of Highland, Indiana just outside of Chicago, IL.
July 2011 local PSA lab reading 6.41 (from 4.1 in 2009). Mayo Clinic PSA Sept. 2011 was 5.7.
Local urologist DRE revealed significant BPH, but no lumps.
PCa Dx Aug. 2011 at age of 61.
Biopsy revealed adenocarcinoma in 3 of 20 cores (one 5%, two 20%). T2C.
Gleason score 3+3=6.
CT of abdomen, bone scan both negative.
DaVinci prostatectomy 11/1/11 at Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MN), nerve sparing, age 62.
My surgeon was Dr. Matthew Tollefson, who I highly recommend.
Final pathology shows tumor confined to prostate.
5 lymph nodes, seminal vesicles, extraprostatic soft tissue all negative.
1.0 x 0.6 x 0.6 cm mass involving right posterior inferior,
right posterior apex & left mid posterior prostate.
Right posterior apex margin involved by tumor over a 0.2 cm length, doctor says this is insignificant.
Pathology showed Gleason 3 + 3, pT2c, N0, MX, R1
adenocarcinoma of the prostate.
Prostate 98.3 grams, tumor 2 grams. Prostate size 5.0 x 4.7 x 4.5 cm.
Abdominal drain removed the morning after surgery.
Catheter out in 7 days. No incontinence, occasional minor dripping.
Post-op exams 2/13/12, 9/10/12, 9/9/13 PSA <0.1. PSA tests now annual.
Semi-firm erections now happening 14 months post-op & VERY slowly getting a bit stronger.

Welcome to our corner of the world. Sorry you need to be here.

Sounds like you're doing fine so far. The PSA numbers look great. There's a good chance they stay low.

The ED thing isn't fun but you never know, something could come up there at any time. Work through it.

Hang in there and keep us updated on your progress.
Andrew

Andrew and Jim, many thanks for the welcome. It's the place to be for PCa. I can't imagine what life with PCa would be like without the forum and all the great data -- it would be, bad.

Luther

Great news Luther, thanks for posting it on our door.

I guess the thought is that only black men get prostate cancer, go figure, all other men are safe. My experiences have taught me that anything can happen to anyone at any given time period, but I continue to learn new things daily.

Hi yk and A Yooper,

Thanks for the welcome. I'm using trimix with success although it took me awhile to get the dosage correct and work on a leakage problem. I'm no expert on trimix. Currently it is an "out of body" experience and yet I'm pleased to have "an" experience. Hope to go all natural soon.

Best, Luther

Welcome Luther, sounds like you are doing well now. First PSA test was a little early, looks like the PCa is out now.
Many hundreds of us can relate to your SE. Your Gleason downgrade is welcomed news, I am sure.

Good job in spreading the news about PSA testing, it saved my life by catching PCa as it was beginning to leave the capsule.

Bill from Florida

Welcome Luther to the place no one wants to be but as you can see there are many wonderful men, spouses, children, etc. I too found out that I had a positive lymph node. I did not know that put me officially in the stage 4 category until my radiologist oncologist shocked me with the news. The new good news about that was my insurance company would pay for hormone deprivation and intensive radiation treatments.

Since you did test positive for a lymph node, you may want to inquire about HDT and IMRT/IGRT.

Best wishes

Thankfully,it is still non-detectable but that comes with hormone deprivation. My next test is at the first of the year and I am told will be a very important and telling test. Good luck.

Thank you Luther and my best to you as well.