Stunned

I'm 70, had Gleason 6s in six cores, 100% in 2 cores, 90% in 3 others, 80% in one. Diagnosed in early August 2014. Resisted surgery and radiation for 5 months, but a Dec. 5th MRI at Johns Hopkins showed a "high volume" of cancer in my prostate, with possible extracapsule penetration. At that juncture felt the clock had run out on delaying treatment and opted for the open variety of radical prostectomy, which took place this past Monday, 1/12/15 at JH. Surgeon was H. Ballentine Carter, who I'm told has well over 3,000 of these procedures under his belt. An authentic star with a very low key manner. Very appealing. I'll speak with Dr. Carter tomorrow morning and learn what the pathology report says. Day before yesterday, Tuesday, Dr. Carter said he expected normal a-couple-of-months recovery of continence, and a somewhat longer recovery of sexual function, but he thought that recovery promising. As for the cancer, he said he thought he got it all. If all this holds up, I've got a winning ticket and I'm a lucky guy, given my age.

I'd say I was stunned plus in denial for many months. But I finally decided the window of opportunity to hopefully get it all in one step ("one and done") was closing, and with Dr. Carter having the kind of surgical experience that couldn't be beat, in mid-Dec '14 I said, OK, let's do this now. I'll know more tomorrow with the pathology results. If I've got some incontinence for 2-3 months, some ED for a bit longer than that and then substantial recovery of function, plus hopefully no follow-up, clean up, radiation needed, and my cancer gone gone gone, I'll say I did real well and came out with a winning ticket, gosh, wow, lucky me, and thanks to Existence for being so kind to me.

Sorry you found this place, but be grateful you found it too. A tremendous repository of men who have been through all the various possibilities. It's okay to feel stunned. Stunned is normal. And there's much more available, too. Go at your own pace. You'll be fine.

Bill Positive