New Member: Steven

Found this on another thread, Welcome Steve!



"Hi Pratoman/Hi guys (and usually some gals).

I signed on to this site yesterday because I was intrigued about the Rochester gathering. I live in this god-forsaken (at the moment) place and was wondering what that gathering was all about. I emailed Pratoman and he was kind enough to reply immediately.

Very brief background: PCA diagnosed in March 2008 (age 70 to at that time). Married to a brilliant physician who insisted I have surgery ASAP (GS 4+4=8 at biopsy). Other docs advised against it, thinking "too late for that." Wife, trained as surgeon, but switched specialty after residency, said the only place for a tumor is out. I had to wait 30 days for the prostate to heal from the extensive biopsy (general anesthesia). On the operating table on day 31 (Strong Hospital, Dr. Jean Joseph). Upgraded GS 4+5=9. Holy crap.

Wife's insistence on a rush to the robot probably saved my life. Very aggressive cancer, but very small tumor load and totally organ contained. Spent half my life on the internet after that :), but after I was still standing and with an undetectable PSA, years later, I relaxed a bit and stopped that. My wife draws my blood every 3 months on the dot and orders a super sensitive assay from the same lab. I chart it on an Excel spread sheet and keep a very complete "prostate book" with all my records and labs.

I paid the price for age and never exercising (although in otherwise in good shape and in good health). Still have one-pad-a-day dribbles but it's no big deal. ED was much more depressing. Tried everything. Some things worked more or less (shots) but for the most part the fun is over. My much younger wife says "be happy you're alive" A strong marriage or a great partner makes all the difference.

A couple of months ago the super sensitive PSA reading climbed up a bit. Not going crazy this time but my wife is waiting for one more reading (it was 0.05) in a month or so and if it increased, dragging me to Roswell Park for a consult. I am now philosophical. Even if I have a recurrence, with a variety of options that can keep me going another decade or more. That would make it 87. A reality check says don't be hasty about any decisions."

Steve
Rochester, NY
Post Edited (StevenH) : 2/22/2015 2:29:37 PM (GMT-7)




Cheers, Doug

Post Edited (Shaba.Doug) : 2/22/2015 6:21:43 PM (GMT-7)

Hello Steve,
I hope your PSA does not continue to trend up. You and your wife are being very proactive in watching it so closely. I hope you let us know later PSA tests results.

Steve, welcome to the site.

To more directly answer your question about the GFMPH gathering, try this link to an earlier thread:

www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=35&m=2869264

This post was started by someone who had been on HW for years, but on this occasion she and her husband attended their first GFMPH.

GFMPH (tongue in cheek) stands for Good For Men's Prostate Health. A gentleman in Rochester held the first such get-together in September 2009. There were 3 folks at the first meeting. It is always held the last weekend in September, Prostate Cancer Month. It was a way for folks that have met through HW and dealing with Pca, to meet face to face.

A gathering in the South was started in April 2011 and occurs every year.

To date their have been 10 gatherings and they keep getting bigger and better.

My wife and I were married at the Sep 2013 get-together and celebrated our first anniversary there this last year. In Sep 2014 there were 60+ attendees.

As one of the hosts of these gatherings, feel free to email me with any questions. My email is active.

Sonny

Be not confused by signature on steves reply, it is Shaba's. it confused me till I figured it out. See I am aging...

Logos, I figured out a way to remove my sig. No more confusion I hope. LOL

Cheers, Doug

Seven years with undetectable PSA with a G9! Now that is impressive. Your wife did good. Welcome to HW!