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Decision Made - Plowing Forward

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Posted 8/28/2018 12:11 PM (GMT 0)
After having meetings with two ROs, several surgeons, the MD on staff at my employer, the head of IU Health Cancer Center, we have decided on RALP.

Surgery is scheduled for Nov 7 and will be done by the main guy that does these surgeries with my Urologist assisting and removing the lymph-nodes as that is his specialty. The surgery was originally going to be scheduled for Oct 31 which in my twisted head would have been awesome but my Uro had a conflict.

Employer's doctor gave me a copy of the How Not to Die book and cookbook. As of two weeks ago I am on a plant based diet and kicking up my gym time. I am down 25 lbs since March and hope to be in as best shape as I can be before surgery. I can't promise its a diet I will stick to long term but it seems to be helping and I feel better than I have in years.

I'm still coming to terms with the decision but even both ROs I spoke to said given my age and circumstances if it were them, they would go with surgery saving any radiation if anything re-appears. These are all ROs outside of the practice and hospital group that I will be using.

As I have said before I appreciate all of the info and support this group provides. You guys rock.

Now we wait.........
Posted 8/28/2018 1:05 PM (GMT 0)
Dr. Greger's book has a lot of great ideas, he has a number of excellent videos on youtube. I switched to a plant based diet right before my DX, lost 50 pounds, and healed fast from RP.

Good luck with the surgery, waiting is tuff!
Posted 8/28/2018 1:16 PM (GMT 0)
It's a shame you have to wait that long, you're bumping up against the holiday season.

I'm on a partial plant-based diet. Cows eat grass and I eat steaks smilewinkgrin (occasionally.)
Posted 8/28/2018 1:56 PM (GMT 0)
You've done well on your due dilligence, educated yourself, and made the right decision for you. You'll likely find the surgery and recovery to be not as bad as you anticipate, i was amazed at how quickly i recovered.

Best of luck. While you are waiting, get into shape (if you are in shape, stay there). Strengthen your core, do a lot of running/walking or other cardio, daily, and eat a healthy diet. It will help you in recovery.
Posted 8/28/2018 2:11 PM (GMT 0)
Good work on making a decision.

Now, get it done.

Andrew
Posted 8/28/2018 2:52 PM (GMT 0)
I felt so much relief with making a treatment decision. All the best to you!!! (And impressive work in getting in shape!)
Posted 8/28/2018 3:38 PM (GMT 0)
As a survey guy the most import advise I can give is choose the best surgeon you can, even if you have to travel out of town. I switched at the last minute after learning more from HW that it’s critical that your surgeon has done many thousands of surgeries.

... and get going on those Kaegels. All the best.
Posted 8/28/2018 4:14 PM (GMT 0)
Congrats and good luck on the RALP. Mentally it always feels good to know the next road you will travel with this. Take care and keep us updated. -JR
Posted 8/28/2018 4:56 PM (GMT 0)
Good luck on your treatment. Like CaliJr says...'Feels soooo gooood" to have a plan set.
Keep us up to date going forward,

Mark
Posted 8/28/2018 5:03 PM (GMT 0)
Good job on the decision, Indy. Now give yourself a break from PCa for a while and kick back with a green smoothie or whatever treat that diet will allow you!
Posted 8/28/2018 5:08 PM (GMT 0)
Good luck on your surgery. A good friend who is a MD in an academic setting and I were driving thru Indianapolis recently and he told me the IU health system and medical school is top drawer. I expect you'll get excellent care.

Get in shape and do your kegels.
Posted 8/28/2018 5:20 PM (GMT 0)
I've been on a mostly plant-based diet (I use a little dairy) for almost 40 years. I had taken a college biology class and we'd done a family tree and I discovered that virtually everyone on mine dies of heart disease. Males tended to stroke out by 60. I had my blood pressure checked and it was pretty high. I found myself a doctor and tried various things before going on meds. In an effort to subvert family history I made big changes: diet, exercise, stress reduction, etc. Over the years my cholesterol has inched up and I deal with that by dropping out the dairy.

One thing I heard over and over again as I went through surgery this past spring was that I was in such good shape that I would sail right through. I suppose I did since I certainly bounced back to my running habit once things healed. This morning I ran my first 8-mile run since March and it felt great.

For me, the pay off for fitness isn't just that I tend to feel pretty good most of the time, but when something medical comes along I am better able to handle it and have more treatment options.
Posted 8/29/2018 7:20 PM (GMT 0)
Appreciate the comments.

Daron
Posted 8/30/2018 2:33 AM (GMT 0)
Good luck with surgery. Great idea getting in the best shape possible. Before I started HT I lost weight, ate better and stepped up the workout. It is tough to keep at it but once you start it is easier. Be sure to read the threads on pre & post surgery helpful hints.
Posted 8/30/2018 1:05 PM (GMT 0)

dmanIndy said...
The surgery was originally going to be scheduled for Oct 31 which in my twisted head would have been awesome but my Uro had a conflict.

I'm still coming to terms with the decision but even both ROs I spoke to said given my age and circumstances if it were them, they would go with surgery saving any radiation if anything re-appears.

Now we wait.........


Wise decision saving RT as a backup plan. Many of us here went that route.

BTW I had an MRI on Halloween last year... Oct 31st. It's been an easy date to remember. I had completed ART just a few weeks earlier, and it was looking like I had another cancer already. It wasn't... at least, not yet.

Ah, the waiting game... I know it well. Wait for tests, wait for results, wait for appointments, wait for procedures... wait, wait, wait...

Coincidentally, today (or maybe it was yesterday, or possibly the 31st) is the two year anniversary of my RP. It was the most pleasurable, least complicated of all my medical experiences. Everything went like clockwork. Had a nice private room with a beautiful panoramic view.

I hope your surgery goes well. Good luck!
Posted 8/30/2018 2:00 PM (GMT 0)
I am one of the RT guys but applaud your decision for RP. It does seem to be the best choice for you.
Get ready for it and you will do well.
Looking forward to hearing the details post TX.

Roger
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