Rob, I had a small seroma-like knot near the end of the incision on my scrotum. Seromas are common with some surgeries. It was uncomfortable but not intolerable. Eventually your body breaks that down...
Congratulations Tony! You will get into a comfortable routine over the next couple of weeks. SC...
My AUS is a godsend. I decided to keep wearing a light pad. There are two very minor leak scenarios: 1) Waiting for the cuff to close after urination. I sometimes don't want to take the time. It is...
Thanks all. More context lest you think this has been a cakewalk. I know AUS stories do not always end well. David, I am annoyed with UW. I could not even get a consultation appointment with Dr....
This is day 2 after AUS activation. I had tried to keep my expectations in check. The surgeon gave me all the caveats and warnings, especially because of the radiation. I was at 10+ pads a day. Now,...
I had the AMS-800 installed yesterday. Stayed one night in hospital. Some swelling. Pain is manageable with an occasional Tylenol. Surgeon was concerned about operating on someone having been...
I am so sorry!! Tall Allen, I want send him an email. My email is in my profile. Wow, life has its curve balls. SC...
Bill, Good luck. You are on similar path to the one I traveled; diagnosed at age 50, PSA in the 50s, G9, everyone including the RO recommended surgery + radiation + ADT and eventually chemo. Six...
Thank you all for the replies!! You gave me some things to consider. I welcome any additional advice. SC...
Hi all, I finally got an appointment Dr. Voelzke to consider an AUS. Unfortunately it is all the way out at Jan 19. So, I have plenty of time think about it. A couple of questions for this...
David, I am most certainly a Rocky Top kind of guy and Volunteer fan. But, I have not lived there since 1984. Since then: Florida, Minnesota, Arizona, and since 2014, the Greater Seattle area. We...
When I had that issue, I used a somewhat different technique. I experimented with styles and brand. I settled on the Coloplast 14 or 16 french olive tip. It is a somewhat stiffer catheter which...
David, we can always get together later. I live in the Seattle area....
Thanks all. Bill, I may take you up on that. David, my urologist wants me to see Dr Wessells at UW Harborview. He is in the same practice as Dr Volzke. Dr Wessells's bio is impressive. My urologist...
First, the good news -- four month colon cancer post-chemo labs: perfect blood work results! CEA (colon cancer bio-marker) remains well within normal limits. White and red blood cells are at normal...
Ed, It is wonderful you continue to do well! Your photographs are amazing. I am envious. Have a great trip! SC...
Mel, This all due to the FOLFOX chemo for colon cancer. I did have 6 rounds of adjuvant Taxotere, at 60 mg/m2, back in 2012. I don't want to minimize the challenge of Taxotere. However, 12 rounds of...
Good news on the colon cancer front: the CT scans showed no signs of cancer. The oncologist said my liver looked "pristine." However, there is some non-cancer weirdness on my lung image that he wants...
Sonny, Happy to see all that enthusiasm pouring out of my computer screen. Hang in there and good luck on the new steps! SC...
From a fellow prostate/colon cancer combo person, hang in there. You have a lot going on! Your attitude is great! SC...
Sonny, I know that is not the news you wanted. I just want let you know I am thinking about you and your lovely wife. I hope the Florida east coast is treating you well. I lived in Tampa Bay for 19...
It is hard to believe - colon cancer chemo round #12 - the last one. Done!! Yahoo!!! It has been a long, difficult ride. I will get through my usual chemo crash in the next few days and then begin my...
For my late-breaking stricture, I just decided to self-cath. It is a logistical hassle but I carry my supplies, to work, etc. I can easily manage with a 14 Fr catheter. It works every time. My...
Ziggy, Unfortunately, this is generally expected. You will start to pull out of it probably on Sunday or Monday. I think the combo of Taxotere and Carboplatin is magnifying the effect. I think you...
Best wishes from fellow prostate cancer + colon cancer guy. SC...
I lost a lot of hair on Taxotere. But, not all of it. And, it turned white. Then, it came back in dark, full, and wavy. I was thinking that was the silver lining. Sadly, that lasted only about 6...
One of life's injustices for me is the sudden emergence of a bladder neck stricture and associated scar tissue (~5 years after RP and radiation). I realize this has likely been building for a while...
Mel, Severe is in the eye of the beholder so to speak. Taxotere does have significant side effects. It is definitely not trivial. But, I think someone can generally live their life in a somewhat...
Mel, Yes, docetaxel/Taxotere is the typical or "standard" chemo drug for PC. Robert...
Ziggy, I think docetaxel (Taxotere) was a notably easier ride than FOLFOX. With docetaxel I did not have the cold sensitivity, as much neuropathy, and very little nausea. (The oxaliplatin in FOLFOX...
Ziggy, From a prostate + colon cancer guy, best wishes on finding a workable treatment plan! SC...
Outstanding news!...
Mel, How did it go? I have completed 5 of 12 rounds. I am working and moving into a new house in the middle of this. I have to say FOLFOX is kicking my rear. On a sustained basis, this is hardest...
From my obvious perspective, everyone should stay on their recommended colonoscopy screening schedule. The consequences of unchecked colorectal cancer are dire. Best to all. SC...
Congratulations Redwing! May your testosterone recovery be fast and fun! SC...
Hang in there. I have finished 4 of 12 rounds of FOLFOX for colon cancer. I can't imagine 17. Fortunately, I am not metastatic. This is adjuvant treatment. If this is any consolation, I had 6 rounds...
Sonny, Here is my story .. I wrote this several years ago so some things may different. If it gives you any hope, when comparing Taxotere versus FOLFOX (3 down and 9 to go for me), I would take...
Just a quick note, the tumor board reviewed my colon cancer case and recommended chemo given the number of high risk factors. It will be 12 rounds of FOLFOX. I start in a little less than 2 weeks....
I have a new life skill. After my colon cancer surgery, the colon healing part has gone well. My bladder and bladder neck have not cooperated. Apparently, I have bladder neck scarring from my...
I came home from the hospital this afternoon, after four nights. Passing gas and having a bowel movement were the big milestones I had to achieve. I passed gas and had a bowel after 3 days - yahoo! I...
Great Christmas present! I received my colon cancer pathology report and I am stage IIA. The surgeon had been preparing me for the possibility or even likelihood of stage 3. So, this is great news!...
Hi everyone, I made it to the other side. It was a 6 hour surgery. The surgeon had told me she was 99.9% sure she would install a temporary ileostomy loop. Well, she did not. Yeah! She had plenty of...
Convey my best wishes to him! Thanks for a being a friend to him. SC...
Colon Cancer Update: I have a game plan – surgery. Kick-off is 7:30 AM on Tuesday, December 22. I interviewed two surgeons late last week and made my selection. I will likely stay in the hospital...
Finally some good news on the colon cancer front: CT scan came back clean - no metastases visible on the scan. No scan-visible lymph node involvement. No liver involvement!! Yahoo! Next steps:...
dmlvt, I have the same reaction on the mental readiness around a second cancer. I already went through the shock and awe phase with prostate cancer. I am somewhat amazed with myself at this point. I...
Thanks all. I was not having any symptoms that I could detect .. except: we have been chasing mild anemia for a while. I had stopped taking ibuprofen to see if that would make a difference. It did...
This is off topic to prostate cancer. But, since I have been on this board for a long time, I will share an update on a new health challenge. I had a routine 3 year follow-up colonoscopy on Tuesday....
Peanut, Keep in mind, I had surgery. So, ED was an issue from that point on. For the mechanics, I used and still use a Vacuum Erection Device (VED), aka pump. I tried trimix, which works well for a...
Peanut, I was on HT for 36 months. You can see my whole treatment plan in my signature. My testosterone and libido bounced back quickly ~ 4 months after my last Lupron shot expired. I think it came...