You are at low risk so I wouldn't really worry if I were T1 or T2. I had 3 urologists say they didn't feel anything before the biopsy was done, and then after another guy (knowing full well I had...
My Gleason 4+4 biopsy tuned out to be mostly 3 (80%). If had gotten an accurate second opinion my treatment decision would have been different. I'll know better with my next prostate!...
Were I you I absolutely would find a urologist. There's really no excuse that I can think of for not doing a DRE, but on the other hand, since he obviously didn't feel comfortable doing one, he may...
I'm with everyone else. Take an antibiotic and check in 3 months. When I was 55 I had a 3.9 PSA test and no one told me! The next one was 2 years later and it dropped to 3.2. It may be nothing, but...
Sometimes at ports you can find free or cheap wifi. Have fun!...
I cut out everything, coffee, cappuccino, juice, soft drinks, alcohol and even cut down on plain water. After 6 months of that I leaked like a sieve, and was rather grouchy. So I added back a few...
I have seen 3 or 4 interviews in the last week or 2 (Candy Crowley interviewing Shinseki, Rachel Maddow, Jon Stewart) so maybe the uninformed public will finally figure out how badly disabled...
Moonlit, as you probably know Dr. Gleave is one of Canada's foremost experts who does work with MD Anderson as well. To this point the information you received has been somewhat strange to me, but...
I take lisinopril but my blood pressure is usually erratic, so now I take amlodipine as well. That seems to keep things under control, and I have no side effects. My cat also takes amlodipine. He...
As they say every time I call the VA "Thank you for your service." And speaking of the VA I hope everyone on this list knows of their Agent Orange disability entitlement....
Mine was found because I had 25 years of BPH and decided as I got older, that problem might worsen. First urologist was ready to do a TURP (no PSA test taken!) but he was about 80 and shook somewhat...
Mel, I have always wondered the same thing. I had BPH for 25 years or so, controlled by Hytrin. As far as I know, no one took a PSA test. In 2008 Dr recommended finestiride, but still never took a...
I've been on BP medications and simvastatin for at least 25 years and I'm pretty sure the grapefruit warnings were on the drug bottles when I started way back then. It could have been a lot worse....
I tried to tip the guy at the VA hospital, but he wouldn't take it. I recently found out that some other VA hospitals have parking meters instead of valet parking. I guess VA parking lots are like...
Gunfighter, That's interesting that they would diagnose and not tell you it was AO presumptive. When I was diagnosed in March, 2010 I was given a packet of information about treatments, as well as AO...
I also feel 6 months is a comfortable wait assuming no problems. My uro has me on a 3 month schedule for 4 years! Considering I had negative margins I think this is overkill and just go every 6...
My wife lost interest in sex after menopause, a year or 2 before my surgery, so when I had nerve bundles removed, the ED was not really an issue. Our relationship is as strong or stronger than it was...
Hello Bruce, We're all sorry you're going through this. You don't know it yet, but it's not the end of the world. Even many worst cases live for years and die of other things. It's a little too early...
Bud I don't think it matters that you were Air Force or Army. I was with AFKN (Armed Forces Radio) which was a mixed unit (USAF, Army, Navy) and we all went up to Panmunjom to cover the release of...
It really sickens me whenever I read of VA screwups, considering that we risked our lives for the very people that screw with our claims. It's not like it's a secret, you read about how poorly some...
Jerry, can I borrow your tweezers? My doc had the nerve (hmm, not a good word) to say it was my imagination and I couldn't find little Willy because I had gained weight (I hadn't)! If the guy isn't...
As someone who is fortunate enough to have full health care in both the US and Canada, I have to throw in my 2 cents. Both systems have great doctors and lousy ones. According to a plastic surgeon I...
Thanks for all your comments. It seems no one has regrets, and that's a good thing. I think I was probably bothered more by the doctor's "hard sell" than anything, so I appreciate all your...
I bought an ipad a few months ago but am not quite used to it and am hooked on my laptop. Now I take both, and use the ipad as a personal hotspot to get the laptop online. My wife never leaves...
Yesterday my uro suggested (strongly) an AUS for my issues. The issues are frequent need to go (more than once an hour while awake) with stress and urge incontinence and leakage (more than 4 pads in...
And while I think of it, maybe penis shrinkage should have been in the poll. Now that was awell kept secret!...
Mine said "I am cutting a wide path." apparently, I was supposed to know from that comment that he was removing nerve bundles. His mention of incontinence was that it was minor and short lived. He...
I lost 10 pounds right after the surgery. I could have afforded more, bu that good feeling didn't last. I put back the 10, and added another 10, over 2 years. I'm at my lifetime highest. I could...
My life insurance expired the day before I was notified I had prostate cancer. I was supposed to be notified earlier, but there was an office screwup and the notification was delayed a week. I could...
It seems to be like all the other side affects. It either happens, or it doesn't.It's just not talked about like the other problems. When the VA doctor who was deciding how much disability I was...
Agreed. My uro's words"I'll be cutting a wide path just to make sure." As it turned out my Gleason 8 was downgraded, everything was contained, and I have been undetectable since. My wife says I...
I had my nerve bundles removed and the penis atrophied dramatically. The tip and head are now always covered by the sheath (in other words, it looks like it does after you jump into a swimming pool...
Hi Luci, I'm sorry you and your husband are going through this, but you are fortunate to have found his most helpful site. You probably already know this, but your husband is eligible for a 100% VA...
I think if the VA took .01 as a severity increase the government would go broke quicker than it currently is. I'm with others, somewhat suspect that there's been anything other than a reading...
Gadget, My biopsy was similar to yours, one core 5% Gleason 8 (4+4). But you are smarter than I was and you are getting a second opinion. After removal I was a 3(80%)+4(20%), to me a big difference....
Vet2, Welcome. For someone in a bad place, you're in the best place to be. The support and information available here is the best. Just to make sure you know, if you were in Vietnam between 1962...
Mine has atrophied so much it doesn't point up or down, just inward!...
You're not going to want to hear this but...I had stricture surgery 3 and a half months after the original open RP. At the time, I was down to 2 to 3 pads. Since the stricture surgery I have been a 4...
I did not know enough at the time of my diagnosis to get a second opinion. I was told 4+4 only one of 12 cores, less than 5 5%. As a result the surgeon said "Sorry you're an 8. I have to cut a wide...
Bronson, It's funny, I didn't have dyslexia before the surgery! I've been <.01 on every test since the removal, 21 months ago. Time to fix my signature. Thanks! Have a great 2012 as well. We started...
I had open and after almost 2 years it's 6 pads, no nerve bundles, constant urges. I figure the percentages are always 50-50. Either you have lousy results, or good ones. Naturally, everyone who is...
I got my disability for service in Korea, 1968 and 1969....
Oh Susanna! I also think Vermont is a beautiful place and did visit shortly after floods a couple of years ago. But if you think the Vermont Regional Office was assigned to me because I live there,...
David, like so many other government bureaucracies, the system is full of flaws. No doubt your office in SC is deluged with applications, has high turnover because of stress, and every time the phone...
Hi Susan, How long it takes varies depending on which regional office you are involved with. It's incredible how some are right on and others have no clue. I submitted my claim myself and was...
Requiring the use of an appliance (AUS for example) would get you 60%, as would needing more than 4 pads per day. The advantage of the appliance is that it would be permanent, whereas my claiming...
It's been 20 months since surgery (open RP) with all nerve bundles removed. It seems to me the penis shrinkage is becoming worse. The issue is not ED as I have absolute zero in that department. At...
I applied April 20, 2010 and had my first direct deposit 20 days later, the day I got home from the surgery. I was in Korea and spent one day in the DMZ. I used Facebook to find people who knew me...
If you were in Vietnam make sure you apply for VA disability for your prostate cancer. I use the VA and my hospital has a bunch of competent urologists. Tell them you want to see a urologist....
D, A biopsy is not the end of the world. Mine took maybe 10 minutes, they used local anesthetic, and it was over. Uncomfortable, yes slightly, but not as bad as stubbing your toe! And I had mine at a...