One year update since open RRP surgery

It's been 13 months now since my surgery and I just this week got my 1 year PSA results- .02 (if you can believe that). The other tests til now has been .04. Anyway, it's statistically undetectable.

Continence has not been an issue since 3 days after catheter removal. Even that ugly purple red scar has faded into something more normal in color and appearance. ED recovery is still a complete failure. I've been on a regular course of daily pump use, daily 50mg of Viagra with 2000mg l-Arginine, and twice weekly bimix or trimix injections. Results? Zero....

I find that I don't worry about the future, as far as having cancer is concerned, it's been a long enough period of recovery that the whole ordeal is sliding back into my foggy memory. Until it recurs I am considering myself cured, and won't dwell on it's possible future actions. I am thankful that I have my health, my life and an almost back-to-normal body again. The ED is frustrating and will continue to get aggressive treatment. I admit I am disappointed that I have had absolutely no response after a year, after nerve-sparing surgery, but that's the hand life dealt, so I play it. I'll continue working on it though.

In summary, I guess you could say I am content with the results after a year. Zero's and normal recovery of the other things makes for good nights sleep now, especially since I don't have to have that sleep disturbed by sleeping on the occasional rock......

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James C.
Co-Moderator- Prostate Cancer Forum
Age 61
4/19/07 PSA 7.6, referred to Urologist, recheck 6.7
7/11/07 Biopsy- 16 core samples, size of gland around 76 cc. Staging pT2c
7/17/07 Path report: 3 of 16 PCa, 5% involved, left lobe , GS 3/3:6.
9/24/07 (open) Retropubic Radical Prostatectomy performed
9/26/07 Post-op Path Report: GS 3+3=6 Staging pT2c, 110gms, margins clear
Present- 1 year: ED- Viagra, pump continues, no response- Trimix .10ml x 2 weekly continues
Post Surgery PSA's: 3 mts-.04, 6 mts.-.04, 9 mts.-.04, 1 Year-.02.

Hey James,

Good for you! We have to inventory the good things left in our lives once in a while. Treatment and recovery from cancer is a long and tedious ordeal that, to be successful, requires patience and a positive attitude. Anything we can do to promote these essential ingredients is time well spent and concentrating on the good times certainly helps.

Here on the HW Prostate Cancer forum this message comes through loud and clear. Working together and supporting each other, we can all get well together...

Jim

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Age 74. Diagnosed 11/03/06. PSA 7.05. Stage T2C Gleason 3+3.

James C,
Thank you for the post, the great attitude is contageous. Moving forward with a good attitude is essential to good healing. May your "anniversaries" last a lifetime!

Thank you do much for all you do here!

Tony

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Age 46 (44 when Dx)

Good on you James and congratulations on the continuing zeros. Let's hope time and healing overcome the ED issues. I've got to say I admire your attitude.
Bill

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1/05 PSA----2.9 3/06-----3.2 3/07-------4.1 5/07------3.9 All negative DREs
Aged 59 when diagnosed
Biopsy 6/07
4 of 10 cores positive for Adenocarcinoma-------bummer!
Core 1 <5%, core 2----50%, core 3----60%, core 4----50%
Biopsy Pathologist's comment:
Gleason 4+3=7 (80% grade 4) Stage T2c
Neither extracapsular nor perineural invasion is identified
CT scan and Bone scan show no evidence of metastases
Da Vinci RP Aug 10th 2007
Post-op pathology:
Positive for perineural invasion and 1 small focal extension
Negative at surgical margins, negative node and negative vesicle involvement
Some 4+4=8 identified ........upgraded to Gleason 8
PSA Oct 07 <0.1 undetectable
PSA Jan 08 <0.1 undetectable
PSA April 08 <0.001 undetectable (disregarded due to lab "misreporting")
PSA August 08 <0.001 undetectable (disregarded due to lab "misreporting")
Post-op pathology rechecked by new lab:
Gleason downgraded to 4+3=7
Focal extension comprised of grade 3 cells
PSA September 08 <0.01 (new lab)

James, congratulations on the 1 yr PSA, I couldn't be happier for you. You are always there for new and old alike, not age mind you, but those of us with pc. It is people like yourself that make this board what it is. I hope you continue on your road to complete recovery including improvement with the ED. I am 14 mos out and still have issues in that respect, but I take one day at a time, and I believe that despite our individual maladies, we are all better people because of our illness. I know I am, and I attribute a lot of that to the peace I find here, my loving wife and family, and a renewed appreciation for lots of things I had taken for granted. Thank You for all you do for the board in your capacity as moderator and contributor.

Randy

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46 you when diagnosed, now 47
Pre-Op PSA 9.9
1 of 12 cores positive, Gleason 3+3
DaVinci on 9/5/2007
Post-Op Gleason 3+6, Negative Nodes and Margins
Less than 1% of prostate involved with CA
3 Month PSA 0.01, 6 Month PSA 0.01, 9 Month PSA 0.01
One Year PSA 0.01
Incontinence resolved 9/15/2007, one day after cath removal
ED showing significant improvement.
Cialis 5 mg every night.
Success with BiMix

Cheers!! Thank you for the inspiration you provide, the friendship and the peace making. Congrats on your PSA and may your life be filled with undetectables! Thanks for being you and all you do!

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Father's Age 62 (now 63)
Original Gleason 3+4=7, Post-Op Gleason- 4+3=7,
DaVinci Surgery Aug 31, 2007
Focally Positive Right Margin, One positive node. T3a N1 M0.
Bone Scan/CT Negative (Sept. 10, 2007)
Oct. 17 PSA 0.07
Nov. 13 PSA 0.05
Casodex adm. Nov 07, Lupron beg. Dec 03, 2007 2 yrs
Radiation March 03-April 22, 2008- 8 weeks 5x a week
July 2, 08 PSA <.02
Oct. 10, 08 PSA <.02
Praying for a cured dad.

Co-Moderator Prostate Cancer Forum

Congratulations! I am six months behind you and hope I maintain your great attitude! Keep up the good work.

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good for you  brother you deserve this the zeros i mean everything else willl work itself out  congrats

James,

Congrats to you.  you are double my time and definetly in my role model club.  I only hope to emulate you in my next 6 months. 

Frank

 

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Diagnosed @ 53 years old now54

Wonderful James, and thanks for being here for all of us! You are a strong guy..... Diane

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Husband Pete
dx Jan 2001 age 67 gleason 4 + 3 PSA 16.5
seed implant and conformal radiation Lupron from Jan 2001 to Jan2002
2005 Dec PSA began to rise from .5 to 8 within 6 months
Salvage surgery at MSK 9/06
Fistula operation 2/07 MSK
Many cystoscopies and ER visits with strictures
catheter for one year....Catheter taken out Sept 07..
Total Incontinence since then....
PSA .52 3/07
AUS Operation at MSK Sept 8. Dr. Sandhu
Activated Oct 28th Dr. Sandhu..MSK

Great news James!! Hope you continue to get undetectable PSA result and hopefully you can recover from the ED stuff also
Good Luck
Kris

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Age: 54

Congrats on your excellent one-year PSA, James!  And thanks for all you do for the forum as moderator...Tim

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PSA quadrupled in 1 yr (0.6 to 2.5)  

Great to hear things are going well.

KW