T3b Post-op. Next Steps.

Wife and I met 9/30 with our Urologist/Surgeon. Although pleased with the Post-op PSA result of <0.01, he doesn’t want to wait around for more PSAs, so I’m meeting with a Prostate Oncologist and a Radiation Oncologist on 10/8 to decide whether to start radiation therapy and which form, (adjuvant or wait for salvage) or to go all the way with NeoAdjuvant Combination therapy, in which we start HT (Lupron) for 2 months, then begin the radiation. I’m concerned about doing hormone therapy as I’ve read that there is a higher risk of heart attack for CAD patients taking the Lupron. Seems the testosterone is helpful in protecting the heart. That question will be at the top of my list. I’ll post again after the oncologist consults. Comments welcome.   BTW, UroDoc says I can go sailing, so on 10/17 I will be at Riverton NJ YC to race with my son and daughter-in-law on their J-22. Got to keep living!   All the best. Roger     Age 67 at diagnosis. Treated for coronary artery disease (CAD) since 1998, and under control with medications. 6/09                  Routine physical, with DRE and PSA Test. PSA 4.02. Referred to Uro 4/20/09             TRUS   w/needle biopsy 4/23/09             Diagnosis PCa with Gleason 4+3 in 2/2 cores, Gleason 3+3 in 5/10 cores.                         CT scan and Bone Scan both negative. Stage T2C. 8/27/09             DaVinci RP at WakeMed Cary NC with Dr. Tortora. Discharged 8/28. 9/8/09               Catheder removed. Path post-surgery confirms PCa, with Gleason 3+3 with scattering of 4. Positive margins in L & R posterior, R and L seminal vesicles, with perineural invasion.   Stage T3b. 9/30/09             PSA Post-Op <0.01. Met w/Uro/Surgeon to review surgery and path report. Referred to Prostate Oncologist and Radiation Oncologist. Appointments set for 10/8.   Initial incontinence pretty bad, starting w/6 Depends pants/day. Gradually getting better, with dramatic reduction in leakage around 9/20. Currently on 1 pad during the day and one at night (for security). Actually totally dry at night. (Pressure off the bladder neck?)   “I’d rather die while I’m living, than live while I’m dead.” (Jimmy Buffett. Changes in Latitude, Changes in Attitude.)

Hi Opa, I don't have any knowledge of your situation to give you any thoughts/advice, but I did want to say thanks for the update. And to wish you well. Good luck with the sailing. I've never been able to understand why people would sail when outboard motors are available --- but it probably has to do with my being invited at 16 to go sailing with a friend, on a windy day, to find my job seemed to be hanging way out over the side of the boat to provide ballast to keep us somewhat upright. If I wasn't out far enough to suit the skipper he'd yell at me. I understood what it meant to be between the devil and the deep blue sea.

Keep us posted on PCa and your sailing.

Sheldon AKA Sleepless

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Age 67 in Apil '09 at news of 4 of 12 cores positive T2B and Gleason 3 + 3 and 5% to 25% PSA 1.5

Re-read of slides in June said Gleason 3 + 4 same four cores 5% to 15%

June 29 daVinci prostatectomy, Dr. Eric Estey, at Royal Alexandra Hospital Edmonton one night stay

Flew home to Winnipeg on July 3 after 5 nights in Ramada Inn  ---  perfect recovery spot!

Catheter out July 9, so far, so good

Final pathology is 3 + 4 Gleason 7, clear margins, clear nodes, T2C, sugeron says report is "excellent"

First post op PSA Sept 09  0.02

Oct 1st 09 -- dry at night, during day some stress issues, but better every week.    

Put about 14 of those J-22s on a starting line together, and things can get hairy. Back in the 80s we sailed a J-24 when my son was a teen-ager. Used to let him steer. (He went on to the Naval Academy, and was captain of the Navy Sailing Team, lettered 4 years.) When he asked me to come up and race, I told him my UroDoc would only let me lift 20 pounds. He replied, That's okay. You can steer. All the best. Roger   Age 67 at diagnosis. Treated for coronary artery disease (CAD) since 1998, and under control with medications. 2/6/09               Routine physical, with DRE and PSA Test. PSA 4.02.   Referred to Urologist. 4/20/09             TRUS   w/needle biopsy 4/23/09             Diagnosis PCa with Gleason 4+3 in 2/2 cores, Gleason 3+3 in 5/10 cores.                         CT scan and Bone Scan both negative. Stage T2C. 8/27/09             DaVinci RP at WakeMed Cary NC with Dr. Tortora. Discharged 8/28. 9/8/09               Catheder removed. Path post-surgery confirms PCa, with Gleason 3+3 with scattering of 4. Positive margins in L & R posterior, R and L seminal vesicles, with perineural invasion.   Stage T3b. 9/30/09             PSA Post-Op <0.01. Met w/Uro/Surgeon to review surgery and path report. Referred to Prostate Oncologist and Radiation Oncologist. Appointments set for 10/8.   Initial incontinence pretty bad, starting w/6 Depends pants/day. Gradually getting better, with dramatic reduction in leakage around 9/20. Currently on 1 pad during the day and one at night (for security). Actually totally dry at night. (Pressure off the bladder neck?)   “I’d rather die while I’m living, than live while I’m dead.” (Jimmy Buffett. Changes in Latitude, Changes in Attitude.)