1588 journey starts

After first PSA came back at 17.2 and week later pathology indicating PC in 80% and 30% of cores I am now al over the map with fear and anger.
Recommended surgeon has done 50 DaVinci's and I am scheduled for 2/28. Reading Dr. Torrey's and Dr. Scardino's books, helpful but another first is posting online--humility seeks company and reading these threads helps. Not alot of high PSA's, I was praying for an infection not PC, still in denial about the results--can I wake up now?

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Age 47 excellent health
First PSA test ever 12/06 was 17.2
Biopsy - Gleason 3+4=7 involving all core biopsies 80% on right and 30% left
Scheduled for DaVinci 2/28/07 near NYC

Hi There 1588,

You are doing your homework and have made a decision and chosen a surgeon. Those were some of the big steps on your journey. The fear and stress is something that we all have dealt with and there is nothing anyone on this forum can do to help a whole lot with that. One of the things that I did to help both the stress and the preparation for surgery was to just get outside and walk. I worked up to 4 to 5 miles a day split between a morning and afternoon walk. Of course it was late summer/early fall when I did this while you are in a colder climate in winter. You have chosen the Da Vinci which will allow you a faster recovery and less blood loss. Dealing with the catheter will be your biggest nemesis post surgery. Your PSA is high but you are also relatively young so all-in-all everything may work out good for you. Others will chime in here today and all will welcome you to the club. Stay with us through your journey.

Tamu

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Diagnosed 7/6/06

1 of 10 core samples, 40%

Stage T1c, Gleason 3+3

Da Vinci on 11/01/06

Catheter out on 11/13/06

56 Years Old

Post Op Path

Gleason 3+3

Approx. 5% of prostate involved

Prostate Confined, margins clear

Undetectable PSA on 12/18/06

No more pads as of 1/13/07

Don't make yourself crazy over this. I was diagnosed at age 61 with PSA of 26.5 and Gleason 7 (4+3). I chose external beam and then HDR brachy and now at age 63 my PSA is undetectable. And, believe me, my wife and I went thru all the anger and frustration you're going thru. I got 5 "second opinions" before finally deciding. Making the decision is the hardest part, and you've already dealt with that. Try to to relax as best you can.

-Gordy

Hi 1588ap,   Yes ~ you can wake up and know that you have a whole new family of friends here to walk with you on Your Journey!!!                                       Our Hands are Reaching Out to You!!!                                                                               Special words borrowed from daveed/forum member   We can truly sit here and tell you….. We know exactly what you are going through!!   And believe it or not ~ with us telling you this and you reading about it… It will help you realize that You Are Not Alone!!!     KNOWLEDGE IS POWER... and POWER conquers fear   Pull every positive that you can into your scenario.   It will help you more than you realize!   Get the surgery over with and then see your pathology report and deal with that information at that time…. Rather than going in with the 50% attitude now.     You are further along than most at this stage of the journey!   We made a very quick decision on the treatment we wanted… and would do it again in a split second…   I hope you will take time to read “Our Journey” listed below in our signature.   We chose RRP but a lot of the information can be brought into other areas of your recover/healing.     We are all here for you!   Keep talking with us… it will really help! Start exercising and remember to add Kegels & Stairs…. This is so important for continence recovery….     Keeping you close in thoughts and prayers. In Friendship ~ Lee & Buddy mama bluebird - Lee & Buddy… from North Carolina Link to our personal journey…>>>      Our Journey ~ Sharing is Caring   April 3, 2006  53 on surgery day RRP / Radical Retropubic Prostatectomy with "wide excision" PSA 4.6   Gleason  3+3=6    T2a   Confined to Prostate June 29th ~ PSA Less than 0.1 Non-detectable

Hey 1588,

Like Gordy said, don't make yourself crazy over the numbers. Lots of treatments are available and I'm sure you are researching them.

I'm a friend of Bill's too. If you want to take that topic off-line, I'm at biker90@comcast.net. That gets me at home and on my mobile.

Good luck...

Jim

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Age 72. Diagnosed 11/03/06. PSA 7.05. Stage T2B Gleason 3+3.

RRP 12/7/06. Nerves and nodes okay.

Pathological stage: T2B. Gleason 3+4. Cancer confined to prostate.

PSA on 1/3/07 - 0.04.  Next PSA on 4/4/07.

 "Patience is a virtue - especially when dealing with the effects of PCa."

Just returned from last MD visit before surgery--I had alot of questions like positive margains, perineural involvement (not listed on path. report) nomograms and felt like his responses were -nothing means anything until the prostate is out. He has done 50 robotics and we live an hour outside of NYC. Not sure wether to stay the course or look for new surgeon- some research says 30 robotic surgeries are enough others say 100 are needed for expertise.Another says 200 to equal the positive marins of an RRP surgeon. Good thing I have a vacation a wee before surgery on the 28th--I really don't want to go to NYC for follow up--just got pulled over for speeding fome Norwalk to Wilton, my mind is elsewhere glad I am not alone.

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Age 47 excellent health
First PSA test ever 12/06 was 17.2
Biopsy - Gleason 3+4=7 involving all core biopsies 80% on right and 30% left
Scheduled for DaVinci 2/28/07 near NYC

Hey 1588,

Your decision to have surgery is behind you so don't look back. Get in as good physical condition as you can between now and the 28th. Look up. Be a cheerleader for the surgical team. The only thing you can bring to the OR is a positive attitude and your anethsitized (sp?) body!

Wishing you all the best and hope the cop looks the other way next time...

Jim

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Age 72. Diagnosed 11/03/06. PSA 7.05. Stage T2B Gleason 3+3.

RRP 12/7/06. Nerves and nodes okay.

Pathological stage: T2B. Gleason 3+4. Cancer confined to prostate.

PSA on 1/3/07 - 0.04.  Next PSA on 4/4/07.

 "Patience is a virtue - especially when dealing with the effects of PCa."

I agree. It is nice to support your local surgeon. But, if it is at all possible, I would seek the MOST experienced surgeon you can find, that is covered by your insurance. If Ash Tewari is a possibility I'd get right on it, starting on monday.

Do not worry about hurting the feelings of your local surgeon, or your urologist. If they are true professionals, they'll understand and be supportive. If they are not supportive and understanding they would not be on my short list for my treatment team.

Good luck on your journey.

If the local dr. with the 50 da vincis is the one, you will still probably do fine.

Markus

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Age, 53

PSA 3.76, Gleason 6, T1c, scans negative

psa doubling time 35 months

Still researching and deciding treatment options.  Leaning towards da vinci robotic.

Hi again 1588!

i am glad that you consulted a top 10 surgeon in NYC which I assume is Manhattan. however, your message rambles on somewhat incoherently such that most of us will not understand the philosophy your are espousing or what decision you expect to make. i am not sure that your analogies fit in your present situation--you are talking about your life and its future after major surgery. an hour trip to Manhattan is nothing--I commuted there for many long years and enjoyed the train ride! if the best surgeons are there--go for it. you don't need your local surgeon to gain more practice by doing your surgery. i say that with "tongue in cheek" because every surgeon has to get experience, but the patients are always at a greater risk until the surgeon has a sufficient number of surgeries behind him or her. when some robotic surgeons have done 1000 to 2000 or more of them, then 50 doesn't seem like many. please cut let us know what your final decision is--the suspense is killing us! we are on your side and want your operation to be a great success. good luck!

Dave

p.s. sorry to be so tough on you!

further p.s. after writing this i saw one of your posts elsewhere indicating how burned out you are from research. i know how you feel--at thanksgiving time last year, after 2 1/2 months of iintensive research, i was totally burned out, disgusted and some what depressed. at this point, take a brief rest, think things over, and finally go with your heart as to who does your surgery. i didn't mean to get so carried away with my advice.

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68, Biopsy 9/27/06, Stage T1c, PSA 7.1, Gleason 6 [less than 5% in two areas], Gleason 7 (3+4) [less than 20% in third area], negative DRE, bone scan and MRI. Starting proton radiation therapy 2/22/07.

Post Edited (pcdave) : 2/12/2007 11:30:46 PM (GMT-7)

biker 90 (aka jim)

i always look up to those older than me because they have more wisdom and experience! i guess it is my younger age than yours that foolishly caused me not to consider that 1588's rambling on was good for him! thanks for calling this to my attention.

Dave

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68, Biopsy 9/27/06, Stage T1c, PSA 7.1, Gleason 6 [less than 5% in two areas], Gleason 7 (3+4) [less than 20% in third area], negative DRE, bone scan and MRI. Starting proton radiation therapy 2/22/07.

Post Edited (pcdave) : 2/12/2007 11:32:36 PM (GMT-7)

Hey 1588, this is the place to spill your guts. We all benefit from each other.

My daughter is a Friend of Bill's, so I know that you have done some good emotional healing in the past. I expect that you will successfully negotiate this bump (big one) in the road.

Regards,

Bill

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Gleason 3+3=6, T1c, one core in twelve, another pre-cancerous.

62 years old and good health.  Married 37 years.  To same woman!

Good luck George,

We are all here waiting for you to reach the other side. Take one step at a time and concentrate only on the next indicated task. Fear distorts reality by making us think about dozens of possibilities when only one will actually happen. Facing the unknown is like diving off a high dive in the dark without knowing for sure that there is any water in the pool. You are on the threshold now. Step forward boldly with faith....

Jim

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Age 72. Diagnosed 11/03/06. PSA 7.05. Stage T2B Gleason 3+3.

RRP 12/7/06. Nerves and nodes okay.

Pathological stage: T2B. Gleason 3+4. Cancer confined to prostate.

PSA on 1/3/07 - 0.04.  Next PSA on 4/4/07.

 "Cancer feeds on fear - starve it to death."

Surgery complete and back home resting-------60 hours post op--bag is not as painful as I thought-slept seven hours last night, able to turn on side, walking around 5-10 minutes at a time--some stomach pain but minimal all things considered--definitely a leap of faith--all I remember is being moved onto the table--and waking in recovery-out of the hospital in 20 hours
1588

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Age 47 excellent health
First PSA test ever 12/06 was 17.2
Biopsy - Gleason 3+4=7 involving all core biopsies 80% on right and 30% left
Scheduled for DaVinci 2/28/07 near NYC