Prostate cancer surgery

Uncledan:

Glad you have found this forum - hope it will be a source of  info and support should you need it following your surgery.   Look forward to hearing from you after the 14th.

Best wishes.

Dutch  

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Diagnosed Feb 2001  (Age 65)  Currently 72

PSA 4.8      Gleason 3+3=6      Stage   T2b

Completed Proton Therapy @ Loma Linda - Aug 2001

Have had no side effects.

6yr PSA - 0.19

 

Our responsibility now is to educate men about Pca, PSA and the importance of early detection. 

 

 

  Hi Uncledan,   We are thrilled you started your own personal thread!!!!   This journey is best traveled with friends.   Welcome new friend.   We will definitely be with you on the 14 th … BUT…. We’re here right now to start our walk with you!   Start getting prepared and be ready for surgery….  kegels, kegels, and more kegels....   There will be many stepping-stones on your path….   And we will be there every step of the way.   Each step counts!! Click here for a special message from bluebird http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb179/mamabluebird1955/Stepping-StonestoHealingWell.jpg   Buddy & I invite you to visit our personal thread located in our signature below   “Our Journey”…. In hopes that you will pull at least “1” thing that will help to make your journey smoother.   That’s what "all of us" do here.   Share because we care…      You have just started sharing and others will learn from your experiences too!   It gives the heart a warm feeling to know that we do make a difference.   Stay close and keep us up to date as to what’s going on with you… Keeping you close in thoughts and prayers as you move forward! In Friendship ~ Lee & Buddy mama bluebird - Lee & Buddy… from North Carolina J   We invite you to visit our personal thread:   Click Here:   “Our Journey” ~ Sharing is Caring   April 3, 2006  53 on surgery day RRP / Radical Retropubic Prostatectomy PSA 4.6   Gleason  3+3=6    T2a   Confined to Prostate 2nd PSA 02-06-2007 Less than 0.1 Non-Detectable :)  

Hi, UncleDan - good for you for booking 3 nights post-surgery. You may be very glad you waited, although it will be good to get back home, too. We went the 2nd day post-surgery and it was still a bumpy, painful ride. Just before you head for home, be sure to take a painkiller - the doc will prescribe. It will help.

As you already know, having the greatest confidence in your surgeon is one of the most important things. Good luck! (And we'll be in the virtual waiting room on Tuesday)

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Husband age 66

PSA on 5/1/06: 4.2 (had doubled in 13 mos. and rising monthly)

DaVinci Surgery 8/2/06 - Austin, TX w/Dr. Randy F.A.G.I.N.

T2a (at biopsy)

At pathology - cancer cell leakage into fatty tissue

Post-Surgical PSA on 10/06, 4/07 - undetectable!

Update: 11/1/06 - perhaps bladder neck involvement; 30%-50% chance of recurrence

Future: PSA tests twice-yearly for now - Next one: 10/16/07

 

uncledan,

I also live about 100 miles from Nashville and had my surgery done at Vanderbilt.  I have heard that Dasari is good so it should go smooth.  I would suggest taking the bare minimum with you to the hospital.  You will not have time or feel like you want to be on a computer.  If your Da Vinci is typical then you will be home two days after the surgery.  I drove in the morning of my surgery and was in the hospital for one night and then the next night in a local motel room.  I had no pain but there was soreness.  The catheter is the biggest headache but I even slept well the night in the motel room with the catheter.  My wife stayed with me the first night in the hospital but she should have stayed at the motel as there was nothing that she could do for me anyway.  I found it impossible to sleep the night in the hospital so I just got up and walked most of the night.  It surprised me tremendously how well I felt and I walked a lot until the nurses told me I was over doing it.  I know you will have a similar experience.  I look forward to hearing your story.

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

Began injections in April '07

Undetectable PSA on 6/25/07

Uncle Dan- Wishing you all the best on Tues. Positive thought and e

nergy from the west coast aimed directly at you and you surgeon! Hit us up when you are up to it. Peace. Pete

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Diagnosed 1/26/07

Stage Tc1

Gleason 6

PSA 3.8

12 samples, positive in one 15%

Biopsy - 1% involvement, no bladder neck, Gleason 3+3, Tc1

Age 51

Surgery (robotic) May 4 2007 City of Hope

Final pathology - fully contained to prostate, TC1, Gleason 3+ 3

Fully continent one month

Hi Uncledan,

You may wish to take your own robe for when they get you up and walking around at the hospital.  They'll do it pretty quickly the same day or next morning... and those hospital gowns are hard to tie yourself and don't cover much!

Also, I always had the nurse or CNA empty my catheter bag before the walks.  It can get heavy when full!  The first and second walk, I used my IV pole to keep me steady.

We'll be praying for you Tuesday.

Regards,

Idaho

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Age: 54
PSA: 4.3
Biopsy: T1c, 3+3=6, 2 pos. samples in one node, <5% volume
Surgery (robotic): 31 Jul 2007, saved nerve bundle on side of non-cancerous node
Hospital stay: 2 days
Final pathology: Tumor confined to prostate, T2a, 3+3=6, <1% volume
Working to get back into good shape
Waiting for that first post-op PSA

I traveled from Madison, MS. for the surgery in Nashville with Dr. Dasari.  He is a skilled surgeon and my recovery in all respects was very good.  That 450 mile ride home was tough and I would suggest you let your local urologist take your cathether out and consult with Dr. Dasari on the pathology report if you don't travel well; however, 100 miles should not be a problem.  Good luck.

8-21-07 Home and walking around, Surgery was quite long 5 hours. Removed prostate. one left side and 2 right side lymph nodes, left and right seminal vesicles, also removed a large quantity of scar tissue from earlier surgery. Dr Desari fells sure he got everything. The nodes were not enlarged. Stayed an extra day, released 8:45 PM Thursday evening. Some pain and a lot of soreness the first two days, am now beginning to feel better. Travel back to Nashville tomorrow for pathology reports and removal of this worrisome catheter. All in all it has not been as bad as expected. Still my worst fears are the issue of being incontinent. Well I'm headed downstairs to watch the NASCAR race if it isn't rained out. Uncle Dan

Post Edited (uncledan) : 8/26/2007 1:29:12 PM (GMT-6)

We're all sending positive energy your way, uncledan!  Good to hear you're feeling better.  Getting that catheter out is another step forward, regardless of the work on continence.  I think you'll feel more like a "free man" without it.  Hope NASCAR was good! -- Idaho

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Age: 54
PSA: 4.3
Biopsy: T1c, 3+3=6, 2 pos. samples in one side of prostate
Da Vinci 31 Jul 2007: saved nerve bundle on side of non-cancerous side
Final pathology: Confined to prostate, T2a, 3+3=6
Working to get back into good shape
Waiting to take that first post-op PSA

My web site: http://pca-info.blogspot.com

After going over my Pathology report I have made some corrections to my signature. Uncle Dan

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Age 67
10-06 PSA 5.44 01-07 PSA 6.47
Biopsies 05-07 2 of 6 positive
Gleason Score 7 (3+4) Stage T1A
Laparoscopic surgery 08-14 RAP, scar tissue,
lymph nodes 2 R & 1 L, R & L seminal vesicles.
Pathology report now 7 (4+3)

Staging remained the same, the report said there were no palpable abnormalities or areas of nodularity identified. Prostate weight was 92 grams, just over 3 ounces. Uncle Dan

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Age 67
10-06 PSA 5.44 01-07 PSA 6.47
Biopsies 05-07 2 of 6 positive
Gleason Score 7 (3+4) Stage T1A
Laparoscopic surgery 08-14 RAP, scar tissue,
lymph nodes 2 R & 1 L, R & L seminal vesicles.
Pathology report now 7 (4+3)

A quick note to thank evertyone for their warm support. I only need to get the hang of these Kegals to be able to stay dry. I know which muscles to work and have been exercising them for months. The problem is sometimes more muscles than those needed are engaged. Any commments. Uncle Dan

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Age 67
10-06 PSA 5.44 01-07 PSA 6.47
Biopsies 05-07 2 of 6 positive
Gleason Score 7 (3+4) Stage T1A
Laparoscopic surgery 08-14 RAP, scar tissue,
lymph nodes 2 R & 1 L, R & L seminal vesicles.
Pathology report now 7 (4+3)