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Posted 8/7/2007 8:51 PM (GMT -6)
HI. I'm new and facing surgery Tuesday August14,07. I have been reading many of the posts here and wanted to join so if later I have questions I can get feedback. My PSA was 4.32 in July of 06 and went to 5.44 in October. I was scheduled for another PSA teat in January and it was up to 6.47, not sure where to go for info or which direction to take I followed my Dr's advice and started taking a drug to see if the PSA score could be lowered. In April it was down to 2.76, however my Dr. said I should have biopsies to be sure one way or another. I had the biopsies in May and 2 of the six came back with a Gleason score of (3+4) 7. Basically this was done in the Dr's office. I only live about 2 blocks from his office so I walked over and then I walked home afterward. I was there about 45 minutes. I went back to his office 3 days later and was informed about the status of the biopsy. I had been reading a book on prostate cancer for about two weeks and pretty much made up my mind that I wanted to have surgery. My Dr. suggested freezing but when I told him I preferred Robot assisted laparoscopic surgery he recommended a Dr in Nashville, TN about 100 miles from my home. I was able to read up on this doctor and found out that he had did a fellowship with Doctor Minnnie Manon who I have been told was the originator of this procedure. After meeting with Dr. Dasari in Nashville I feel good about my choice. Now it is just getting there and getting it over with. Sorry about this long post. uncledan
Posted 8/7/2007 9:16 PM (GMT -6)
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  
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. 
 
 

Posted 8/7/2007 9:42 PM (GMT -6)

Hi  ~ uncledan &  Loved Ones,

 

A   “Special”  Warm Welcome  to  You!  yeah  

 

We know ~ we can “all” make “Your Journey” smoother just by being here for you! 

This is truly a great forum!!! ~ You have joined!  You are now part our forum family ~ a group of wonderful individuals who are so willing to share...  It helps “all of us” ~ to help you ~ if we know where you are on your path. So ~ Please stay with us and take our hand when you need it!  Keep posting.... OKAY!!

  

KNOWLEDGE    IS    POWER  ...  and  POWER conquers  fear

 

YOU MAKE THE DECISIONS… YOU HAVE OPTIONS…

~ and ~

Your decision will be the right decision for you!!!

 

 

Keeping you close in thoughts and prayers as you move forward…

In Friendship ~ Lee & Buddy

 

“God Bless You”

It's a little prayer  ~  "God Bless You" ...but it means so much each day,

It means may angels guard you and guide you on your  way.

 

(Direct Link ~ just click on the title below and a new window will open!  

Reminder … click on the REFRESH icon once you get there)

Helpful Hints ~ & ~ Direct Links to Important Topic Threads ~ Hope this helps you!! :)

Prostate Cancer Resources, Helpful Hints, and Topic Thread Links

Posted 8/7/2007 9:54 PM (GMT -6)

  tongue 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 14th… 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…  yeah   

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 :)

 

Posted 8/8/2007 11:11 PM (GMT -6)
Thanks for welcoming me to the forum. I have rented a room in Nashville for the night before the surgery and the 3 following nights. I did this so my wife will have a place to go and freshen up. I hope to be released on Wed or Thur and therefore I can stay one or two night there before the trip home. I had lunch yesterday with a man who just went through the surgery two months ago. He is doing great. I feel real good about my Dr. as he trained this man's doctor in the procedure. I have been trying to catch up the things that must be done now since I won't be able to do them for quite some time after the surgery. It is good in one way as it takes my mind off of the up coming days. I have been doing the kegels as my Dr. said to. Are there any other little things that will help me through? Thanks again, Uncle Dan
Posted 8/9/2007 9:19 AM (GMT -6)
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)
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
 

Posted 8/11/2007 9:22 PM (GMT -6)
I am debating on whether to take my notebook computer with me. It is one more thing to keep up with. Since I won't be able to carry or lift I hate to put all this off on my wife. Packing in food and luggage will be enough of a problem. My updates will probably be a little late in being posted. I will post as soon as able. Uncle Dan

Age 67
Just waiting for surgery now
Posted 8/11/2007 9:59 PM (GMT -6)

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

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

Posted 8/11/2007 10:09 PM (GMT -6)
  tongue    Hi ~  Uncle Dan & Loved Ones,

 

Just a little hug to let you all know we will be there ~ in thoughts and prayers as you head into surgery…     Please let us hear from you once you get home and settled…!! 

 

We hope you’ve pulled something from “Our Journey”… to help make yours a little smoother.

You won't need your computer... in fact one member posted from a computer in the hospital waiting area... :)

 

Keeping you close… Thank you for staying close... 

 

“Our hands will be on your shoulders”

special words borrowed from hamala

 

In Friendship,

 

~~*~~*~~*~~~)*&^%  Group Hug %^&*(~~~*~~*~~*~~

 

From the 3 of us...

Lee, Buddy, & Murphy

mama bluebird - Lee & Buddy… from North Carolina

 

v          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

3rd PSA 08-07-2007 Less than 0.1 Non-Detectable :)

Posted 8/12/2007 11:31 AM (GMT -6)
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
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
 

Posted 8/12/2007 11:53 AM (GMT -6)
Hello uncledan,

I'm glad you found us so that we can support you and your family during this time before your surgery. There are a couple of things well worth taking on your trip: a nice soft pillow to sit on while you're in the car, and a pair of roomy sweat pants. So good luck this Tuesday, and post us when you feel up to it.

Glen
Diagnosed at age 60
PSA went from 2.2 to 3.8 in 14 months
2 of 14 cores positive at 10%
Gleason 6(3+3), negative DRE, neg. boundaries
DaVinci surgery on 02/23/06
 

Posted 8/12/2007 12:04 PM (GMT -6)
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! yeah
 
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
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

Posted 8/12/2007 11:49 PM (GMT -6)
Good luck on the 14th UncleDan. We are all here wishing you the best.

Keep us posted...

Jim
Age 73. Diagnosed 11/03/06. PSA 7.05. Stage T2C Gleason 3+3.
RRP 12/7/06. Nerves and nodes okay.
Pathological stage: T2C. Gleason 3+4. Cancer confined to prostate.
PSAs from  1/3/07 - 7/18/07 0.00. 
T level on 4/2/07 - 48     On 7/16/07 - 613
Started .10 ml Tri-Mix on 8/7/07.  It works!!!
Next PSA and T tests on 10/17/07
 
"Patience is essential, attitude is everything."
 

Posted 8/13/2007 5:02 PM (GMT -6)
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.
Posted 8/15/2007 8:10 PM (GMT -6)
:-)  

Hi UncleDan and Loved Ones,

Just a little note to let you know ~ we are Thinking of You!!!!

In Friendship ~ Lee & Buddy

Posted 8/21/2007 9:12 AM (GMT -6)
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)

Posted 8/21/2007 9:17 AM (GMT -6)
Good luck tomorrow, uncledan. I'm sure you'll do fine.
Puget
60 years old
Dx March 2007
Pre-Surgery Gleason 3+3 = 6
Clinical Stage: T1c
Biopsy: 1 in 10 positive
Da Vinci: June 7, 2007 
Post-Surgery Gleason 3+3 = 6
   Clear at margins
First Post-PSA Sept 07

Posted 8/21/2007 11:18 AM (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
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
Posted 8/23/2007 11:25 AM (GMT -6)
Back from Nashville without the catheter. Trip was not quite as bad as expected. I am eating just about anything I want and my inner workings are beginning to feel normal. I have periods of incontinence. It appears to be when I first try to stand up. Shortly after 1 AM this morning I began having bladder spasms. The feeling at first was like I was loaded up ( full bladder ). It continued to progress until I was feeling pain equal to #8. I took some Tylenol around 2AM and the pain was bearable by 4AM. It is now 11:30 AM and there is no pain. I am taking each AM 2 Tylenol 500mg, 1 Celebrex 200mg, 1 Cipro antibiotic, and a Ducalax stool softener, this is repeated in the PM without Celebrex. I walked about a mile this AM. My removed prostate patholgy report was different from my earlier biopsy report. Instead of 7 ( 3+4 ) it was now 7 ( 4+3 ). This means my Gleason was closer to 8 than 6 according to Dr. Dasari. As stated earlier he believes he has removed all cancerous tissue and after reading the report he appears to be correct. In one area the cancer was closer to the edge than one MM. I really am lucky to have been able to get this taken care of fast ( only 10 weeks from biopsy to surgery ). My Dr. and this forum have been great assets to me during this crisis.
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)

Post Edited (uncledan) : 8/26/2007 1:31:12 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 8/23/2007 11:44 AM (GMT -6)
After going over my Pathology report I have made some corrections to my signature. Uncle Dan
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)

Posted 8/23/2007 12:00 PM (GMT -6)
Hi uncledan,
 
Did they update or change your staging on the final pathology report?
 
Idaho
Posted 8/23/2007 1:40 PM (GMT -6)
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
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)

Posted 8/23/2007 1:50 PM (GMT -6)

tongue  Hi ~ Uncle Dan,

Just stopping by (we’re still in Maryland)… to let you know we are Thinking of You!!!  Thank you for the wonderful updates...  yeah    Glad to hear the spasms are taken care of and really good news with the path report.  It makes me smile each time I see you say... not quite as bad as expected.  Thank you for continuing to walk with us… Stay close!!

Hugs and special thoughts of HealingWell for you…

In Friendship ~ Lee & Buddy

mama bluebird - Lee & Buddy… from North Carolina

 

v          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

3rd PSA 08-07-2007 Less than 0.1 Non-Detectable :)

Posted 8/23/2007 2:04 PM (GMT -6)
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
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)

Posted 8/24/2007 9:45 PM (GMT -6)
Hi, I'm back, and dry most of the time. Just ten days from surgery and only 2 since removal of the catheter I have had a completely dry day. Tomorrow I intend to leave the pads and depends in the package. Thanks again for all the inforation I have gotten from this site. I have done a lot of reading and research and my next project is to try to start a prostate cancer support group in my town. I have already been promised a site for meetings. So off we go. Uncle Dan
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)

Post Edited (uncledan) : 8/26/2007 1:33:19 PM (GMT-6)

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