YANA - YOU ARE NOT ALONE NOW

PROSTATE CANCER SUPPORT SITE

EXPERIENCES : DISCUSSION FORUM : FOR THE WOMENFOLK : ABOUT US : UPDATE YOUR STORY : MAIL US : DONATIONS

YANANOW HOME PAGE : DON'T PANIC : GOOD NEWS! : DIAGNOSIS : SURVIVING : TREATMENT CHOICES : RESOURCES

BRONZE

Bob David and Kim live in Georgia, USA. He was 59 when he was diagnosed in January, 2008. His initial PSA was 4.7 ng/ml, his Gleason Score was 6 and although he does not state his staging it seems likely that it was T1c. His choice of treatment was Surgery. Here is his story.

I had the surgery the first week of March.

After the surgery my doctor said it all went well and when asked about the nerve sparing he said he made every attempt to avoid the nerves. He said time will tell.

Well, five days after the surgery, I was in bed with my wife Kim. Just before waking I had what you could call an erotic dream. A pain in the base of my penis woke me up and I found I was getting an erection. I had to will the erection down because of the pain. The discomfort was either from the catheter still in my penis or the stitches in my urethra where it was cut to remove the prostate and reattached.

Kim I were both thrilled when I woke her and told her what happened. I have had several other erections since but I have to be careful to keep them minimal due to the possibility of causing damage. I go next week to get the catheter out.

As the doctor told me "time will tell", but I am optimistic that I will remain potent. He said recovery of sexual function is improved by when having the surgery a man is younger and has had good sex in the past.

A loving and understanding partner also increases the chances of regaining the ability to have an erection. If she is beautiful and sexy as Kim is also helps !!!

More good news came to Tuesday from my doctor when he said an examination of the removed prostate revealed no cancer on the outside and no radiation will be required because there is no evidence of it spreading to other areas.

 

UPDATED

April 2009

 

 

Catheter out 12 days later. Continence good. No pads needed since June 10, 2008. First PSA: Less than 0.1 on June 17, 2008.

First erection five days post op and have been improving well since then. Full erection now possible (less than four months post op) with the assistance of Cialis.

Post Op Biopsy : No malignant cells in lymph node. Gleason 3=4=7. Tumor on both lobes. Urethral margins/apex free of neoplasia. Right and left seminal vesicles free of neoplasia. No invasion of prostatic capsule of the resection margins are noted by the tumor. Tumor occupies 10 to15% of the prostate gland. Path staging T2c, NO, MX- Group staging II. Focal areas of perineural invasion by tumor are noted.

80% natural erections and full erections with 10mg Cialis. September 22, 2008-Took 10mg Cialis on Monday night, had very usable full hard erection at night, the next morning, and the following Thursday morning, 60 hours after original dose !! Orgasm quality Excellent.!!!!! I am pleased with the progress so far. Married to same wonderful woman for 39 years. She is still beautiful and sexy as ever. A great help in my recovery !!:

March 12, 2009: Full natural erections with penetration. 10mg Cialis makes them easier to maintain but I have had several med free full erections lately, Yipieeee !!!!!!!

March 24, 2009: One year PSA <0.1. March 28 & March 29: had sex with full naturals with no meds. Erections are gained and maintained with very little manipulation.

Getting more like pre op every day. and very fortunate.

 

UPDATED

August 2010

 

 

As of now (30 months post op) I am doing well. My biggest concern is the six month PSA tests. I have another in September. All so far have been <0.10 ng/ml.

I have no problems with incontinence. I achieve full erections without meds. They are easier to get with 5mg Cialis but not necessary for complete sex. I have not purchased Cialis for two years and get by with the few samples I obtain from the doc every 6 months. Have sex about 8 to 10 times a month with my beautiful wife of 41 years. I can say 5mg lasts for several days and makes me as good as I was pre op.

I will say that I am much better than I thought I would ever be the day I went under the knife. Thanks to God and my lovely wife. Life is good.

 

UPDATED

February 2012

 

Sorry I have not updated lately. My PSA went from 0.04 post op to 0.14 four years later. I am just finishing up my 39 radiation treatments this Friday. Not great news but not as bad as it could be. My Doc is optimistic that the radiation will work. It was a slow rise but I did not want to wait till it got to 0.20.

No problems with ED of incontinence. I was told that during the biopsy or surgery a cell or more can escape. The doc says that 2 months from now my PSA should be cut in half and go down even lower from there. I hope so.

Will keep you updated when I see how my PSA goes.

Thanks Bob.

Bob's e-mail address is: photojax69@yahoo.com