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BRONZE

Bob Grant and Pam live in Florida USA. He was 50 when he was diagnosed on April 13, 2007. His initial PSA was 6.3 ng/ml, his Gleason Score was 7 (3+4) and he says he was staged T2a, although that seems to be a pathological staging and his clinical stage was probably T1c. His choice of treatment was da Vinci robotic prostatectomy. Here is his story:

My name is Bob and I live in Tampa, Florida. I was diagnosed with prostate cancer on April 13, 2007 ( appropriately enough, it was a Friday ). As part of my annual physical in February, I got my PSA number. It was 6.3 ng/ml, which was about double what I was the previous year. My doctor suggested I see a urologist. I did, had a biopsy on April 9, and got the word on April 13.

I was told my Gleason Score was 7 (3+4) and staged at T2a. The urologist told me I was at a point where surgery or radiation would work equally well and that the tumor 'should' be confined to the prostate.

I talked with two radiological oncologists and three surgeons. I opted for surgery, but I will say that if I ever needed radiation, I would definitely feel I was in good hands with either Dr Steel or Dr Dattoli. I opted for surgery because I felt removing the prostate so it could examined was essential. I didn't want to go through the PSA bounces for 2-3 years as I was told may happen with radiation. With surgery, it's removed and you get better from there.

Dr Mastandrea performed the robotic procedure on July 10, 2007 and described it as 'text-book'. I went home the next day with a Foley catheter, had it removed a week later, and was dry from that point on. The path report stated that the cancer was contained in the prostate and is now gone. I'll have my first PSA check at the end of August - hopefully it's undetectable. I have been able to get an erection with Viagra and a 'pretty much' without ( only 4 weeks past surgery at this point ), so I have no complaints about the surgery route. I highly recommend Dr Mastandrea if you're in the area or can travel ( he's done over 350 robotics now ).

During my search for information, I came across some great resources - one that helped me immensely is Mike Stuckey's ( CNBC ) account of his prostate cancer in 2006. You should be able to google him and find it. Also, books by Peter Scardino, Patrick Walsh, and Glenn Bubley were invaluable.

I will post again after my first PSA reading.

 

UPDATED

November 2008

 

 

It's been a little over a year since my surgery and I am doing great. My PSA level is undetectable ( I've had it tested 3 times since my surgery ). I am now as sexually functional as I was prior to surgery.

 

UPDATED

February 2010

 

 

I saw my surgeon every 6 months through 2009 and now I am scheduled to see him annually. My PSA readings have been so low that my surgeon has had to order the ultra sensitive PSA test for me, and my highest reading since surgery has been 0.01 PSA.

I did not have any trouble with incontinence immediately after the surgery and still do not. I am able to generate a workable erection without Viagra ( clearly not the rock hard specimen of my 20's, but definitely useful ! ) and I am now 53 years old and feeling great.

If you are looking for any other information, please let me know.

 

UPDATED

March 2011

 

 

It's now March of 2011 and it's going on four years since my da Vinci robotic surgery in Tampa, Fl in July 2007.

I am now seeing my surgeon/urologist annually, rather than twice a year. My PSA readings continue to be pretty much undetectable. I am still good to go sexually and maintaining my 'dryness'. For me, surgery has worked out beautifully ( thus far ).

Bob's e-mail address is: b0b_foster@hotmail.com