YANA - YOU ARE NOT ALONE NOW

PROSTATE CANCER SUPPORT SITE

BRONZE

Robert Powers and Elayne live in New Jersey, USA. He was 57 when he was diagnosed on June 1, 2009. His initial PSA was 5.3 ng/ml, his Gleason Score was 3+4=7 and he was staged T1c. His choice of treatment was Radical Prostatectomy. Here is his story.


I had PSA and DRE (Digital Rectal Examination) every year. The PSA never doubled , but crept up to 4.1, 4.3 and one 5.3. Around the time of the biopsy that my PSA went down in 30 days to 4.3.

I had a biopsy and the results came in on June 1st. The week the biopsy came in two surgeons did DREs and no one could find a tumor, however 8 out of 12 zones were positive with cancer. The Gleason score was a 7 with a highest 3+4 - no 4+3's.

I saw a surgeon for CyberKnife® but he recommended a radical prostatectomy; went to NYU and the surgeon also recommended a radical.

I had all pre-op testing in one day, and had the operation on June 29th! My catheter out on the 18th day and I was incontinent for 2 months :-( I started to be dry in September 2009 and am now dry after bio-feedback .

I'm very disappointed in how long the recovery was - I was sick to my stomach for two months maybe from the Cipro.

It's now been five months since I've been on low dose of Viagra but I have no erections at any time unless by the pump or tri-mix injections. Injections of about 7 units produce a very uncomfortable, very hard erection that lasts 2 hours with a uncomfortable curve - lucky me!!! My wife is wonderful but this whole thing still sucks!

I go to two support groups and they have been great!!!!!


Bob

 

UPDATED

March 2011

 

 

Sexual issues and the fact that you are not told the true facts about leakage and ED (Erectile Dysfunction) at the time you pick your treatment!

Twenty months out UltraPsa of March 1, 2011 0.01 :-)

No erection except by injection :-( Extremely disappointed with getting surveys from NYU asking me how many erections I have had in the last month!!! Thankful for a very understanding and creative wife :-)

Brother two years older diagnosed in November 2010, now finished with his 27 of 44 doses of radiation :-(

Does not look good for my two boys 28 & 30 :-( That is why I continue to answer these forms so we can beat the beast!

Bob'e-mail address is: travel4082@aol.com