YANA - YOU ARE NOT ALONE NOW

PROSTATE CANCER SUPPORT SITE

BRONZE

Jim Murray and Heather live in Illinois, USA. He was 41 when he was diagnosed on October 26, 2009. His initial PSA was 2.2 ng/ml, his Gleason Score was 3+3=6 and he was staged T1c. His choice of treatment was Robotic Surgery. Here is his story.

Just got the diagnosis of prostate cancer. I was surprised to get it at 41. My Dad just recently completed treatment for prostate cancer at 68. I knew I had a better chance than not at getting it Heather and I had our anger moments, break downs, and crying on the first night. I decided then and there that this would be our last cry over this, now it was time to battle and beat it.

Having a dad who is a doctor has allowed me to access some of the best medical care in the Chicago area. I meet with the surgeon tomorrow and will have a better feel of the process then. I also have a surgeon at the University of Chicago I can meet with who does the procedure. I have found the stories on this page very encouraging. I will keep you posted at the process moves forward.

Had a total of 12 biopsies 6 on each side The positives where in the middle. They where 3+3, 3+4 and 3+3. I have been told I am in the very early stages and the prognosis is good. This all started with a prostate infection five months ago. I hated it then but it allowed me to find this early.

Later: I met with the first of two surgeons. I will be having my surgery at University of Chicago by Greg Zagaja. I went in feeling like I had a death sentence and came out very confident I will be OK. I am a candidate for the bilateral nerve sparing and he believes I will do great.

After hearing all the options I feel great about my decision, I feel great about my location for the operations and I feel very optimistic about my outcome. I know two people who had operations from this surgeon one 5 years ago and one 2 1/2 years ago. Both are doing great with no real side effects.

I will keep you updated as the surgery gets scheduled and after. Thanks for the page and the support.

 

UPDATED

November 2009

 

 

Just wanted to update. Will have Surgery at the University of Chicago by Dr Zagaja on January 15, 2010. I get to enjoy my Holidays.

They actually lowered my Gleason numbers when they reviewed my slides. I am looking forward to having the surgery done, and moving on with life. I will update again after the surgery.

To all those just diagnosed, after the initial shock, it does get better. Do your research, review your options, make sure you are comfortable with your doctor and decision and then take it head on.

 

UPDATED

March 2011

 

 

Sorry it has been so long since I updated my story, I have been busy putting cancer in the rear view mirror and getting busy living.[A very good thing to do!]

On January 15, 2010 I had the robotic prostatectomy performed at the University of Chicago by Dr Greg Zagja, whom I believe is one of the best surgeons in the country for this procedure. The surgery was a complete success and to date my PSA have been undetectable. I was in the hospital for 24 hours, had a catheter for 5 days, and the recovery was a couple of weeks from the surgery itself.

While I thought I would be the guy who had no ED or continence issues from the get go, that was not the case. However, I can report that as of this date, I have no ED issues and no continence issues. The three month and six month post surgery marks seemed to be the real turning points for me. I would say I am 98-99% of where I was prior to surgery. I think many factors have contributed to this, my age, overall health, being religious about the Kegel exercises, and letting the healing process work. I feel very fortunate, my cancer was found very early, the Gleason score was low, the cancer was in the deep center of the prostate, fully contained, I am not in diapers or pads, don't pee in my pants, and can and am as sexually functional as I was prior to surgery.

The only different part is there is no ejaculation. Sex is not better, not worse, is just a little different. It still feels just as good, it still feels the same at climax, I guess the benefit is there is nothing to clean up. I am just thrilled that these are two issues I had no real side effects with. My advice, be patient, things will return to working normally. Take your benefits and positives where you can get them. One is that after this surgery, never again will you have to hear a doctor tell you to bend over for DRE. Its about the positives not the negatives....lol

I will tell you I was not fully prepared for the psychological effects after the surgery. However, a month after the surgery I joined cancer support group and it was the best thing I have ever done and the best experience I have had. Nothing helps more then being around people who know exactly what your going through and talking to people at all stages of this cancer and recovery. [That is why regular annual updates are important from men who choose to share their experiences here on Yana.] You can choose to let this destroy you or make you stronger. For me, in the end even though I went through this, it has been an overall life changing experience for me and so much of it positive. This cancer can be beaten and life does go on. It is easy for me to Monday morning quarterback, but 14 months post surgery life is good and it does go on.

I go back for a doctors appointment in mid-May and I will update again after that PSA test, I do not expect anything other then undetectable. My advice if you are going to have this procedure, look for the best surgeon who has performed thousands of these, do your research, reach out to people who had this, and ask a lot of questions. There are so many options find the best one for you. My final piece of advice, include your family, wife, partner, girlfriend. I did not do this and it cost me the best women I have ever met. There is no need to do this yourself if you don't have to.

In the end, I have had a great outcome, I am a blessed guy and I am living the dream. Should any of you have questions or need further information, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Stay Strong!!!!!!!! Beat It & Defeat It!!!!!!! Then Get Busy Living!!!!!!!!!!

Jim's e-mail address is: mur224@murdog68.com