YANA - YOU ARE NOT ALONE NOW

PROSTATE CANCER SUPPORT SITE

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Tom Z and Joy live in Minnesota, USA. He was 45 when he was diagnosed on June 25, 2010. His initial PSA was 4.68 ng/ml, his Gleason Score 6 was and although he does not give his staging it seems he was staged. He is undecided as to his choice of treatment. Here is his story.

My dad got prostate cancer at age 70. He was treated and the word was he is an older man and that is quite common as you get older. My mom got breast cancer, followed by my sister at age 40. Even though she was treated, it was quite aggressive and kept finding new places in her body. She ended up dying of it at age 46 after a very courageous battle. I mention this because I heard there was a tie between family history of breast cancer and the raised possibility for prostate cancer.

Two years ago, at age 55, my brother got prostate cancer. Had his prostate removed and is cancer free. Now I had another family tie, which raised the alert flag. That started my insistence with the doctor to include a PSA test with my yearly physical even though I was 43. At roughly 2.6 for the first check. Well, in May, I had a high PSA reading (4.6) at this year's physical. A second test was 4.01, but my doctor sent me to the Urologist due to family history and the number jump.

A biopsy revealed Gleason scale 6 tumors on right sections of my prostate. I am due for Bone and Cat scans next and from there, another visit to the doctor. I'm little in disbelief but will take each day one at a time.

My story is just beginning.

 

UPDATED

September 2010

 

 

Since being diagnosed with prostate cancer, I heard the treatment options and after consulting with two different Urologists, decided to have the prostate removed through the Da Vinci method, scheduled for September 8, 2010.

There have been a number of up and down moments since scheduling surgery over a month ago. The post recovery is giving me more anxiety than the surgery itself. Right now, I am feeling confident that surgery will go fine, and I am preparing myself to do what it takes to recover, to fully recover.

I am lucky to have had the cancer caught early; I have many prayers, thoughts and encouragement coming my way. I feel lucky to have that which is giving me the strength to press on. May God bless us all on our journeys.

Later: Two weeks after surgery: Surgery is over. Not being a great anesthesia handler, I spent most of the surgery day not feeling too good. Got up and walked with a nurse overnight and again the next morning and sent home the day after surgery. Since surgery, I had a catheter for a week. Though not comfortable, you find a way to manage and it got more tolerable. That said, I am glad it is now part of the past. The biopsies taken of the lymph nodes and tissue around the prostate came up cancer free which continues us down the road of validating the cancer was confined to the prostate.

I am feeling improvement and healing from surgery. Howerver, I do find I tire fast and one to two naps per day are really helpful.

I wear a pad for incontinence and feel like I am improving there as well. The Kegel exercises, done before surgery and after the catheter was removed have helped and I feel more control is being gained in this area. With what used to be the second valve now being the main valve, the body has to get used to that. That second valve is used to sending you a pretty powerful signal that you need to go, so retraining that signal to tone down a little seems to be part of the recovery; though realistically, I probably will be going more often than I used to. My brother who has gone through this, said, it may not necessarily be more often, but when you do need to go, you want to be near a bathroom and try to wait too long. So plan ahead when you are at a public event.

When I stand up or move abruptly without squeezing that muscle, I may get a drip, but nothing too out of control. Passing gas is also a little tricky as it involves relaxing that same muscle. As for urinating, I get up about once overnight to go after going into this not getting up at night. During the day, I go about every 2 hours instead of about every 3 to 4 before surgery. I have been a water drinker both before and after surgery which affects this as well.

Though not a perfect situation, the thought of continuing to improve and of being cancer free help give me the fuel to press on.

 

UPDATED

March 2011

 

 

March 6, 2011. I am now at 6 months since surgery (Sept 8, 2010). I am progressing in a good direction and feel confident I am on a good path to a full recovery. Through Kegel excercises and getting used to using the urinary muscles, I was able to give up daily use of a pad at three months after surgery. Some rare slip ups, but those are few and far between and remind to keep doing my excersises. The exception here was when I got a cold accompanied by a cough. Coughing was a strong enough reaction that I did wear a pad for a day or two until the cough settled down. I can wait up to three or four hours between bathroom breaks, so I feel I am back to the urinating schedule I had before surgery. Admittedly though, I make a point not to wait very once I have the urge to go. No reason to push it if I don't have to.

As for ED, I am using a vacuum pump about twice a week (causes a Mr. Purple, but good training I guess) and taking 20 mg Levitra two to three times a week. On nights I take the pill, I can get a hard erection that reminds me of the days of old. On non-pill other days, I can get hard enough to have sex, but not as hard as I used to. It does appear the nerves are starting to come back, as there is more overall feeling and erections are happening. This is why I feel I am on a good path, but not there yet. Joy has been patient and willing to help me be comfortable. One thing that has helped is stimulation of my nipples. You may not be into that, but it has helped me.

About a six weeks after surgery, I had pain in my penis and some blood discharge. Upon calling the doctor, they informed me that was normal and to relax for the day or two, nothing strenous. If this happens to you, I encourage you to call your doctor, but thought I would share my experience. At times, I feel a little pain where the urinary tract was connected back together. I understand this is normal. It is more of a "just letting you know I am here" kind of pain.

My doctors appointment in January included my first PSA test, which came back undetected. Still on a good path.

Sharing my story helps me work through my journey and I hope it can also help you on yours. God bless you and you are not alone.

Tom's e-mail address is: joyzie@comcast.net