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BRONZE

Vincent Paleocelt lives in New England, USA. He was 46 when he was diagnosed in February, 2006. His initial PSA was 6.3 ng/ml, his Gleason Score was 6 and he was staged T1c. His choice of treatment was Da Vinci Robotic Surgery . Here is his story.


I found I had prostate cancer thru a routine PSA test. I wanted to know my cholesterol, but came out with that instead. I panicked, as you might be now, but was buoyed by the enormous amount of support, encouragement and information that can be had thru this medium. The kindness that were shown to me by strangers from all over the world still makes me cry when I think of them. I would like to volunteer myself to be of any help to anyone at any time. That is the least I can do. Have faith. Ask for help. Shed your tears and then tower over your fear. You are stronger than it.

For one considering surgery, I would highly recommend the Da Vinci method, given the enormous caveat of a surgeon of meticulous skills and prodigious reputation. My PC was significant in quantity and close, close, close to escaping the gland, but was excised with what (28 months hence) seems to have been a curative procedure.

My post-RP PSA is <.02 or below, I have no continence problems and have no real erectile problems. That can be you too --if that is the path you choose. Please contact me if you need/want.

 

UPDATED

December 2009

 

 

Hello All.

Firstly, why not praise where praise is due? Terry Herbert: how about a bronze, silver and gold star on your chest! [I blush...and think that's a bit more than I deserve! But thank you.]

So, an update on my dance with PCa, eh? I am presently 37 months out from my Da Vince surgery. I have been monitoring my PSA with an ultrasensative test. For a little over two years it registered in the undetectable range of <.02 ng/ml. I have had four subsequent, serial rises since then. Still very low (.06), but it seems I am in the very early stages of recurrence as defined by Dr. Strum. I hope that this rise will prove to be an abberation, but I am beginning to research what "salvage" treatment I might choose. I suppose that will be radiation with hormonal therapy, but I hope that is long long from now.

I am a little shocked to realize in the preceeding 3 1/2 years since my surgery, I have hardly spoken about this at all. I am single, and hyperprivate it seems. I do not say this as a boast, but rather to present myself as a counter-example for how best to deal. Speak up. Ask for help.

For men contemplating Robotic surgery, I can reaffirm that I would make the same choice, with the same surgeon (Dr. McGinness; Bryn Mawr Hospital; Phila region,Pennsylvania) tomorrow if I had to. I have no urinary problems (in fact I pee better). The nerve-sparing procedure left me with normal erectile capacity. The catheter is a drag.

Thats all for now. If I can be of any help, please do not hesitate to contact me. God's speed.

 

UPDATED

March 2011

 

Hello brothers. I feel as if I belong to a powerful, helpful tribe of fellow PCa patients, yet I choose to walk alone too often and for too long, neglecting to provide the minor help that I could through this forum and forsaking the enormous help I could receive from it. I provide myself again as a counterexample for how best to deal. Speak up. Ask for help.

I am presently in a stage of avoidance regarding my prostate cancer. I seem to be hoping that if I ignore it, it will go away.

Vincent's e-mail address is: vjc05257@Yahoo.com