THERE WAS NO RESPONSE TO AN UPDATE REMINDER IN 2016 SO THERE IS NO UPDATE.
I went in for a routine physical and blood work. The PSA was 3.51 my PCP suggested I see a urologist to discuss PSA level. The DRE was normal so he suggested a biopsy and I figured why not it would be a good baseline for future test. That was a fun experience and a week later I am told I have PC. I was in disbelief at first and didn't hear much of what the dr was saying. My first mistake was not telling my wife about it for a week. When I did she was not very happy with me. After her shock and anger she was my biggest supporter. She was doing all the research finding me the information on all the options that was available to me. I was going to do the active surveillance until I had a PSA test 10 weeks later and it had risen to 5.56, both the urologist and the oncologist were concerned. I choose the HDR treatment, 4 procedures about a week apart. I picked this procedure because of the limited down time and the side effects being a little better than the surgery. On 10/3 I started treatment and had my last on on 10/30. The usual side effects at first, ED, BM and tired. My first post op PSA was 6 weeks later it was 2.1 good sign going down. In February 2014 I started to have rectal pain and some leakage, not real bad but enough to bother me. I was told that it was normal so I dealt with it. March 19 I had another PSA test. It jumped up to 4.01, was told not to worry and come back in 6 weeks for another test. Will update after that.
Since last update I have had a a few different side effects from my procedure. PSA went up again, 6 weeks later still up and I am worrying. I am having rectum bleeding with bowel movements. No chance of erections. No feeling in the penis. Nerve damage and I know it was from the last HDR procedure. I had to have a different doctor do this one and he was a butcher. The most painful I have experienced. Anyway here it is a year and a half later. My PSA has gone down to 1.2. I can get an erection with the injection to the penis. Feeling is coming back to my penis. So I am hopful. I still have rectum bleeding with BM. I had a colonoscopy and nothing was found that is good. At the two year mark I will get another PSA check and see where I am at. Over all I am doing fine.
Randy's e-mail address is: randywheelhouse AT outlook.com (replace "AT" with "@")
NOTE: Randy has not updated his story for more than 15 months, so you may not receive any response from him.