THERE WAS NO RESPONSE TO AN UPDATE REMINDER IN 2016 SO THERE IS NO UPDATE.
For four years my primary care doctor had urged me to get a biopsy because my PSA flucuated between 3 and 5 and my older brother had prostate cancer in 2011. My urologist, an older doctor, kept saying I didn't need one because my PSA would not go down if I had PC. He would do a digital exam and send me on my way. He was the same doctor who operated on me for testicular cancer in 1989 and I trusted him.
He finally retired. His replacement on my first visit said I didn't need one (PSA 3) but when my PSA went to 4.1 told me to have one. Five cores were cancerous -- three 6s and two 7s (one 4+3). That doctor did not do robotic surgery but that is what I wanted after everything that I read -- plus my brother and my lead quitar player had robotic and were happy with it. The doctor acted pissed when I told him I was going with Dr. Adam Kibel, head of urology at Dana Farber in Boston, but, hey, it's my life.
I had the surgery Aug. 6, three days ago. I came home the next day. I'm a little sore where the punctures are and the cathater sucks but other than that -- and a little anxiety -- I don't feel bad. I make sure I walk around with my bag in a bucket and take stool softener and laxatives and have no problems evacauting. I was worried about that because my brother ended up back in the hospital for eight days because he couldn't pass gas. Once he farted, they sent him home.
Dr. Kibel said he took some extra from the left side and from the top because it looked "suspicious" but he thinks he got it all. He took the nerve on the left so my sex life could be in trouble. but he said I had a great uretha "stump" so he is confident about incontinence issues. The pathology report will take about a week. I have my fingers crossed.
I had my surgery five days ago. Everything is OK but my left hip hurts. Is that normal? [There should not be such pain -- please check with your doctor.]
Things are going well after two weeks. Totally dry at night but urge to urinate keeps me awake. Minor squirts in day, pad is not even wet when I take it off at night. My wife and I had gentle sex, semi-firm, 12 days after surgery so ED doesn't appear to be a problem. Followup appointment and first PSA test post-op on Sept. 6.
Paul's e-mail address is: p.dellavalle AT comcast.net (replace "AT" with "@")
NOTE: Paul has not updated his story for more than 15 months, so you may not receive any response from him.
