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This is his Country or State Flag

Allen Menendez and Rebecca live in California, USA. He was 55 when he was diagnosed in April, 2009. His initial PSA was 4.40 ng/ml, his Gleason Score was 7, and he was staged T1c. His initial treatment choice was Surgery (Robotic Laparoscopic Prostatectomy) and his current treatment choice is None. Here is his story.

THERE WAS NO RESPONSE TO AN UPDATE REMINDER IN 2017 SO THERE IS NO UPDATE.

I was told a couple of weeks ago that I have an aggressive tumor. My PSA is in the fours, but three months ago it was in the twos. My Gleason in 7 and I don't know what stage I'm in. I have an appointment with my Urologist in about an hour and I'm pretty nervous.

I want to jump right in and have the surgery and get it over with, but I know I should wait for the second opinion on the lab results. I also have an appointment with a radiologist. This website has been a big help.

I am planning on visiting my mom after my appointment. I haven't told her yet. She has already lost two children and I have been really torn between telling her and not.

Well I have to get ready to go.

UPDATED

May 2009

Well I got my third opinion a couple of days ago. Each of the doctors told me Wait and Watch was not an option for me. Seems I don't have a slow moving cancer.

They are planning to remove the prostate and the nerves on my right side. I also sent my biopsy to two different labs. They have told me that what I've heard of PC being a slow cancer doesn't apply to me. I'm just waiting now for a date for the surgery.

If I said I wasn't a little scared I would be lying. They are going to try and do the Da Vinci, but because of a previous surgery they may not be able the get the needle through the scar tissue. The doctor doing the surgery also told me he was concerned about my heart disease. I have been feeling more tired and vomiting a few times.

Well bye for now.

Later: Just a quick update. My PSA was 4.1 and now it's 4.9. The good news I have a surgery date. It is going to be on June 15, 2009.

Thanks for the support e-mails.

UPDATED

July 2009

My surgery went really well. My doctor told my family that it was the best one he ever did, which made me feel good. I was in the hospital for less than 24 hours and sent home. The gas pains was the worst. I visited my doctor on June 24, 2009 and had the catheter removed. Now my grandson and I have more in common. We both wear diapers. He told me the lab results come back with the same Gleason score of 7 and that the cancer did not spread.

I'm going to be off work for 4 weeks, because my job requires heavy lifting. I'm happy with the outcome so far. It hasn't been a fun experience, but with the support of my family and Yana members it's been bearable.

Thanks.

UPDATED

November 2010

Thanks for the reminder to update my posts.

It's been 1 year and 4 month since my removed my prostate. I have been doing okay. Two of my PSA tests came back undetectable. I have had a third one recently, but I haven't received the results yet.

I am still suffering from bladder leakage, but very small amounts when I put pressue on my bladder. My sex life isn't what it use to be even with the pill and the pump. My doctor said I should give up to two years. I really miss that part of life, but at least I still have a life. I know that I can get a implant if I want one and doc says he can do a surgery that will stop the leaking.

If I had it all over to do again I would make the same choice. I had two grandsons (eight months & two years) that I want to see grow up and to be a part of their lives.

Well bye for now and if anyone needs some help or support please email me.

UPDATED

April 2012

Thanks Terry for reminding me to update my story. Since my last update I've received a few emails from members asking questions and saying they could relate to my story. It is pretty neat to get them.

Things haven't changed much since my last update. I still need to use a light pad, but it's so much better than the full disposable underwear. My surgeon said he could do another operation to correct it, but I don't care to have another surgrey. I don't think I will ever have a full erection again. I was hoping that would come back, but it okay that it hasn't. He had to remove more to keep the cancer from sprending. I'm still here and that's the most important thing. I am still be intimate with my wife and she is happy. There has been so many wonderful things that have happened in the past 3 years and 9 months since my surgrey.

Happy to be alive and able to share this. Allen

UPDATED

June 2013

Hello again, Things have been going good for me. My PSA is still 0. It has been four year since I had my prostate removed. I've answered a couple of emails from members and I hope they were helpful. I still have incontinence, but I will be having a surgrey to correct that. I have been doing the injections for my ED, but I have not reached the dosage to get a full one yet. That's about it for now.

UPDATED

October 2014

Hello all, I don't have much to say. My doctor offered me a surgrey for the incontinence, but I watch the video on you tube and couldn't finish it. Looks very painful. I guess I'll just keep wearing my guards. As for as the ED I've been using the injections and they are helping. Thanks and hang in there.

UPDATED

December 2015

Hello everyone, is been a while since I've posted anything and I have to apologize, because YANA has been very helpful to me. I have been doing great and that is probably why I haven't posted anything new. My PSA has been undetectable since my surgery. At times I don't even think of myself as a cancer survivor. I have responded to some emails and I hope they were helpful. That's about it for now. Best wishes to everyone.

Allen's e-mail address is: almene777 AT gmail.com (replace "AT" with "@")

NOTE: Allen has not updated his story for more than 15 months, so you may not receive any response from him.


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