THERE WAS NO RESPONSE TO AN UPDATE REMINDER IN 2016 SO THERE IS NO UPDATE.

My wife and I live in North Central Texas. We have been married for 42 years. In the Autumn of 2005 I went to the local Auto Parts store that was owned by a lifelong friend and he proceeded to inform me that he had been diagnosed with PC and asked if I had been getting myself checked on a regular basis. I had not had a PSA test since 2003 (too busy), so I went to the local hospital, had the test done and the results were faxed to my Urologist Dr. Gary Price in Arlington, TX.

I met with Dr. Price in Dec. and he informed me that my PSA had risen from 2.7 in 2003 to 3.3 in Dec. 2005. The DRE was normal. He said that a few years ago the normal thing to do would have been to tell me to go home and come back in a year. Now, he said, we have learned better and he thought I should have a biopsy. One was scheduled and performed in Jan. 2006. Thirteen sites were taken and it was not the most plesant experience I've ever had. When I went back a week later, I was told that twelve of the sites were normal and one came back abnormal - not cancerous, just abnormal. He said he wanted to have another biopsy done in ninety days. Woopie! I need to point out that I was feeling pretty unconcerned about this, because I have no family history of any type of cancer on either side of my family. Dr. Price pointed out that simply moved me into the national average and if I had a family history of cancer it would increase my chances of PC.

I had the next biopsy on May 15,2006. It was performed by a different doctor and he did one thing that made the procedure 2/3 less painfull than the prior one. After he deadened the Prostate he said now we're going to wait about 5 minutes and let the deadening take effect. If you are unfortunate enough to have to go through this, ask the Dr. to do this - you won't be sorry. I went for the results on May 24 - expecting to hear the same results and that another biopsy would have to be scheduled. Wrong. Dr. Price walked in and said "you've got cancer in three places, but if you've got it this is the kind to have because it is a Gleason 6".

He recommended LR Surgery and recommened Dr. David Shepherd. My wife and I met with Dr. Shepherd in June and we discussed all of my options and he left it up to us to decide. We opted for surgery.

The date for surgery was Sept. 21, 2006 at 7:00am. Prior to this I had CT scan, EKG and blood work done. The surgery lasted about three hours and during the surgery Dr. Shepherd repaired some damage from a TURP (roto-rooter) surgery that I mistakenly had done in 2000. (I recommend avoiding a TURP if at all possible.) I had very little pain and went home at 10:00 the next day.

I had to wear the catheter for a week. Dr. Shepherd had told me that I would probably be incontinent for a month because of having the TURP. I wore Depends to the doctors office the day the nurse removed the catheter, there was no pain involved. When we got back home, we got the word that one of our rental units was flooded because of a broken pipe. As a result of this I was on my feet taking care of this problem for about 3 hours. When I got back to the house the Depends was soaked. I hit the shower and took it easy until bedtime. I had some leakage, but nothing like I first experienced. Another shower, a new diaper and I went to bed. Later in the night I was awakened feeling dampness. I got up went to the tiolet and checked the Depends. No wet pad. The dampness came from me sweating because of the plastic diaper. I threw the Depends in the trash, got a pad and pair of tight briefs and went to bed. The next morning the pad was dry, much better than I had hoped for.

The following week I went back to Dr. Shepherd for the post-op. I was shocked to hear that my Gleason score had been raised to 7 (4+3) after the gland biopsy. Dr. Shepherd said there was a possibility of me having to undergo radiation for a period of six weeks. He said that he didn't think that this would be the case, but the next PSA would determine that. He scheduled the next office visit and PSA test in Nov. I don't know why it wasn't done sooner, but it was not. I got the results from the PSA on the day before Thanksgiving and it was .005 or something like that. When I heard the nurse say .00 and we will see you in Feb. I sort of blanked out from the good news. Talk about a happy Thanksgiving!!

As far as my recovery has gone, I think I've done better than expected. Four weeks after the surgery I was playing golf. I made it through 5 holes before I had to change my pad. I had put this pad in that morning and this was after lunch when it was changed. I didn't have to change it again that day. When I played about 4 days later I didn't have to change it at all. Around the first of Dec. I completely did away with the pads. Sexually, everything works. I actually had some response down there the week after the cathter was removed and now with a little help from that "little blue pill" everything is wonderful.

I go for my next PSA in Feb. and will get the results at my next office visit on Feb. 16. I'm hoping and praying everything will be OK, but if I told you I wasn't concerned - I would be lying.

I'm happy to report that I'm responsible for getting several of my golfing buddies and other friends off of their butts and to their Urologists. I am so thankful for the expertise of Dr. Price, Dr. Shepherd and the care I received at USMD Hospital in Arlington, TX. I recommend all of them 110%. Also, to the folks at this wonderful website - Thank You!!

On Feb. 16, 2007 I met with Dr. Shepherd to get the results of previous weeks PSA test. He came in to the exam. room, asked how I was doing and my reply was "you tell me". He said I was doing great the PSA result was non-detectable. That was welcome news, too say the least.

He asked if I was having any problems with leakage and I told him I threw away my pads in Dec. and everything was OK. He sat down on a stool beside me, looked over some of his paper work and then asked me how the erections were doing and was I still using Viagra? My reply was - yes I still used Viagra, but the last time I didn't have to have it. Upon hearing this Dr. Shepherd stuck out his hand and as we were shaking hands said "all right!". Obviously, his skill with the nerve sparing part of the robotic surgery had just been proven, again.

Upon telling my wife this she replied that it's a wonder we didn't jump up and do chest bumps and high fives. I'm feeling great, have lots of energy and am enjoying life. I don't have to do another PSA and see Dr. Shepherd until Aug.

I hope this encourages anyone who is about to go down this path. Stay positive!!!!

I had my latest office visit with Dr. Shepherd on Aug. 15. My PSA results were .05 ng/ml below linearity. He was very pleased, not to mention how good I felt about it.

I filled out a questionare about any urinary problems and erectile problems. Dr. Shepherd was so pleased with my answers that he is sending me back to my Urologist Dr. Gary Price. Dr. Shepherd said "I don't need to see you any more" and set up an appointment for me with Dr. Price in Aug. 2008.

Life is good!!!!! Think positive!

After posting my last update I was told that some urologists felt that a PSA of 0.05 after surgery might indicate the presence of some cancer cells. Obviously this got my attention. I had another PSA done and my insurance co. had changed labs. The reading from this lab was <0.10, which did not lesson my concern. I got an appointment with my surgeon and the earliest I could see him was May 15, 2008. I had another PSA done two weeks prior and the reading was still <0.10. He was very happy with the PSA result. He said that if we had a score of >0.1 then we would start doing something.

He was so happy with my progress (no leaking, no impotence) that he said he wanted to keep me and not send me back to my Urologist. My next appointment is in May of 09.

I had knee replacement surgery in Sept. and during my pre-op exam. I ran this past my regular doctor and she told me that she expected my PSA score to remain at the <0.1 level. She said her experience was that any movement in PSA scores would already have shown up. Needless to say I will still be checking my PSA on a regular basis.

I start 40 radiation treatments next month. They give me an 82% chance of no recurrencece of cancer in five years. Because of many things going on in my life, both parents in nursing home and mother being on hospice and other things I respectfully ask that you remove me as a Mentor from your website. I do this not because I want to, but I don't think I can cope with anything else at the present. I do thank you for your concerns, guidance and other help through your website. Who knows, when things get better (and I believe they will) you may find me knocking on your door. Please let me in if I do. [I have told Ed he will be very welcome back when his current troubles are behind him.]

Wishing everyone all the best of happiness and health.

Greetings, to update my PC story. The radiation treatments worked! I had 40 treatments with few side effects. I did have side effects from the hormone shot. They said the shot would last about 6 months, in my case it lasted about 10 months. By taking the shot, according to Dr. La Nasa, my chances for nonoccurrence in five years went from 65 to 82%. So, I was a fool not to take it.

The only way I can relate to the side effects is by my golf handicap. Before I took the shot and started the radiation treatments I was a five handicap after I took the shot and radiation treatments it went to an eleven. Obviously, I was weakened by the shot and treatments. BTW, it's a seven now. A temporary glitch in my golf game is a very small price to pay.

I suppose I should mention the side effects (I'm sure I'm repeating info. on this site) so, here goes. The shot gave me hot flashes and loss of muscle tone. No, I didn't want to go to the Mall shoe shopping. I did get a lot of grief from the insensitive bastards I play golf with. Use your imagination.

The side effect from the radiation was weakness. I didn't get sick from it. One requirement for the treatments was a full bladder. The purpose of that was to lift the bladder from the Prostate area. Now, it's seventy five miles one way from my house to the USMD Radiation Center and it took some effort to arrive on time and with a full bladder. There are no incontinence problems and the "little blue pill" helps with the other.

I live life in six month increments from one PSA test to the next. All of my last tests have been "less than 0.1 undetectable". I suppose, using 20/20 hind site I would have done the radiation instead of the robotic surgery. I have friends who opted for the surgery and they're doing fine. Bottom line, you can't predict what will happen.

Be positive! Thankfully, there are lots of good Drs. and treatment options out there.

Good news! PSA undetectable last three six month tests. Urologist moved PSA tests from every six months to once a year. Said she has patients with similar results going on 20yrs with no problems.

Nothing but good news. PSA undetectable, only have to see Urologist annually. Everything still works. Life is good!

There is life after Prostate cancer. Stay positive!

Ed's e-mail address is: edw897 AT yahoo.com (replace "AT" with "@")

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