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

My father had a Radical prostatectomy in 1993 with a PSA of 20. He has survived 15 years; so I have a great deal of hope. My father-in-law also had prostate cancer and died of prostate cancer in 1990 with the last two years pure hell.

I've been watching my PSA every years and recently every 6 months.

Last May my PSA was 2.4 In Oct went to 2.7. I was referred to a urologist and another exam and PSA test. This time it was Jan 08 and now PSA was 3.1. Biopsy was ordered and had 12 samples drawn. Got a phone call that 8 of the 12 samples were positive. 1 core 50%; 1core 40%; 2cores 30%; 3 Cores 10%. After picking myself off the floor after the doctor called we cried, held each other and said "Lets get to work." I waited a day or so and headed to the library and did all of my research so I had three pages of questions.

After talking to doctors about the robotic surgery we decided to have it done as soon as possible. I asked to have it a soon as possible so this coming Tuesday morning the robotic surgery is being done.

If I've learned one thing its that everyone's experience is different. So no matter what I expect it may not be. We'll take it one step at a time and I have really had to stop and put it all in perspective. I can't worry about ED or incontinence or anything else if I don't rid myself of the cancer and move on. A supportive wife of 40 years is with me and my family. What more could I want. I will get back to the update in a few days or weeks depending. This site has been a tremendous help and I look forward to coming back in a little bit.

Two weeks post op today. We met with the Surgeon today. The catheter was removed and my pathology report showed no cancer anywhere outside the prostate. Were we relieved to hear that.

There were however two large tumors present; so it was good thing I made my decision so quickly to have the surgery.

I feel almost 100% and looking forward to the future .Can't tell you what a great support this site has been.

Looking forward to posting my follow up PSA readings in a little while.

Later:

It is now three weeks since my surgery. Updated Gleason Score is 3+3 =6 What it was originally. Approx 30% of prostate was involved with tumor on both left and right. Margins all negative. No extension. Vas deferens and seminal vesicles without change. Pathological stage pT2c (originlly T1c). So it looks like my surgeon removed all the bad stuff.

I have been continent since the catheter was removed a week ago.A little leakage occasionally when someone surprises me and I laugh.

The ED problem I was worried about is coming along slowly , but it is coming along. We just decided not to focus on one item and just let things take their course. I have healed very quickly and was able to have a sexual encounter the day after the catheter was removed. Being intimate has renewed our relationship of over 40 yrs. More than I could have imagined. Seems to me I am one of the lucky ones. Only time will tell.

My surgeon credits my quick recovery to being in tremendous shape and mostly because of my mental focus and outlook. I'll have to take his word for that. He said my body has healed like that of someone 25. That I find hard to believe. All the more reason to lead a healthy lifestyle. It has sure made a believer of me.

It has now been 9 months. PSA is less than .01.

We still struggle with ED. Everything I read tells me the nerves will come back between 1 to 2 years. Levitra my drug of choice helps, but the side effects : headaches and heartburn are killers.

Due to go back for the 1 year checkup. Hopefully this PSA will be the sama as last.

Coming up on three years since my surgery. [Two years, surely?]

PSA has been undetectable since the surgery. No real ED problems. We settled on Levitra as a drug of choice. I use less than 2.5 mg on occasion. Sometimes I don't need any drugs and some times just a small amount will do the trick. I had nerve sparing and as yet the nerves have not really come back to where I thought they would be. Maybe it will not get any better than it is now, but this is a lot more than I ever expected. I don't take sex for granted.

Its been a real journey and maybe I am one of the luckier ones. My Dad has his cancer in the early 90's and I wish the surgery I chose had been his choice. He is now 86 and as of now cancer free. Had a brother with PC that chose robotic and he is cancer free after two years.

Three years next week cancer free - PSA undetectable The urologist told me have my PSA done every six months and to have the family doctor monitor my PSA.

It's been a struggle with the ED. Everything is working fine just not as good as I would like. I take 5mg of Cialis with 2 gm of larginine and that works . Haven't tried any other means. I have discovered that sex is more mental than I ever imagined. Took me a while to get to that point. I would rate the overall recovery a 9 on a scale of 1 to 10.

It has now been 3-1/2 years approximately. I am almost as good as before surgery.

I can say urinary function has always been good and ED was a problem for first 2 years I kept waiting for the nerves to re-generate. I gave up worrying about that. I stopped using the viagra/cialis type drugs around that time and started to use 2.5 to 3 grams daily of L arginine -usually after dinner - which works fine for us. This doesn't work for everyone, but for me its great!!

I advocate exams and PSA; tests to all my family and friends and will continue to do so. If I had to do it over again I would do exactly the same thing. I still monitor my PSA every six months. Three other close family members have been diagnosed since I have had my cancer.

Coming up on 5 years and the first 2-1/2 years were a struggle with ED. I am back to normal or as normal as can be. No trouble with the ED since I found L'arginine. If you havent tried it you need to at least look it up in the medical section. I tell any of my friends with PC About what I call the wonder drug. Its cheap and over the counter.

I gave been training for the Ironman event in Lake Placid this summer and my goal is raising funds for PC. If you arent sure what the ironman us...2.4 mile swim ...112 mile bike and then you get do do a Marathon all in the same day. When I was first diagnosed I wasn't sure if I would be around to do anything like this. My wife posted a quite in our refrigerator "Positive thoughts ... Positive actions". Works for me!

There is always light at the end of the tunnel and as CS Elliot said "you are never too old to take on a new task or dream a new dream".

Coming upon 8 years. I made the right decision based on the timing in 2006 and what was available at time. My decision might be diferent today with the options available. I currently have no issues post-op and it's now been almost 8 years. Loving life and I keep an eye on all pf. My friends encouraging them to be checked annually.

Every thing is all good here.

No changes aside from low Testosteone which I am seeing the Dr about and discuss options.

George's e-mail address is: zoph3388 AT verizon.net (replace "AT" with "@")

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