THERE WAS NO RESPONSE TO AN UPDATE REMINDER IN 2015 SO THERE IS NO UPDATE.

As recent as 5 months ago I started experiencing problems urinating. Not serious but just enough to make me worry about possible prostate problems. Erection problems I experienced for almost a year but connected the problem to the fact that I am not that young anymore. Went to see my doctor and he suggested to do blood tests which we did. The result became a bit of a shock. Numbers did not mean anything to me as I never studied or just looked up information about cancer and how it is measured. I never felt sick - did not even experience headaches or other normal sickness other people around me complained about. Maybe the fact that I work in a high stress environment kept my mind too busy for realising I am not well.

If what I think was measured from my blood sample my PSA came out as 4.6. I was referred to a Urologist and he did the urine flow test as well as the internal prostate examination and did a sonar examination of the bladder, prostate, kidneys and liver. All seems to be healthy except for a slight misformed bladder shape. He informed me that this could point to cancer and that more tests were to be done. A biopsy was done on the prostate I received a call from the Urologist telling me that I do have an aggressive cancer version and that urgent action should be taken. We discussed it in a follow-up visit and decided that removal of the prostate will be done. and some chemo treatment after recovery of the operation.

Since this decision we are building up iron levels and making sure my body will be strong enough for the shock.

The operation is scheduled for April 27, 2010.

About seven weeks after removal of my prostate my PSA still hovered between 15 and 20 and I was referred to a oncologist for further treatment. With the oncologist I started a hormone treatment [ADT (Androgen Deprivation Therapy)] and a seven week daily radiation treatment. [EBRT (External Beam Radiation Treatment)]

The last feedback session I had with the oncologist was in February 2011 when my PSA was 0.08. I am still receiving my implants every 3 months. This will carry on till February 2012 after which all treatment will be terminated if the PSA stay as low as what it is now. After then six monthly PSA tests will be done to ensure that any deviation will be picked up in time.

Negative experiences during the treatment was bad diahorrea during and short after the radiation, dramatic weight loss (down from about 100 kg to 76 kg), problematic bladder control, mood dips and 100% impotency. All these except for the impotency are now history and my weight is now back to 90 kg. I try to manage the weight to stay around 90 kg.

Going through something like this did change my outlook on life and I feel much more positive than what I have been before. My relationship with my Creator, family and friends also changed for the better. One lesson I learned is that there is and will always be hope and even in dark times good thing happen.

Any questions? Do mail me!!

I am still clean. My last PSA check was 5 weeks ago. The next will be 5 months from now.

Result of the latest test done on 27 May 2013 came out as "Undetectable".

Yearly PSA test done on 3rd June 2014 shows I am still clean!

Kobus's e-mail address is: kobus AT secunda.co.za (replace "AT" with "@")

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