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

Let me begin by saying that this website was more helpful than any of the research that I conducted after my diagnosis in November '06. Considering the research that was done (hours upon hours), this statement cannot be diminished as to it's importance as I began the "journey". I found Yana to be so helpful for a very simple reason.....the information provided was from men that shared "real world" experiences in their fight against "prostate ca".

I am fully aware that many of you that are reading this have already been diagnosed, treated with your choice of therapy, and hopefully are going on with life as you did before the scare. However, my true purpose in sharing my experience is to provide information to those new to the site...those of you who are now in the situation that I was in November '06 when I received the phone call informing me that I had cancer.

If my experience can allow just one of you the piece of mind that I enjoyed by reviewing other's comments, then I've accomplished what I had hoped to accomplish in this correspondence.

As stated in my profile, I was 53 years old when I was diagnosed. Although there was no family history of PCa, I had been getting my PSA checked since my mid forties . Why so early? Because I was (still am) a pharmaceutical rep selling oncology drugs. I happened to be selling a drug for PCa, and as many oncology reps are prone to do, I was paranoid about the "C" word. My PSA initially was 1.9 but had shown a consistent rise over the next 8-9 years. Even though my PSA was 3.1, still well within range, my urologist suggested a biopsy based on this pattern. His intent was to "rule PCa out", but the biopsy provided the opposite scenario. I had cancer!!

The research began in earnest and the robotic assisted prostatectomy ( Da Vinci) was my choice of treatments. As a gentleman from England described his decision to do the same (on the Yananow site)..."I wanted the cockroach out of my body!" I felt the same way, so I chose surgery.

My "bio"....53, 3.1 PSA, Gleason score of 6, 7 cores positive for cancer post biopsy, out of 12 ( most of those in one quadrant), post surgery margins negative for cancer, both nerves spared. I get my PSA checked every 6 months and all PSAs have been under detectable levels ( my urologist uses the term "zero".. I like that a lot!!)

I'm not going to go into detail regarding the surgery itself, nor the short recoup time, as I found the information on this site very comprehensive as to those details. I will also admit to feeling very selfish in not visiting this site after my surgery, as I am now able to share my own experiences and have neglected to do so until now.

With that said, I'd like to share with you some personal matters that result from the surgery.

As stated earlier, I have not been on this site since my surgery. I would assume that many testimonials provided are including information describing "long term, post surgery" details. I found, in 2006, that many concerns were not resolved by those sharing their stories since their treatments had been fairly recent (6 mos, maybe a year). I point this out since I found information lacking as to some post surgery "problems". Problems? Incontinence and impotence. Again, having not visited this site since my surgery, I would assume that these issues are addressed by guys who are now 2-3 years down the road. I realize that I risk being redundant, but I'll take my chances and provide my experience. [Mark perhaps missed the index that lists stories by year of diagnosis - there are descriptions of treatments going back to 1991 - and plenty of examples of the outcome.]

INCONTINENCE....annoying, but short lived. I maybe had 6 weeks that I needed some sort of protection, but this truly resolved itself much sooner than I expected. After the pads, drinking a few beers presented a problem, but even that issue went away very shortly.

IMPOTENCE....Now I have your attention!! I had both nerves spared, so my urologist suggested that things will be "somewhat normal" with one and half to two years. He was right on the money. I do need to say that I've never been concerned about possible side effects from the ED drugs (remember...I sell "legal" drugs for a living). In fact, I had experimented with them before I was diagnosed. Before the surgery, you could hang a three piece suit on the trouser snake "after" sex, so I was already sold on the results. "After" the surgery was a different story. It took months to get a stiffy and then more months to somewhat maintain it. My urologist had me use a "pump" twice daily to increase venous blood flow, along with Levitra times a weekly ,at night, to increase the "oxygenated " blood flow. It's the 'ole "use it or lose it" theory.

Ok, you are asking if there is a good ending to this story. You better believe it. I had my surgery in February of '07 and I have "almost" a normal sex life. Almost? Here is the deal....no prostate, so no semen. So, you can forget that. BUT....I get woodies AND I climax. Regarding the "climax", I'll pass something along that has happened. I'm going to discuss this with my doctor next month, so I have no idea as to whether or not this is "normal". There are two people who know this, my wife and I, and thank God we've always had a great sex life. Since that is the case, she has readily accepted the following. My "climax" doesn't result in the release of semen....it results in the release of "urine". Not a tremendous amount by any means, but this is what happens. It's actually a more intense climax, and without going into specifics, my wife is cool with it. (She was never really over- enthused with the "pre-surgery" emission anyway, so she has adapted very well). Enough of the gory details...again, I have no idea as to whether or not others have dealt with this. I consider this a bonus that I was not expecting, but I don't want to provide false hope. (I know, hope is a strange description for this outcome)I simply want to be open, as I found others to be on this site. So, just be patient and things will work out. [The leakage of urine after climax - termed Climacturia that Mark describes here is a common result of surgery - in fact PCa activist Donna Pogliano was of the opinion that it is the 'norm' -but for some reason is rarely discussed. Most people are able to deal with it pretty well, but others find it unpleasant.]

Keep one thing in mind...you have a very curable cancer and even if things are different in the bedroom, you are alive!! [While Mark's enthusiasm is to be commended, regrettably not all versions of PCa are 'curable' or slow growing. Some men with aggressive varieties do not have such a rosy future and need to take much more aggressive approaches.]

I truly hope that this VERY long message helps someone as my intent was to provide you some solace. The Da Vinci surgery was not a big deal at all...back to work in 2 weeks. I had a catheter for 2 weeks as well....meaning I didn't have to pause the DVR to go to the bathroom (actually, VERY convenient). The surgery "after-effects" are minor, but again, patience is a virtue.

Before I close, I want to tell you that I was very proactive with friends, co-workers, family, etc after I was diagnosed. I sent out 85 emails explaining my situation...not to garner sympathy...but to point out the importance of the PSA test. I've had 8 guys (either recipients of my email or acquaintances) inform me that PCa was detected. All were diagnosed early and will go on to die from something other than PCa. You may want to do the same. You might save someone's life.

Thanks for your time and good luck to all!!

This month (November '09)is the 3rd year anniversary of the "phone call". That call, of course, was "supposed" to inform me that the results of my biopsy were normal. Things didn't work out that way. Accordingly, this coming February will be the 3rd year anniversary of my surgery (Da Vinci).

My latest visit to the urologist September '09) revealed that my PSA is still at undetectable levels. (less than 0.04) I have my PSA done twice a year.

I truly thought after the surgery, I'd live my life in 6 month intervals. In other words, I believed that every 6 month visit would be followed by another 6 months of worry. (worry that the next visit might reveal the cancer's "return"). I was wrong. I do not dwell on it in the least...and so far, so good.

In terms of any long lasting effects, they have been very, very minimal. The incontinence that I experienced post surgery is a non factor. Our sex life is just as good now as it always was before the surgery. I do take ED medication (Levitra), but I had begun using it before surgery. I honestly think it is more of a crutch than anything, since I can get an erection without it. However, I feel that I can "maintain" that erection better with the use of the medication.

For those newly diagnosed guys searching for answers (as I was when I found Terry's site), let me put it to you this way. There is bad news, and there is good news. The bad news? You have cancer. The good news? You have prostate cancer and it is NOT a death sentence. Although I personnally chose robotic surgery, there are other options. Research them, and decide what is best for you. But know that this cancer can be dealt with if caught early, and even if it's not, it is a very slow growing disease. [As stated above while it is true that most of the varinats of prostate cancer diagnosed these days is what is termed 'indolent' it is alsoimportant to be aware of the fact that there are some very aggressive forms of the disease.]

A good friend of mine was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer a month after I found out I had PCa. He was 48 years old when he died 8 short months later. I don't mean to diminish anyone's worry...cancer scares the shit out of you. But, it could be much, much worse.

I hope you find this site as helpful as I did when I found out I had PCa. Believe me, there are many of us (probably "all" of us)that went through all of the same uncertainties. YANA truly helped me, reading of "real life" experiences. I hope this helps you in some way.

It's now been four years from my diagnosis and this coming February will mark the 4 year anniversary of my surgery. Thankfully, nothing has really changed in the last year. I've had my PSA checked twice, and both times it was undetectable.

ED...no issues (although I still use Levitra.) As stated earlier, I had begun using ED meds before my diagnosis, and although their use post-surgery was "medicinal" (suggested by my physician), I continue to use them now. Even though an erection is possible without their use, I'm more confident that the erection will last. As my urologist stated, "Sex is not a thinking man's game".

Incontinence..no issues. I will qualify this a bit, since over the last few months, I've noticed some "post void drippage"...so I need to shake this little thing a few more times after I urinate. I discussed it with my urologist and he says it has NOTHING to do with the surgery. He said it's due to something for which there is no cure....getting older. His remedy? Wear black or blue slacks when playing golf...never beige. What a comedian!

I hope this update serves some positive purpose for some, and I wish you a Happy Thanksgiving and a Merry Christmas!!!

It's now been over 5 years since my surgery. My most recent PSA test, as well as follow up visit, occurred within the last week. It had been 1 year since I was tested and seen, as my physician is confident that yearly checkups are warranted now, as opposed to every 6 months. Thankfully, the PSA has remained within undectectable parameters. I still have zero side effects from the surgery. No incontinence, no leakage and any ED issues are successfully dealt with by the use of Levitra. (Note: I had begun using Levitra a few years BEFORE my diagnosis and treatment). I continue it's use today as more as a "crutch" than anything. I'm still able to achiive erection without it, but as was the case before Prostate CA, I'm confident that the erection will be maintained. All in all, I'm not even sure I need it...but "if it 'aint broke, why fix it ?" So I continue it's use.

I hope this update serves to allay some fears, especially for those of you new to this site. Personally, I found YANA to be the most helpful and comforting site of anything I researched after my diagnosis. (and I researched ALOT)

Good luck to all.

Mark Denton

May 6th, 2013. I had my yearly meeting with my physician this morning to discuss my PSA results from last week. Good news again...the PSA is still undetectable. I'm not dealing with any other issues.

I hope to sound like a broken record again this time next year (and report the same).

Good luck to all

Mark Denton

7 plus years since Da Vinci. PSA still undetectable.

Mark's e-mail address is: markjd AT fuse.net (replace "AT" with "@")

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