THERE WAS NO RESPONSE TO AN UPDATE REMINDER IN 2014 SO THERE IS NO UPDATE.

2007--had my first urologist DRE (Digital Rectal Examination) and PSA test.

March 4, 2008--PSA 2.7

2009--PSA 4.1 and urologist insisted on biopsy

July 1, 2009 Biopsy done, 12 samples.

July 8, 2009 Urologist called to say there was evidence of a tumor.

July 10, 2009 Pathology report indicated there were cancer cells in three samples. Gleason score 7 (4+3). Urologist suggested radical prostatectomy with robotic assistance. I asked for a second pathology opinion and it came back a 7 (3+4). My urologist admitted to having only done 40 Da Vinci surgeries.

After much research, study, and prayer I decided on Da Vinci Robotic radical prostatectomy, but with a surgeon who had done over 1,100.

The cancer was confined to the prostate. Gleason grade 3+4 = 7. No lymphatic/vascular invasion. Seminal vesicles and extraprostatic soft tissue free of tumor. Inked margins free of tumor.

Used one pad per day for six weeks. Presently off pads and using two underpants to be safe. Four week post surgery ultra sensitive PSA was 0.04 - next PSA check in January. No Viagra therapy yet. Erectile Dysfunction (ED) present.

PSAs since surgery have been 0.03, 0.02., 0.05, and the latest 0.02.

Totally continent and ED has been greatly reduced. I am back to where I was pre-diagnose and surgery. Slight ED that is corrected with generic Viagra.

So far, so good--thanks be to God and a great surgeon. It took one year and five months for the ED problem to be healed. The nerves take a while to mend I suppose.

Since robotic surgery in 2009, I have made some lifestyle changes that I believe have made me healthier and happier. I no longer listen to as much talk radio as before and now prefer to listen to music instead. I try to do things that make me happy, like ride my motorcycle, ski, and work in my garden as much as possible. It's all about being happy because tension and stress are killers. I have also changed my diet to a close to vegan diet. I no longer eat red meat and avoid dairy foods entirely, except eggs. I eat eggs. I eat a lot of veggies and homemade tomatoe sauce. Since those diet changes, my annual blood work numbers have been excellent. Emotionally, I find that I cry more than I ever did before PCa. I'm not sure why, but beautiful music could set me off, or an emotional story in church could do it. I think the root of that is thankfullness to be alive perhaps. It's certainly not depression because I don't feel depressed.

ED is a problem for me though. Erections are possible for me but it takes work. It wasn't perfect pre-surgery so I'm probably where I would have been with or without surgery so I cannot honestly say this is a side-effect of treatment. Pills help but still only get about 80-90% hard, even with pills.

If I was to do it all over again, with my G7 I would have done the exact same thing with robotic surgery with a surgeon who had done at least 700 of them Experience matters most definitely with this. However, if I were a G6 I would seriously consider going on Active Surveillance with frequent PSA checkups. I would avoid most red meat and mostly avoid dairy. I would consume lots of tomatoe sauce. Diet changes and exercise could very likely freeze existing PCa right where it is for many years, instead of taking drastic action like surgery or radiation treatments. I would recommend this only for G6 guys with relatively low PSA scores though.

That's about it for this year's annual report. Peace!

I have reached the 3 1/2 year post radical prostectomy point of my journey. Life is good, health is good. I feel cured. However, my wife and I seldom have sex anymore. I am able to acheive an erection with the help of pills, but because of very infrequent climacturia that I have had during sex, this could be the cause of the lack of interest on the part of my wife. I can't say that I blame her. I take one of the erection pills now and then for basic penis health and nighttime erections. Since PCa entered my life, I have completely changed my diet. I never eat red meat, and seldom eat any meat at all. I absolutely avoid milk products as much as I can, and I avoid sugar also as much as I can. I believe sugar feeds cancer. We make our own tomato sauce and we try to make that an important part of our diet in many ways. I believe these changes have helped me avoid other cancers I may have and my overall health has improved. My surgeon in Boston has left to go back to LA, so I do not have a urologist and I have not looked for another because I don't have the need.

Red's e-mail address is: johnm141 AT cox.net (replace "AT" with "@")

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