Walnut

Subscribe to RSS Feed for recent updates
Subscribe to RSS Feed for recent updates

YANA - YOU ARE NOT ALONE NOW

PROSTATE CANCER SUPPORT SITE

 

SURVIVOR STORIES  :  DISCUSSION FORUM  :  WIVES & PARTNERS  :  TELL YOUR STORY  :  UPDATE YOUR STORY  :  DONATIONS  :  TROOP-C

YANA HOME PAGE  :  DON'T PANIC  :  GOOD NEWS!  :  DIAGNOSIS  :  SURVIVING  :  TREATMENT CHOICES  :  RESOURCES  :  ABOUT US  :  MAIL US

 

    GOLD    
This is his Country or State Flag

Richard Watt and Charlotte live in New York, USA. He was 67 when he was diagnosed in August, 2010. His initial PSA was 7.40 ng/ml, his Gleason Score was 6, and he was staged T1c. His initial treatment choice was Surgery (Retropubic Prostatectomy) and his current treatment choice is None. Here is his story.

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

I received a PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) test in the beginning of August 2010. It showed the level had risen from approximately 3.8 to about 7.5, at which point my family physician, Dr. Edward Merker, referred me to a urologist, Dr. Jack Hershman. Dr. Hershman prescribed a course of Cipro for inflammation. After that the PSA number did not come down, so Dr. Hershman performed a biopsy, which rendered 6 on the Gleason scale, 3/3. I then chose surgery to be performed after the Jewish Holy Days, on October 4, 2010.

Why did I choose surgery? Radiation therapy was not an alternative for me, nor were radioactive seeds; they meant I would not be able to hold my baby granddaughter, Lily, on my lap. [Although a number of doctors give this advice, others say, and point to relevant studies, that even seed implants (brachytherapy) would not generate sufficient quantities of radiation to harm a child sitting on an adult's lap.] Dr, Hershman has a very fine reputation, so I chose to have him do the surgery. Another, potentially better approach, could have been robotic surgery, but I trusted Dr. Hershman to do a good job, and he did.

Two weeks, and then a week before surgery I had blood taken to be used in surgery if needed (it was). This is called an autologous blood donation, i.e. donating ones own blood for future use. It did away with any chance that I could be infected by someone else's blood.

I went in for surgery at Phelps Hospital in Sleepy Hollow, NY the morning of October 4, 2010. I supposed my recovery was uneventful, but it didn't seem that way to me. It wasn't until 3.5 days later that I was able to begin to keep down food, and my digestive system didn't really begin working properly until after I went home Friday Oct. 8th. Walking the hospital corridors, IV, Foley bag and all is very important to getting back on the path to health. A catheter ran from my bladder through my penis and was connected to the Foley bag, which the technicians emptied regularly. This is something I later did myself at home.

The reason I go on at length about this, is because having a foreign object in ones bladder can cause bladder spasms, which causes urine to spurt out bypassing the catheter, also the catheter lengthens out of the penis during recovery. Because I was worried about this, I called Dr. Hershman. He said not to worry, this is normal, something patients may want to know it advance. Also the catheter can cause discomfort; I took ibuprofen for that, which worked well, but acetaminophen may work better for some people.

My recovery has been smooth. Yes I'm wearing adult diapers for the time being, but in a few weeks I should start Kegel exercises for men, and gain greater control. [It is suggested that commencing Kegel exercises before surgery may speed recovery of control of the urinary function.] What's more I got to see my beautiful granddaughter, Lily, yesterday, and although I am not yet able to pick up or carry heavy objects, I was able to hold her. Recovery seems to be going to plan.

UPDATED

November 2011

I was diagnosed with prostate cancer in August 2010. This was followed by surgical removal of the prostate on Oct. 4, 2010. A few months after that my PSA stood at >0.10. Now 11 months later is stands at 0.40.

My MD says not to worry, but to have another PSA test in 6 months. Nevertheless, I worry. What does this rise mean?

UPDATED

January 2013

A year after having had a prostatectomy my PSA was rising. At first is was .04, then .07 and in July of 2012 1.2. This was not good because I no longer had a prostate. My urologist, who did the surgery, recommended that I go see Dr. Boris Mueller at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center ins Sleepy Hollow, NY. The cause for the rising PSA, was cancer cells in the prostate bed. After a CAT scan an MRI, a bone scan and and another MRI, I began radiation therapy. I may have to update the type because I'm not sure. In any event with a PSA of 0, it now looks as if I am cured.

UPDATED

May 2013

July 2012 I began 40 radiation treatments. Now my PSA is >.05 and I am doing very well, thank to Dr. Boris Mueller at Memorial Sloan Kettering in Sleepy Hollow, NY.

UPDATED

June 2014

My health is good, but I am often tired because I have to get up many times to urinate. Also after surgery, and then radiation therapy, there's no such thing as sex anymore.

UPDATED

July 2015

I thank God I have been totally cured. The only issue is impotence, because I was never ready to give up on sex, but sex gave up on me.

Richard's e-mail address is: richard10570 AT gmail.com (replace "AT" with "@")

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


RETURN TO INDEX : RETURN TO HOME PAGE LINKS