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Diagnosed on 06.03.2017

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User

Posted 12 Mar 2017 at 18:57

Hi everyone ,

My name is Rick , I am 68 (69 in May) married with two grown up Daughters (47 and 49) and two grandchildren (25 and 29)

I retired from quite an active job at Christmas 2016

On Monday I was diagnosed with prostate cancer , I was not showing any symptoms ,my doctor did a blood test for something completely unrelated in December 2016 and was concerned that my PSA was 5.5 . Following this saw the urologist had a biopsy done and got the results on 6th March.

Of 12 biopsy samples taken 5 were contained cancer cells.Max tumour length 5mm

Gleason score 3 + 4 =7. Nothing was detected on the MRI scan

Prostate volume 40 PSA density 0.13

The Urology nurse who gave me my results ,told there was a good chance it was curable as the cancer was contained within the organ.

I have been offered Robotic assisted Prostatectomy or Hormone treatment and external beam radiotherapy.

I have an appointment on Tues with the Urologist to discuss surgery and another appointment on Weds to speak with the consultant oncologist. I cannot thank the hospital staff enough , all have been very sensitive and respectful of my feelings.

I have read a lot of info. regards both procedures , a lot on this excellent site plus I have met with a two local men who have had both procedures and told me of their experiences.

I am currently leaning heavily to go with the robotic procedure I am aware of the side effects but will feel happier to get it removed completely.

I should add I am reasonably fit for an old boy ,for the last 6 years have gone to weekly Pilates classes, so know all about Pelvic Floor exercises (I'm doing them 3 times a day now).

I am very positive about things and feel grateful it's been found .This doesn't mean I'm looking forward to the treatment ! .

I realise if it had been left and found later things might not look as bright.

I will update things after my next appointments and in the meantime thank you all for posting some very useful and ,sometimes funny, and very informative posts

RegardsRick

Edited by member 13 Mar 2017 at 09:52 | Reason: Not specified

User

Posted 21 Mar 2017 at 17:41

Hi Rick, almost identical to my diagnosis as well; ! had RP last August, age 66 and can only echo what advice others have given. I would also advise you to get as fit as possible before the op. My anaesthetist likened it to preparing for a marathon and put me on a strict regime of no alcohol, no white carbohydrates, 3 litres of water a day and lots of exercise for the 6 weeks prior. Not very enjoyable, but my recovery was very quick and no pain killers necessary from the day I left hospital. Of course there may be other factors involved, but I'm sure it contributed. Good luck.

User

Posted 12 Mar 2017 at 18:57

Hi everyone ,

My name is Rick , I am 68 (69 in May) married with two grown up Daughters (47 and 49) and two grandchildren (25 and 29)

I retired from quite an active job at Christmas 2016

On Monday I was diagnosed with prostate cancer , I was not showing any symptoms ,my doctor did a blood test for something completely unrelated in December 2016 and was concerned that my PSA was 5.5 . Following this saw the urologist had a biopsy done and got the results on 6th March.

Of 12 biopsy samples taken 5 were contained cancer cells.Max tumour length 5mm

Gleason score 3 + 4 =7. Nothing was detected on the MRI scan

Prostate volume 40 PSA density 0.13

The Urology nurse who gave me my results ,told there was a good chance it was curable as the cancer was contained within the organ.

I have been offered Robotic assisted Prostatectomy or Hormone treatment and external beam radiotherapy.

I have an appointment on Tues with the Urologist to discuss surgery and another appointment on Weds to speak with the consultant oncologist. I cannot thank the hospital staff enough , all have been very sensitive and respectful of my feelings.

I have read a lot of info. regards both procedures , a lot on this excellent site plus I have met with a two local men who have had both procedures and told me of their experiences.

I am currently leaning heavily to go with the robotic procedure I am aware of the side effects but will feel happier to get it removed completely.

I should add I am reasonably fit for an old boy ,for the last 6 years have gone to weekly Pilates classes, so know all about Pelvic Floor exercises (I'm doing them 3 times a day now).

I am very positive about things and feel grateful it's been found .This doesn't mean I'm looking forward to the treatment ! .

I realise if it had been left and found later things might not look as bright.

I will update things after my next appointments and in the meantime thank you all for posting some very useful and ,sometimes funny, and very informative posts

RegardsRick

Edited by member 13 Mar 2017 at 09:52 | Reason: Not specified

User

Posted 12 Mar 2017 at 20:30

Hi Rick

Sorry it's been necessary for you to join the club but it sounds as though you have been doing your homework and are pretty well prepared for what lies ahead.

It can be difficult making a final decision about what treatment options to go for but I am sure that whatever you choose it will be right for you.

All the very best with your PCa journey and it will be great if you could keep us updated to date with your progress. Treatments are constantly changing so I find it interesting to read of other people's experiences. Guess I might just be nosey.

Kind regards

Kevan

User

Posted 20 Mar 2017 at 22:42

Hi Rick,

Hope all goes well with OP. It's a major one so don't try to do too much too soon and be patient about after effects which may improve quickly but could take a long time.

Edited by member 21 Mar 2017 at 21:43 | Reason: Not specified

Barry

User

Posted 20 Mar 2017 at 22:50

Hi Rick

I found that once I had made a decision it was like having a weight lifted and I have never looked back since.

Enjoy your holiday 😊

User

Posted 21 Mar 2017 at 15:10

Hi Rick We both share a similar pre treatment diagnosis Like you I opted for the Robotic Surgery and later required Salvage therapy but I am pleased to say that despite problems with ED and incontinence my PSA seems to be on the decline. The support and advice on this forum is great. So enjoy your holiday and then go for it Good Luck Andrew

User

Posted 21 Mar 2017 at 15:32

You and your story sound very similar to mine.

If Surgery is your chosen option I would advise that you identify the surgical procedure option (it will be RARP but I believe (?) there are details of choices for the surgeon within that procedure) which has the best proven results for 'nerve sparing' and that you identify a surgeon who has the best proven track record of nerve sparing. They will use terms like "everybody's different" and "most people get use back within...blah, blah blah"

Also I would try to get the surgeon to agree to attempt to not cut out the internal (bladder) sphincter or at least explain why that cannot be avoided.

The surgeon's first priority is to make sure he cuts out anything that has any chance of being cancerous and in that regard it's easier for the surgeon to cut out more than less. You need to identify a surgeon who has the skill to cut out what needs cutting out and not cut out stuff that doesn't need cutting out.

User

Posted 21 Mar 2017 at 17:39

The science shows that robotic surgery does not reduce the risk of ED / incontinence Nomad, it just means you are in hospital and off work for a shorter time. Some men are not suitable for RARP due to previous surgery or because heart problems mean they cannot be tipped head down for hours on end. In some cases, open RP is the better option for getting a fine edge, if lymph nodes need to be removed or because of where the cancer is sited within the gland. You chose robotic because you believed it was your best option but that doesn't apply to every case.

"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard

User

Posted 27 Mar 2017 at 17:59

Hi Rick,

Another Dave I`m afraid.

I too was 68 when diagnosed and went through a very similar process to yourself before deciding on RRP, which went smoothly and recovery was swift. However thorough the investigations one can never be certain of the true state of affairs until the post-op biopsy. Whilst my statistics were up (or should it be down) graded? I was relieved to have taken the radical option and not delayed, when at least one of my consultants was advocating active surveillance.

I hope the surgery and your recovery is a complete successful. Sounds as though you are ahead of the game with the pelvic floor exercises. I managed to put in a couple of month`s worth before the op and was in control within 6 months.

Regards

Dave

User

Posted 29 Mar 2017 at 07:35

Hi Rick,

Welcome to the site we are a happy lot most of the time and you will find lots of help from the members as i did before my Brachytherapy in September 2016.I had much the same diagnosis as you but decided to take the brachytherapy route and only time will tell if it was the right decision but I have had a good reduction on my first PSA test from 2.19 down to 0.88 so fingers crossed for the next one in May.

I wish you luck with your operation and please come back to let us know how you are getting on.

John.

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User

Posted 12 Mar 2017 at 20:30

Hi Rick

Sorry it's been necessary for you to join the club but it sounds as though you have been doing your homework and are pretty well prepared for what lies ahead.

It can be difficult making a final decision about what treatment options to go for but I am sure that whatever you choose it will be right for you.

All the very best with your PCa journey and it will be great if you could keep us updated to date with your progress. Treatments are constantly changing so I find it interesting to read of other people's experiences. Guess I might just be nosey.

Kind regards

Kevan

User

Posted 12 Mar 2017 at 20:36

Well I was a bit worried for you at first - wondered how you had managed to have a daughter when you were only 10 but I see from your profile that you are actually 68 not 58 which makes more sense!!! At 68, I guess the potential risk of ED and dry orgasms is not so important and yet you are still young enough to recover from surgery without too many problems so your instinct to go with RP might be absolutely right.

However, don't close your ears to what both specialists have to say to you - with at least one 5mm core I would want to know how close to the edge that has crept and whether the surgeon is offering both nerve bundles spared, one nerve bundle spared or non-nerve sparing. That may make a difference to your risk of incontinence.

Your pelvic floor should be like a vice after all that pilates :-)

"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard

User

Posted 13 Mar 2017 at 09:52

Thanks Lynn ,I did start a family young , but not that young ,have edited my post to the correct age !

thanks for your comments r

User

Posted 20 Mar 2017 at 19:43

Hello all
Went to see the surgeon last Tuesday followed by the Oncologist on Wednesday who offered me another option of Bracchytherapy (as well as hormone treatment and beam radiotherapy).

I've weighed up all the odds, read loads of information ,scoured this site and have decided to stick with my first conclusion and go with the Robot Assisted Prostatectomy.

I'm booked in for the Op.on April 27th. one week after coming back from a long planned weeks holiday .I will post following the procedure to update the situation.

Regards Rick

User

Posted 20 Mar 2017 at 22:42

Hi Rick,

Hope all goes well with OP. It's a major one so don't try to do too much too soon and be patient about after effects which may improve quickly but could take a long time.

Edited by member 21 Mar 2017 at 21:43 | Reason: Not specified

Barry

User

Posted 20 Mar 2017 at 22:50

Hi Rick

I found that once I had made a decision it was like having a weight lifted and I have never looked back since.

Enjoy your holiday 😊

User

Posted 21 Mar 2017 at 15:10

Hi Rick We both share a similar pre treatment diagnosis Like you I opted for the Robotic Surgery and later required Salvage therapy but I am pleased to say that despite problems with ED and incontinence my PSA seems to be on the decline. The support and advice on this forum is great. So enjoy your holiday and then go for it Good Luck Andrew

User

Posted 21 Mar 2017 at 15:32

You and your story sound very similar to mine.

If Surgery is your chosen option I would advise that you identify the surgical procedure option (it will be RARP but I believe (?) there are details of choices for the surgeon within that procedure) which has the best proven results for 'nerve sparing' and that you identify a surgeon who has the best proven track record of nerve sparing. They will use terms like "everybody's different" and "most people get use back within...blah, blah blah"

Also I would try to get the surgeon to agree to attempt to not cut out the internal (bladder) sphincter or at least explain why that cannot be avoided.

The surgeon's first priority is to make sure he cuts out anything that has any chance of being cancerous and in that regard it's easier for the surgeon to cut out more than less. You need to identify a surgeon who has the skill to cut out what needs cutting out and not cut out stuff that doesn't need cutting out.

User

Posted 21 Mar 2017 at 17:39

The science shows that robotic surgery does not reduce the risk of ED / incontinence Nomad, it just means you are in hospital and off work for a shorter time. Some men are not suitable for RARP due to previous surgery or because heart problems mean they cannot be tipped head down for hours on end. In some cases, open RP is the better option for getting a fine edge, if lymph nodes need to be removed or because of where the cancer is sited within the gland. You chose robotic because you believed it was your best option but that doesn't apply to every case.

"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard

User

Posted 21 Mar 2017 at 17:41

Hi Rick, almost identical to my diagnosis as well; ! had RP last August, age 66 and can only echo what advice others have given. I would also advise you to get as fit as possible before the op. My anaesthetist likened it to preparing for a marathon and put me on a strict regime of no alcohol, no white carbohydrates, 3 litres of water a day and lots of exercise for the 6 weeks prior. Not very enjoyable, but my recovery was very quick and no pain killers necessary from the day I left hospital. Of course there may be other factors involved, but I'm sure it contributed. Good luck.

User

Posted 27 Mar 2017 at 17:59

Hi Rick,

Another Dave I`m afraid.

I too was 68 when diagnosed and went through a very similar process to yourself before deciding on RRP, which went smoothly and recovery was swift. However thorough the investigations one can never be certain of the true state of affairs until the post-op biopsy. Whilst my statistics were up (or should it be down) graded? I was relieved to have taken the radical option and not delayed, when at least one of my consultants was advocating active surveillance.

I hope the surgery and your recovery is a complete successful. Sounds as though you are ahead of the game with the pelvic floor exercises. I managed to put in a couple of month`s worth before the op and was in control within 6 months.

Regards

Dave

User

Posted 28 Mar 2017 at 18:49

Dave ,
Thanks for your reply , I guess it's a bit scary waiting for the biopsy results , my surgeon seemed a little bit concerned that I have had previous surgery, many years ago, to repair a hernia, using mesh. but said not to worry .
I suppose it's not until he gets in there to have a look he'll know what he's up against.

I have full confidence in his abilities and am still very positive .I'll deal with whatever I have to as I need to !

Regards Rick

User

Posted 29 Mar 2017 at 07:35

Hi Rick,

Welcome to the site we are a happy lot most of the time and you will find lots of help from the members as i did before my Brachytherapy in September 2016.I had much the same diagnosis as you but decided to take the brachytherapy route and only time will tell if it was the right decision but I have had a good reduction on my first PSA test from 2.19 down to 0.88 so fingers crossed for the next one in May.

I wish you luck with your operation and please come back to let us know how you are getting on.

John.

User

Posted 14 Apr 2018 at 17:57

Hello Rick,

I am currently sitting at home having had robotic surgery 6 days ago. I am 58 & my youngest is 18, hopefully going to Uni this year. I chose to just have the damn thing chopped out as I went to a PCASO meeting a few weeks back & people were talking about the trouble they had with surgery after other options. Everything including biopsies damages the prostate & as the scarring gets worse it gets harder to remove later if needed. Once I hit the term "salvage surgery" on a website my mind was made up. I am aware of the ED etc issues, but would rather have those (if they arise) & see my kids grow old. I found a surgeon in Eastbourne who was talking about nerve sparing & all the things it appears you have to look for. My wife joined an FB support group & some of the things being posted on there by wives shows I have had an amazingly easy experience. I was even able to take the dog for a slow walk yesterday! I am uncomfortable & not enjoying wearing a bag, but not in pain. The bag is a 10 day thing again a small price, I am just staying indoors most of the time & not receiving visitors until next Weds. I therefore cant speak highly enough of the people in Eastbourne who operated on me. I have a few 1" cuts dotted around my stomach & one larger one where the prostate itself exited, but am sure its now drawn a line under everything. I would recommend the surgery personally.

Best of luck which ever way you go, regards, Mike.

User

Posted 12 May 2018 at 12:17

Hi Rick,

First off, sorry you've had that diagnosis. I know how you feel right now. At this point for me (18 months ago) there was some wonderful help and encouragement on here and I hope I can offer some of that now.

My diagnosis was very similar to yours and I opted to have RARP exact one year ago this week. The operation went well and both contenence and potency are both really. More importantly for me, however, I am now cancer free. My blood and pathology post op were good and I now the 1yr blood test came back this week with PSA undetectable.

Hopefully similar outcome for you and please let me know if I can help with anything. God bless and good luck,

Gordon.

User

Posted 12 May 2018 at 15:47

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member

Hi Rick,......

My diagnosis was very similar to yours and I opted to have RARP exact one year ago this week. The operation went well and both contenence and potency are both really.......

Gordon.

Hi Gordon, ‘both really’ what?

Cheers, John

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