I'm a newbie to PC

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Comments

  • ballab11
    ballab11 Member Posts: 9
    #22
    My Story
    Sorry to see you here, but glad you're being proactive. I went the bing, bang, boom, got the diagnosis, did a bit of research and had it removed route. My diagnosis was found purely by hunch. My PSA was 2.3, ( a low number), but was rising over the course of a few years so my doctor sent me to a urologist just to get a second opinion. The urologist sugessted a biopsy and found a 5% malignancy in one sample out of 12 with a Gleason of 3+3. While this is very small, I took it as a sign. I am 54 and was told by my doctors that if I was 10 years older to just leave it alone, but becuase of my young age it was best to have it removed. Yes, there are many treatment options and prostate cancer is the slowest growing and most survivable, however most treatment options, other than removal of the prostate, are experimental in strictly my opinion. I thought about watchful waiting, which was certainly a choice, however the thought of every once in a while thinking, "I have cancer growing inside me", was not something I wanted to deal with. I completely understand others' opinions about options, however I just wanted it out and move on. For me, a radical robotic prostatectomy using the Da Vinci was the only option and if you have the insurance, why not? There are positives and negatives to ALL treatment options, however if you go with the radiation seeds and they don't work you won't be able to have the surgery. There are holistic protocols and a few others, but my choice was to have it removed. My surgeon, Dr. David Samadi of Mount Sinai Hospital is world reknowned for his expertise in the Da Vinci method, his bedside manner and his attention to detail. If I think about his and his ENTIRE staff's attitude I well up with tears.

    I had my surgery last Monday evening, was out of the hospital Tuesday afternoon and I'm having my catheter removed tomorrow morning. I am following all of his pre-and post-surgical instructions to a T and so far, everything is as he said it would be. I look forward to regaining my continence and my sexual prowess in a short period of time.

    I can't say anything about any other surgeon's capabilities, however Dr. Samadi is the ONLY surgeon that performs the procedure and he has a select surgical team that works with him as well as a research staff. I believe he has a staff of about 100 doctors, nurses and others that work for him alone (clinical and research), but again, Dr. Samadi is the only one who performs the procedure. I suggest you look at his website:

    http://www.roboticoncology.com

    Even if you choose another surgeon should you go that route the information in "patient instructions" alone is well worth it.

    Good Luck

    Bruce
  • Macuto52
    Macuto52 Member Posts: 1
    #23
    To dreamer574
    My husband is in his 50's and was diagnosted with PC on March 8, 2010. We panicked, I cried a lot and feel desperatated, alone and totally lost. So, you are not alone in this boat!

    But, then we took action..... went on Internet... found a lot of information ... learned about any possible treatmet and finally .... we are in the process of choosing which treatment my hubby will take.

    We realized that after the diagnostic, there was no way back. So, dont look back, focus in your future... take action and talk to your family, friends and doctors to get the most info possible.

    Get several opinions, one or two are not enough. We went from our Family Doctor to the Urologist, to the Radiologist, to the Surgeon ...then, to another Uroligist; inclusive, we got a lot of information from the RCOA clinic in GA that permorm a ProstaRcision (radiation therapy with seed implants). We learned that my husband is not a good candidate for that procedure but the brochure (free: downloaded and/or mailed to you) has an amazing amount of data presented in the the format of Q&A. That will help you a lot to understand the PC, the treatments and their side efects. Use the American Cancer Treatment Decisions Tool, any other reliable information found in Internet and take your time to read, digest and understand it. Grab your biopsy results and make your own table with the data from your Biopsy Needle Cores.

    All this work will help you to have a very Big Picture of what is going on with your PC. Also, you will have the necesary knowledge to know what questions to ask to your doctor (very, very important).

    Try to get an impartial doctor to help you to understand the best treatment for you, base in your particular case (PSA, GS, Stage, etc.) because, the big problem is that every doctor will want to get you; i.e.: Radiologists will want to do radiation, surgeons will want surgery, etc, etc.

    My advice? Ask your doctor to provide his/her patients ICR (Individual Cure Rate)based in your particular case. ICR is "individual", not a range of several persons with different types and stages of cancer. Then, you will see the average of patients treated, LIKE YOU, and their ICR. Finally, ask your doctor what he will do if he/she were in your shoes... look at him/her directly to his/her eyes and trust your intuition.

    Hope this will help and remember that the Supreme Being (whoever you beleive in) will not get you more that you can handle.
  • 25299
    25299 Member Posts: 2
    #24
    Don't Be Scared
    I have been in remission since 2005, i was 52 when i came down with prostate cancer. Ask all the questions you need to your doctor, if you would like to chat with me yopu can contact me e-mail jamessanders52@yahoo.com. I am on theman to man program with american cancer society in san diego...Jim
  • dreamer574
    dreamer574 Member Posts: 4
    #25
    25299 said:

    Don't Be Scared
    I have been in remission since 2005, i was 52 when i came down with prostate cancer. Ask all the questions you need to your doctor, if you would like to chat with me yopu can contact me e-mail jamessanders52@yahoo.com. I am on theman to man program with american cancer society in san diego...Jim

    Hi Guys (& Gals) I'm Back
    It's taken me until now but I've finally mustered up the courage to begin digesting the volulmes of available information so I can make the right PCancer decisions for me and those closest to me.
    Thanks for the part that you all played in getting me to this point,
    Dave
  • Skid Row Tom
    Skid Row Tom Member Posts: 125
    #26
    dreamer574 said:

    Hi Guys (& Gals) I'm Back
    It's taken me until now but I've finally mustered up the courage to begin digesting the volulmes of available information so I can make the right PCancer decisions for me and those closest to me.
    Thanks for the part that you all played in getting me to this point,
    Dave

    Decision-making
    Good luck. I think many (most) would agree that the decision-making process is the worst part.
  • randy_in_indy
    randy_in_indy Member Posts: 496 Member
    #27
    Dreamer
    I didn't realize I already posted to this...lol
  • BRONX52
    BRONX52 Member Posts: 156
    #28
    dreamer574 said:

    Hi Guys (& Gals) I'm Back
    It's taken me until now but I've finally mustered up the courage to begin digesting the volulmes of available information so I can make the right PCancer decisions for me and those closest to me.
    Thanks for the part that you all played in getting me to this point,
    Dave

    DREAMER
    I WAS DIAGNOSED IN DEC-09 AT AGE 57. HAD DAVINCI IN FEB-2010 AT AGE 58. AND JUST COMPLETED RADIATION THERAPY JUNE-3RD. BELIEVE ME WHEN I SAY YOUR NOT ALONE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHICH TREATMENT BEST SUITS YOUR SITUATION. AFTER GETTING OVER THE INITIAL SHOCK OF BEING DIAGNOSED WITH PC, I DECIDED THAT THE ONLY THING I COULD DO WAS ARM MYSELF WITH AS MUCH INFORMATION AS POSSIBLE CONCERNING TREATMENT OPTIONS. LITTLE DID I KNOW THAT THERE WERE SO MANY DIFFERENT TREATMENTS AVAILABLE. I SPOKE TO SEVERAL DOCTORS, SCOURED THE INTERNET,AND DISCUSSED THE OPTIONS WITH MY FAMILY. AFTER SOME SOUL SEARCHING I DECIDED ON DAVINCI. IT WAS THE RIGHT CHOICE FOR ME BUT EACH CASE IS DIFFERENT AND I WOULDN'T SECOND GUESS ANYONES TREATMENT DECISIONS. I WISH YOU WELL IN WHATEVER TREATMENT YOU CHOOSE AND REMEMBER, THERE ARE PLENTY OF PEOPLE HERE ON THIS SITE THAT CAN EXPLAIN DIFFERENT OPTIONS BASED ON THEIR PERSONAL EXPERIENCE. TAKE CARE AND GOOD LUCK !!!! DAN
  • Trew
    Trew Member Posts: 932 Member
    #29
    This is June 8 so you are
    This is June 8 so you are into it now. I am so sorry. I have wanted to go back so many times but the way back is absolutely barred, blocked, and baricaded with guards.

    Sort of like dark halls ahead- nothing to do but wander down them and see where they lead. So off I go. Like the strangest backpack trip I have ever been on- cliff hangings, river crossings and everything on this one trip. It can get exciting....

    But the earlier the PC is caught the easier the trip ahead will be for you. I hope you looked into proton therapy. You owe it to yourself.

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