Newly Diagnosed

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  • bob33462
    bob33462 Member Posts: 76
    #22
    Esqeddy said:

    Have you considered CyberKnife?

    i was diagnosed in September 2015 with a Gleason score of 7 And a 6.4 PSA. I had decided to do the robot assisted RP surgery. As I read up on it I realized that I was definitely facing a period of inconstanence. My research indicates that it takes up to 18 months to regain urinary control with 20% of patients having some permanent level of inconstanence. ED is another issue in that 75% of surgical patients experience it to some degree.

    The CyberKnife therapy consists of just 5 days of radiation. No inconstanence, no ED. 

    Of course, my decision rests on the fact that I may be in a very different place in my life than you. I'm not of retirement age yet. I'm 57 and a trial lawyer. Inconstance is a no go for me and a courtroom.  Further, the recovery time is too long for surgery and my profession. Being an attorney in a rural area, there is too big a chance of word getting around that I had cancer.  This would likely end my career in that many people would be hesitant to hire me. 

    In any event, I wanted to make sure you were aware of CyberKnife as an option.  There are a few preliminary days of imaging and meeting with the doctor and staff, but the treatment was literally done in 5 straight days. You lay on a table and watch TV for about an hour while a robot radiates you from about 200 different angles. You do that 5 times and you are done.  That's it. The only side effect I had was having to take more flowmax for a couple of months.  The radiation inflames the prostate for a while. No cuts, no pain, no peeing on myself.

    Good of luck and best wishes. 

    CyberKnife

    Esqeddy, Thank you - I spoke to a radiology oncologist and he advised that SBRT, or CyberKnife, would be risky for me, based upon my biopsy results. Even though he owned a radiation practice he advised surgery and then radiation, if needed.

    Good luck to you, as well

  • bob33462
    bob33462 Member Posts: 76
    #23
    Surgery Scheduled

    I received a surgery date of May 20, 2016.

    Not real haapy over a two month wait. I did ask to be put on a waiting list in case of any canceled surgeries.

    I feel because of the aggresive nature, Gleason 8, of my cancer I need to explore other hospitals and surgeons to obtain an earlier date. Of course, I would not take an earlier date with an inexperinced da Vinci surgeon. 

    Not sure that creates an ethics dilema for me? Keeping the above date while exploring other surgeons.

     

  • Will Doran
    Will Doran Member Posts: 207 Member
    #24
    bob33462 said:

    Surgery Scheduled

    I received a surgery date of May 20, 2016.

    Not real haapy over a two month wait. I did ask to be put on a waiting list in case of any canceled surgeries.

    I feel because of the aggresive nature, Gleason 8, of my cancer I need to explore other hospitals and surgeons to obtain an earlier date. Of course, I would not take an earlier date with an inexperinced da Vinci surgeon. 

    Not sure that creates an ethics dilema for me? Keeping the above date while exploring other surgeons.

     

    Thinking of and Praying for You

    Bob,

    Know that my wife and I will be Thinking of and Praying for You.  I remember how it felt waiting until the surgery could get done.  It seemed like forever.  I waited from the middle of October until the first week of December, until they could get the surgery scheduled, all the tests done and finally get the operating room and DaVinci Robot reserved for the surgery.

    Hang in there and FIGHT HARD.

    Peace and God Bless

    Will

  • bob33462
    bob33462 Member Posts: 76
    #25
    Will Doran said:

    Thinking of and Praying for You

    Bob,

    Know that my wife and I will be Thinking of and Praying for You.  I remember how it felt waiting until the surgery could get done.  It seemed like forever.  I waited from the middle of October until the first week of December, until they could get the surgery scheduled, all the tests done and finally get the operating room and DaVinci Robot reserved for the surgery.

    Hang in there and FIGHT HARD.

    Peace and God Bless

    Will

    Thanks

    Will, thank you!

  • Old Salt
    Old Salt Member Posts: 1,505 Member
    #26
    bob33462 said:

    Surgery Scheduled

    I received a surgery date of May 20, 2016.

    Not real haapy over a two month wait. I did ask to be put on a waiting list in case of any canceled surgeries.

    I feel because of the aggresive nature, Gleason 8, of my cancer I need to explore other hospitals and surgeons to obtain an earlier date. Of course, I would not take an earlier date with an inexperinced da Vinci surgeon. 

    Not sure that creates an ethics dilema for me? Keeping the above date while exploring other surgeons.

     

    Don't worry!

    Based on some relatively new info, I wouldn't worry about the 'delay':

    http://prostatecancerinfolink.net/2016/03/07/time-from-diagnosis-to-initiation-of-primary-radiation-therapy-does-it-effect-outcomes/

    And stick with the, presumably very competent, surgeon you choose originally.

    Good luck!

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