Newly diagnosed 47- year old

93Buff
93Buff Member Posts: 1
in Prostate Cancer #1

Hey all,

I was diagnosed this week with prostate cancer

Intermediate stage.

8 positive cores

3 cores = 7

5 cores = 6

PSA = 4.2

I am flabbergasted, because I had no risk signs.  I have been taking Testosterone supplements (very low testosterone in the low 200s since I was 38), which definitely contributed to the early diagnosis with PSA tests every 6 months.

 

The doctor said that Robotic Prostatectomy is the best and smartest choice given my age and health.

 

I am a healthy, fairly muscular guy and I am so worried that with testosterone dropping, that I'll become weaker and frail. That's my biggest fear.

 

What has been folk's experience with working out and lifting weights after the Prostate is removed?  How long did it take to feel strong again?

 

Does it come back?

 

Comments

  • Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3
    Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3 Member Posts: 3,819 Member
    #2
    Best

    Welcome, 93Buff.

    While the news is shocking to you, you need to begin researching treatment options.  Curative treatments are of two sorts: Surgery, or radiation. There are numerous delivery techniques for the radiation, however.

    While for an intermediate case like yours surgery would (almost certainly) be curative (eliminate all of the disease), radiation is probably as promising in a case like yours.  I had robotic surgery 3 years ago, at age 59, and know that even with the smallish incision (which is above the navel), there is some chance of herniation, like I got later.  But that exact area had been opened before for a prior gall bladder removal, so I was more prone to rupture than most men.

    Most here (actually, probably everyone) would recommend that you see a radiation oncologist for a consultation. Let the rad guy make his sales pitch.  You owe that to yourself, and any surgeon should be supportive of you getting a second opinion regarding other ways for you to be treated.

    You ask if PCa comes back. Sometimes yes, sometimes not. This is true whether surgery or radiation is employed. But in most case at Stages I or II, most commonly not.

    Take your time and review options.  PCa is almost never an emergencey requiring fast treatment.  But you do have significant disease volume (based on the number of cores that were positive), and while a Gleason of 7 does not scream danger, it isn't a 6 either.  One other factor that is not well-established:  many people regard PCa that occures in significantly younger than average men to for some reason tend toward a bit more aggression. I have not read an explanation for this, but I'm sure there are theories.  

    PCa is in the vast majority of cases beatable.  Feel confident about your future health,

    max

     

  • Georges Calvez
    Georges Calvez Member Posts: 547 Member
    #3
    Feeling strong again

    How long is a piece of string?
    I had a laparoscopic prostatectomy; poke a few holes, pump you up with gas, slice out the prostate.
    The worst thing is the gas that can take a few days to disperse.
    They will have you up and about and taking a short walk the following day, after that more and more.
    I was trotting around quite happily with my catheter bag strapped to my leg after a few days.
    The thing is not to strain your lower torso while everything is knitting back together so leave lifting 25kg bags of spuds to the wife for a month or three! Laughing
    It took some time for my intestines to settle down and I would get twinges in the abdominal wall for weeks after as the muscles knitted back together.
    Incontinence varies widely but picking up heavy things can result in a bit of leakage even if you are continent most of the time.
    If you have to have radiation then this varies person to person, I felt tired but OK, some people feel really wiped out.
    Hormones are tricky as well as everybody reacts in different ways, I have not gained weight and I would say my strength is about the same as before but others have different experiences.
    I am not sure that a doctor will give you testosterone supplements until you have had zero PSA tests for some time afterwards.
    I have said it before; number one priority, get rid of the cancer, number two get back to peeing only when you want to, number three sex lifting weights, etc.



     

  • Georges Calvez
    Georges Calvez Member Posts: 547 Member
    #4
    Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3 said:

    Best

    Welcome, 93Buff.

    While the news is shocking to you, you need to begin researching treatment options.  Curative treatments are of two sorts: Surgery, or radiation. There are numerous delivery techniques for the radiation, however.

    While for an intermediate case like yours surgery would (almost certainly) be curative (eliminate all of the disease), radiation is probably as promising in a case like yours.  I had robotic surgery 3 years ago, at age 59, and know that even with the smallish incision (which is above the navel), there is some chance of herniation, like I got later.  But that exact area had been opened before for a prior gall bladder removal, so I was more prone to rupture than most men.

    Most here (actually, probably everyone) would recommend that you see a radiation oncologist for a consultation. Let the rad guy make his sales pitch.  You owe that to yourself, and any surgeon should be supportive of you getting a second opinion regarding other ways for you to be treated.

    You ask if PCa comes back. Sometimes yes, sometimes not. This is true whether surgery or radiation is employed. But in most case at Stages I or II, most commonly not.

    Take your time and review options.  PCa is almost never an emergencey requiring fast treatment.  But you do have significant disease volume (based on the number of cores that were positive), and while a Gleason of 7 does not scream danger, it isn't a 6 either.  One other factor that is not well-established:  many people regard PCa that occures in significantly younger than average men to for some reason tend toward a bit more aggression. I have not read an explanation for this, but I'm sure there are theories.  

    PCa is in the vast majority of cases beatable.  Feel confident about your future health,

    max

     

    Frequency of aggressive prostate cancer with age

    Hi Max,

    There is an interesting paper here on the frequency of aggressive cancer of the prostate and treatment outcomes as men age, from a first glance it seems that younger men are luckier. I will read it more closely later.
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3922326/

    Best wishes,

    Georges

  • Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3
    Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3 Member Posts: 3,819 Member
    #5
    Georges Calvez said:

    Frequency of aggressive prostate cancer with age

    Hi Max,

    There is an interesting paper here on the frequency of aggressive cancer of the prostate and treatment outcomes as men age, from a first glance it seems that younger men are luckier. I will read it more closely later.
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3922326/

    Best wishes,

    Georges

    Thank you

    Thank you

  • lighterwood67
    lighterwood67 Member Posts: 395 Member
    #6
    Feel Strong Again

    I am 6 months and a few days post RP (radical prostatectomy); 68 years old;  Gleason 4+3=7; Prostate removed; Bladder Neck Reconstruction; 8 Pelivic Lymph Nodes removed and sealed.  In my case, they did not want me doing anything for 6 weeks.  I lift some weights; more focused on core exercises.  As far as the exercising goes, I was probably doing everything I used to do at about the 4 to 5 month point.  I live in the country;   cut around 4 to 5 acres of grass every week; my wife and I also camp.  For my age, my GP says I am an A+.  There is a lot of info on this site.  The decsion to your approach of defeating the PC is yours.  Please do your research and listen.  In my opinion, the younger you are probably the tougher the decision.  If you lean towards the surgery and are curious what happens, for me, my procedure is posted on this site.  Anyway good luck on your journey.

  • graycloud
    graycloud Member Posts: 42 Member
    #7
    You will be strong!

    My husband was diagnosed right at a year ago at 55.  He had surgery first of this year at Memorial Sloan Kettering in NYC.  I don't know what area you live in, but with your young age, I would definately look at traveling to the top prostate cancer centers in the US for treatment. We feel we picked one of the best centers in the world. 

    My husband is 9 months post surgery.  Stronger than he was before his diagnosis.  He works out 7 days a week - walking/running/weights/swimming/etc.   He spent 2 hours in the gym yesterday lifting weights, etc!  

    On the side affects from surgery -  ED - he's 95% back to normal - no issues at all.  Bladder - 95% back to normal.  He has to wear a light protection when he's lifting or running - but for the most part no issues.  Granted - it took about 4 months post surgery and physical therapy 3 times a week to get there - but he's doing fantastic - ahead of all curves for recovery.  I'm proud of him for perservering through recovery and staying positive for the most part. 

    MSK does not rush in to surgery.  Their philosophy is to give the prostate and nerves surrounding time to heal post biopsy which is minimum 120 days.  During that time, work on strengthening your body for surgery, and work on pre-surgery ED therapy as well. MSK has the top ED specialist in the world for prostate cancer recovery.  They also have top urologists as well.  We had a plan for 120 days that we stuck to on preparing his body for surgery. 

    MSK's philosphy post surgery is you are active immediately after surgery.  I walked the surgery halls with my husband 3 hours after surgery - 3 mile walk.  He continued that every single day.   Once the catheter was out (6 days), he had lifting restrictions of 10 lbs. But he could drive as soon as the catheter was out.  Walking every day - 5 miles.  He went to the gym the next week and started on the elipitcal - (no arms).  He kept light weights by his chair while watching TV (doctor approved).  Starting physical therapy (read this.....go before surgery to get a baseline of muscle strength in the pelvic floor area, and to make sure you are doing kegels and other excercises correctly pre-surgery) was a Godsend for him.  It kept him focused, and the physical therapists added exercises that challenged him and kept him motivated. 

    The first 2-3 days post surgery were challenging but not bad.  The gas bubbles from surgery were the most bothersome for him - not the incisions, etc.   I believe working to get in the best physical shape before surgery helped him with pain level and mobility.  You have to get in a positive frame of mind that you are going to do great - and bypass all thresholds on recovery! He started back to work the day after we returned from NYC (10th day).  He worked half days for the first two days.  Then continued working up to full days after that.  He traveled to a meeting  2 hours away the 2nd week if that tells you anything. 

    My husband has lost over 60 lbs, replaced fat with muscle, looks fantastic!  The only side affect is thinning hair! 

    But the biggest praise - his 2 tests post surgery are cancer free! 

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