diagnosed today

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Comments

  • spottydog10
    spottydog10 Member Posts: 73
    #22
    lshick said:

    HIFU
    For a more professional appraisal than I'm capable of, have a look at...

    http://prostatecancerinfolink.net/2009/07/04/hifu-for-localized-prostate-cancer-a-series-of-172-uk-patients/

    ...which I thought was reasonably objective. I've lost my access to the full document, which you can get here:

    http://www.nature.com/bjc/journal/v101/n1/pdf/6605116a.pdf

    or maybe for free in your local library.

    Hmm, the HIFU doesnt look so
    Hmm, the HIFU doesnt look so good under that critera...
    Mike
  • lewvino
    lewvino Member Posts: 1,010 Member
    #23
    spottydog10 said:

    Hmm, the HIFU doesnt look so
    Hmm, the HIFU doesnt look so good under that critera...
    Mike

    One reason I thought I would
    One reason I thought I would mention on why I choose the Robotic Procedure was that at least in my thinking was this:

    With the Robotic you know that you will have:
    1. Urinary issues since they have to cut the urinary tract and stitch back together
    2. Issues with erections

    Now in Theory being young and having this happen as a result of surgery...hopefully our bodies will adjust and overcome both issues with time.

    With Radiation and some other treatments the issues with erections I beleive will usually start perhaps 5 years down the road. That is five years where my health may or may not be as good as it is today. So I'm hoping to tackle those issues while I'm younger rather then in my case 5 years from now when I will be 60. I turn 55 in Sept.

    In prepration for my upcoming surgery I knew I was overweight so Since April I've been working on loosing that weight and happy to report that I have dropped 37 pounds.

    As a result of the weight loss my Doctor just last week cut my diabetic medicine in half!

    So of course all of this should also help my blood pressure and healing ability post surgery.

    Of course there are no promises but My doctor seems to think that I will do fine overcoming the two big side effects.

    Larry (lewvino)
  • spottydog10
    spottydog10 Member Posts: 73
    #24
    lewvino said:

    One reason I thought I would
    One reason I thought I would mention on why I choose the Robotic Procedure was that at least in my thinking was this:

    With the Robotic you know that you will have:
    1. Urinary issues since they have to cut the urinary tract and stitch back together
    2. Issues with erections

    Now in Theory being young and having this happen as a result of surgery...hopefully our bodies will adjust and overcome both issues with time.

    With Radiation and some other treatments the issues with erections I beleive will usually start perhaps 5 years down the road. That is five years where my health may or may not be as good as it is today. So I'm hoping to tackle those issues while I'm younger rather then in my case 5 years from now when I will be 60. I turn 55 in Sept.

    In prepration for my upcoming surgery I knew I was overweight so Since April I've been working on loosing that weight and happy to report that I have dropped 37 pounds.

    As a result of the weight loss my Doctor just last week cut my diabetic medicine in half!

    So of course all of this should also help my blood pressure and healing ability post surgery.

    Of course there are no promises but My doctor seems to think that I will do fine overcoming the two big side effects.

    Larry (lewvino)

    Hi Larry,
    Impressed with the
    Hi Larry,
    Impressed with the weight loss...
    Yeah, I understand the implications of the radiation path
    which is why I'd like to know more about the HIFU.
    Seems that most big hospitals and surgeons arent too keen about it.
    Mike
  • hopeful and optimistic
    hopeful and optimistic Member Posts: 2,346 Member
    #25
    spottydog10 said:

    Hi Larry,
    Impressed with the
    Hi Larry,
    Impressed with the weight loss...
    Yeah, I understand the implications of the radiation path
    which is why I'd like to know more about the HIFU.
    Seems that most big hospitals and surgeons arent too keen about it.
    Mike

    Hi
    Prostate cancer is very slow growing disease. As one of the other poster mentioned, do not rush, but take your time to make the right decision.

    It is critical to get a second opinion on your biopsy so you will not be under or over treated. It's very complicated to figure out the gleason score, so you want to have your blocks sent to an "expert", not just any lab. I attend a lecture here in CA. where the medical oncologist, steven Strum (an expert in the field and author of a Primar(sp) on prostate cancer talked about sending pathology for his patients to a lab in Germany( I don't remember the name of the lab.

    Also, there is a test MRI endorectal plus a Spectrocopy that is at major hospitals that will show nodule involvement plus define the tumor in your prostate.

    If you decide to go for say robotic surgery, do not worry about going to a different geographic location. You get only one operation, get the best.

    I know that your 51, which is young, but active surveillance can also be considered. I'm not sure if this is a good choice for you, but look into it.

    We are with you.

    Ira
  • kreinholt
    kreinholt Member Posts: 35
    #26
    spottydog10 said:

    Hi Keven,
    Great news on the
    Hi Keven,
    Great news on the PSA.
    Yeah, bathroom locations take on a new significance.
    Inconvenience seems a small price to pay.
    How's the erections if you dont mind mind me asking?
    Mike

    My Experience So Far
    Mike, obviously recovery is not always the same for everyone. I am 48 and had the Da Vinci on 5 Mar. I can tell you that my recovery so far had been rather easy. Haven't conquered the incontinence quite yet but have improved and adapted to it somewhat in my daily routine. Still maintain an active life with some advance planning. I can tell you that if you are struggling with what procedure you will opt for, the Da Vinci procedure is king. My recovery was quick with little to no pain. Mainly discomfort when I got out of bed or coughed, but that is expected after surgery on the abdomen. I was pretty much up and about in two weeks. Incontinence is still an issue but I keep doing my kegals and can now hold large amounts in until I reach a bathroom and also smaller amounts when I get up from my desk at work. Took about two and a half much to see any improvement and even experienced backwards progress first before it improved. Worried me at first but I didn't get too discouraged. My advice is to start kegals now. It will pay off after the surgery. Have had no problems with erections (with no drugs) although have not attempted sex yet due to the fact that there is still some leakage. I have never liked condoms but that may be the answer. My first month PSA was .068 and my recent three month was .022, so, so far so good. Keep us posted Mike.

    Kurt
  • spottydog10
    spottydog10 Member Posts: 73
    #27
    hopeful and optimistic said:

    Hi
    Prostate cancer is very slow growing disease. As one of the other poster mentioned, do not rush, but take your time to make the right decision.

    It is critical to get a second opinion on your biopsy so you will not be under or over treated. It's very complicated to figure out the gleason score, so you want to have your blocks sent to an "expert", not just any lab. I attend a lecture here in CA. where the medical oncologist, steven Strum (an expert in the field and author of a Primar(sp) on prostate cancer talked about sending pathology for his patients to a lab in Germany( I don't remember the name of the lab.

    Also, there is a test MRI endorectal plus a Spectrocopy that is at major hospitals that will show nodule involvement plus define the tumor in your prostate.

    If you decide to go for say robotic surgery, do not worry about going to a different geographic location. You get only one operation, get the best.

    I know that your 51, which is young, but active surveillance can also be considered. I'm not sure if this is a good choice for you, but look into it.

    We are with you.

    Ira

    Hi Ira,
    I'm seeing the
    Hi Ira,
    I'm seeing the urologist and oncologist next week
    Just getting a list of questions together, on top being
    "Is it contained?"

    Mike
  • shubbysr
    shubbysr Member Posts: 87
    #28
    spottydog10 said:

    Hi Ira,
    I'm seeing the
    Hi Ira,
    I'm seeing the urologist and oncologist next week
    Just getting a list of questions together, on top being
    "Is it contained?"

    Mike

    Doing the right things, soon time to decide
    Hey Mike,

    You are definitely in the right place (this forum) for the research and data collecting. I am 55 and 3 months post robotic. I too was a T1. Had two areas of cancer but, contained to prostate lobes.
    I still have incontinence but, getting better. Erections have not happened. Remember, removal of prostate is a form of birth control.??? When the arousal function recovers we have "dry" ejaculations. This means there is no semen or fluid to ejaculate.
    There is never too many questions. Good luck next week.

    Jim (shubysr)
    We're here for ya!
  • bbjr
    bbjr Member Posts: 2
    #29
    hopeful and optimistic said:

    Hi
    Prostate cancer is very slow growing disease. As one of the other poster mentioned, do not rush, but take your time to make the right decision.

    It is critical to get a second opinion on your biopsy so you will not be under or over treated. It's very complicated to figure out the gleason score, so you want to have your blocks sent to an "expert", not just any lab. I attend a lecture here in CA. where the medical oncologist, steven Strum (an expert in the field and author of a Primar(sp) on prostate cancer talked about sending pathology for his patients to a lab in Germany( I don't remember the name of the lab.

    Also, there is a test MRI endorectal plus a Spectrocopy that is at major hospitals that will show nodule involvement plus define the tumor in your prostate.

    If you decide to go for say robotic surgery, do not worry about going to a different geographic location. You get only one operation, get the best.

    I know that your 51, which is young, but active surveillance can also be considered. I'm not sure if this is a good choice for you, but look into it.

    We are with you.

    Ira

    Prostate Cancer
    Hi Mike:
    My name is Bill. I live in the US in Michigan. I suggest that you go to the website for the Lance Armstrong Foundation. They have a wealth of information for all types of cancer & links to many sources. They will send you a free book that will help you to get organized & enable you to take charge of your treatment. I would gladly have paid good money to obtain this book. Right now you are confused & more than a little scared, which is normal. You are now a member of a very large, world wide fraternity. Good luck, & bset wishes.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #30
    This comment has been removed by the Moderator

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