I'm a newbie to PC

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

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 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.

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