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From: Chas on 23 Jul 2008 17:10
RLRP was done 6/2 as posted earlier. Due to various scheduling issues I
finally met with my surgeon today and reviewed path report and general
progress.

My biopsy was done based on my brothers experience with a .8 PSA and a lump
detected. His biopsy came back with a Gleason 8. He elected bracy and beam
therapy and remains with undetectable PSA after 12 years. Since I had a
prior breast cancer and was found to carry the BRCA2 mutation, my uro and I
decided that a biopsy was reasonable. My PSA was 1.6 (.8 but on Proscar).
The 12 stick biopsy found 1 stick with a Gleason of 3.

The path report came back with a Gleason 9, no vesicle involvement, no
extracapsular extension, negative lymph nodes and negative margins. I was
shocked but in fact other than the Gleason all the rest is great news. I
will be thanking my uro for pushing for the biopsy and also be thankful that
it at least caught a piece of the cancer. I don't want to think about the
possibilities of a negative biopsy and and a low PSA in the face of a unseen
Gleason 9.

Incontinence is at the nuisance level. Minor leakage when I make abrupt
movements, open a heavy door, etc. So a pad for protection is always used.
I often can go a day on a single pad (Tena for Men) but will not hesitate to
change it should I feel that odor or dampness demands. I do remain dry at
night. Perhaps with the Kegels and some time even this may improve.

Since I have been under treatment for BPH over the last 5 years or so, the
force of my stream once the cath was removed was almost startling, but its
good thing as well.

I will get my first post-op PSA next month and the doctor suggests than PSA
monitoring is the only course of treatment needed. I will be looking for a
consult with an oncologist just to cover all the bases.

No reaction yet on ED issue, but I didn't expect much this soon so no
disappointment there. I am on 50mg Viagra every other day, but that is
only to keep the blood flow going and not enough to get me stuffable.

Overall, I'm in good shape for guy pushing 70 and delighted with my results.

Thanks to all the regular posters. Your inputs, progress notes and well
wishes have been more helpful than you may know. I hope my experience
however anecdotal, may provide some hope and help to other lurkers.

Chas



From: Dwight on 23 Jul 2008 17:51
On Jul 23, 2:10 pm, "Chas" <drucelakex...(a)yahoo.com> wrote:

> Since I have been under treatment for BPH over the last 5 years or so,  the
> force of my stream once the cath was removed was almost startling,  but its
> good thing as well.

I know what you mean. I was sort of reminded of cops with fire hoses
battling demonstrators.

gleason 9? egads.

Watch your hearing on the viagra. It impacted mine and I had to go
off of it/them. I'm doing the injections now.


From: len on 23 Jul 2008 22:59
On Jul 23, 4:10 pm, "Chas" <drucelakex...(a)yahoo.com> wrote:
> RLRP was done 6/2 as posted earlier. Due to various scheduling issues I
> finally met with my surgeon today and reviewed path report and general
> progress.
>
> My biopsy was done based on my brothers experience with a .8 PSA and a lump
> detected. His biopsy came back with a Gleason 8. He elected bracy and beam
> therapy and remains with undetectable PSA after 12 years. Since I had a
> prior breast cancer and was found to carry the BRCA2 mutation, my uro and I
> decided that a biopsy was reasonable. My PSA was 1.6 (.8 but on Proscar).
> The 12 stick biopsy found 1 stick with a Gleason of 3.
>
> The path report came back with a Gleason 9, no vesicle involvement, no
> extracapsular extension, negative lymph nodes and negative margins. I was
> shocked but in fact other than the Gleason all the rest is great news. I
> will be thanking my uro for pushing for the biopsy and also be thankful that
> it at least caught a piece of the cancer. I don't want to think about the
> possibilities of a negative biopsy and and a low PSA in the face of a unseen
> Gleason 9.
>
> Incontinence is at the nuisance level. Minor leakage when I make abrupt
> movements, open a heavy door, etc. So a pad for protection is always used.
> I often can go a day on a single pad (Tena for Men) but will not hesitate to
> change it should I feel that odor or dampness demands. I do remain dry at
> night. Perhaps with the Kegels and some time even this may improve.
>
> Since I have been under treatment for BPH over the last 5 years or so, the
> force of my stream once the cath was removed was almost startling, but its
> good thing as well.
>
> I will get my first post-op PSA next month and the doctor suggests than PSA
> monitoring is the only course of treatment needed. I will be looking for a
> consult with an oncologist just to cover all the bases.
>
> No reaction yet on ED issue, but I didn't expect much this soon so no
> disappointment there. I am on 50mg Viagra every other day, but that is
> only to keep the blood flow going and not enough to get me stuffable.
>
> Overall, I'm in good shape for guy pushing 70 and delighted with my results.
>
> Thanks to all the regular posters. Your inputs, progress notes and well
> wishes have been more helpful than you may know. I hope my experience
> however anecdotal, may provide some hope and help to other lurkers.
>
> Chas

Don't be discouraged if erections don't return. Parciularly at your
age, it could take two years or more. I was 67 at the time of my
surgery, and it took 18 months.

Meanwhile, I would suggest trying to maintain an active sex life. I
used a pump
with acceptable rsults, and many men find injections work for them.

Good luck.
From: Steve Kramer on 24 Jul 2008 14:32
"Chas" <drucelakexxxx(a)yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:uqOdnTITnez-AxrVnZ2dnUVZ_sjinZ2d(a)comcast.com...

> The path report came back with a Gleason 9, no vesicle involvement, no
> extracapsular extension, negative lymph nodes and negative margins. I was
> shocked but in fact other than the Gleason all the rest is great news.

My reaction was identical. That's a shock! But great news overall.


--
PSA 16 10/17/2000 @ 46
Biopsy 11/01/2000 G7 (3+4), T2c
RRP 12/15/2000 G7 (3+4), T3cN0M0 Neg margins
PSA <.1 <.1 <.1 .27 .37 .75 PSAD 0.19 years
EBRT 05-07/2002 @ 47
PSA .34 .22 .15 .21 .32 PSAD .056 years
Lupron 07/03 (1 mo) 8/03 and every 4 months there after
PSA .07 .05 .06 .09 .08 .132 .145 PSAD 1.4 years
Casodex added daily 07/06
PSA <0.04, <0.05, <0.04, <0.04, <0.1 2/12/08
Illegitimati non carborundum


From: Chas on 24 Jul 2008 17:39
"Steve Kramer" <skramer(a)cinci.rr.com> wrote in message
news:g6ahsk$opb$1(a)registered.motzarella.org...
> "Chas" <drucelakexxxx(a)yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:uqOdnTITnez-AxrVnZ2dnUVZ_sjinZ2d(a)comcast.com...
>
>> The path report came back with a Gleason 9, no vesicle involvement, no
>> extracapsular extension, negative lymph nodes and negative margins. I
>> was shocked but in fact other than the Gleason all the rest is great
>> news.
>
> My reaction was identical. That's a shock! But great news overall.
>
>
> --
> PSA 16 10/17/2000 @ 46
> Biopsy 11/01/2000 G7 (3+4), T2c
> RRP 12/15/2000 G7 (3+4), T3cN0M0 Neg margins
> PSA <.1 <.1 <.1 .27 .37 .75 PSAD 0.19 years
> EBRT 05-07/2002 @ 47
> PSA .34 .22 .15 .21 .32 PSAD .056 years
> Lupron 07/03 (1 mo) 8/03 and every 4 months there after
> PSA .07 .05 .06 .09 .08 .132 .145 PSAD 1.4 years
> Casodex added daily 07/06
> PSA <0.04, <0.05, <0.04, <0.04, <0.1 2/12/08
> Illegitimati non carborundum
>

My biggest concern is the fact that both my brother and I had "normal" PSA
readings. Implication is that we don't express PSA in the face of cancer,
which makes screening a bit problematical. In spite of that I'm a happy
camper today.




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