Prostate Cancer/Health Support

I guess I should elaborate- the 2 people I talked to had some erectal dysfunction and incontinences (sp?) after removal of the prostate.. They have had no cancer reoccurrence. They were younger then 60.
 
My Dad goes in March 12 for another consult on his prostate. His PSA was ok I believe, but was diagnosed with prostate cancer with a DRE with a colonoscopy follow up.

My Dad will have prostate surgery at a clinic in Indianapolis on April 19th.

From what I understand, the prognosis is good.
 
They have made great advancements in the surgery procedures over the years. Most of us men will have prostate problems as we age. Good luck to you and your dad. I know my doctor has wanted me to have laser surgery, my prostate is enlarged, no cancer. I take vitamins and supplements to see if it can be reduced, or wait for surgery to improve.
 
I've elected for brachytherapy-but there are 2 types (temporay radiation seed & 5 to 7 weeks of external beam radiation OR permanent radiation seed). I talk to specialists in mid-April and will make my selection then. The worse part of this experience for me has been making a selection on how to treat it. It can be so exasperating. So many ways to go. You can overload on the info. But thank God for the Internet.
The one question every man asks a doctor once he is diagnosised with prostate cancer is.
"Doc if it were you [*pause*]what treatment would you seek?" One specialists and I burst out laughing because he started saying the words to the question the same time I asked the question.:laugh:
He has heard the question from so many men.
It's not a fair questions since they are not buffeted by the emotions you are under.
One onocologist said he would opt for surgery-but as our conversation progressed he started talking about how he thought he would try photon beam....
There are so many ways to go if it's detected early
I know 2 women-both had breast cancer. One had her breast removed -one had a lumpectomy (sp?). Both are cancer free today.Women go through the same little hell if a cancer has early detection.
The one thing you don't want is the cancer to make the choice for you since it is so advanced.

Ah well I made my decision now I'm just sitting on the levee waiting for the Robert E. Lee.

I just live my life the way I have been. I do want to visit Rome again in August so I want to get this treatment out of the way. Lifes to be lived.

Vic don't forget your daily glass of pomergrante juice.

URL is a picture of me in Rome August 2004-Circus Maximus below me and remains of Augustus Caesar's palace on the Palatine Hills behind. I was in a good mood that day. Who knew I had prostate cancer back then?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v348/Tempest555/CircusMaximus.jpg
 
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It's go time.

My Dad should be going under pretty soon.

The surgery is supposed to last 4-6 hours.

Patience isn't my strong suit. :)
 
Hope all goes well. Get ready to read a lot of old TIME magazines and Field & Stream Magazines in the waiting room.
Time crawls in a hosptal.
I never watch medical dramas on TV.
 
Dad update:

The surgery was successful.

The cancerous area was a bit larger than expected. As a precaution two surrounding lymph nodes were removed.

He's resting comfortably, watching his beloved Cubbies.

Prior to the surgery my Dad questioned whether it was worse to have cancer, or be a Cubs fan? I told him, 'at least there's a chance of curing your cancer :) '
 
Gave the word to my Doctor this morning-going with permanent radiation seed (titanium irradiated with an isotope)-maybe some hormone treatment. No External High Dose Radiation. Oncologist and Urologist think that's over kill for my condition. Arriving at this decision (roughly 2 months after the diagnosis) took education, a lot of thought, the size of the cancer, my general health, what conditions (post treatment and long-term) I could live with and prayer. 1st week in June is when this procedure is going to take place.
I want to be in Rome the last week in August.



Beautiful sunny day in Oahu-one for the tourists. I going for a swim.
 
Tempest, a friend of mine had the exact same treatment 7 years ago, his PSA is still normal. He is just fine, he was 62 when he had them implanted. He said the procedure was easy, not as bad as he thought it was going to be.:D
 
Thanks nnut.

My Father got temporary seed last Tuesday*. Thursday he went golfing and today I can't reach him because he is inside a casino on an Indian Reservation (cell phones don't work in casinos). :rolleyes:
Next Tuesday he goes in for his second session of temporary radiation seeding-then on to hormone shots and external radiation. He's 83.:laugh:
I hope no male on this board gets Prostate Cancer-but the point I want to make-and I can't stress this enough is that it no longer is a death sentence if you are diagnosed with it. Watch your PSA and get your DRE's. Early detection is the key.

*He was diagnosed in Nov 2006 and I was diagnosed in Feb 2007.
 
Well it's a 'Done Deal'
Had my seeding procedure to kill the cancer.
Thursday I checked in at 11:00AM -paperwork, blood pressure blah,blah, blah -they had the IV in me around one-ish.


Two-ish the Anesthesiologist came in we talked - he asked the standard questions ("are you allergic blah blah blah")-We ran a little late-my Urologist was delayed by traffic. They wheeled me when he arrived. He and the Oncologist are great - everyone was friendly as I was placed on the table. Anesthesiologist said something about feeling a small prick (didn't feel anything). Last sight I had was the oxygen mask being put over my mouth and thinking 'Thank God it hypoallergenic plastic not neoprene (I'm allergic to neoprene). Oxygen(?) smelled funny...

LIGHTS OUT.(as quickly as you can snap your fingers)


Woke up about an hour later in post op with something like 119 tiny radioactive tiny titanium seeds in me. No sense of time. Procedure was over in less then an hour. The seeds stay radioactive for 6 months. The inert seeds stay there and are not removed.
I could have killed for a steak and fries. Jeeeez I was hungry.

Yeah before and after the procedure I was mostly hungry and bored (you have to fast and drink nothing 12 hours before.)

I'm not that brave. But really this whole thing was like waiting at an airport to go to a destination you have been to.
I was bored.

Worst part was waiting for the pain killer to wear off -you have to do something before they will let you go.:laugh:

A co-worker and her husband gave me a ride home.
In by 11:00AM driving home by 4:15PM.

I have a little soreness. No swelling. They gave me some Percodan (sp?) for any pain but I will be tossing that in the trash. Never needed any.

I'm not joking when I say - I could have taken the bus home. I had dental work (root canal) that was more painful. Nothing stands out as painful.
This wasn't really surgery-just some custom made needles carrying some radioactive titanium seeds puncturing the skin driven by some computer following a grid.


Such was my 21st of June.

Details and after effects here on seed therapy.

http://www.americanbrachytherapy.org/aboutBrachytherapy/brachy.cfm#short

Some pictures here of the procedure (don't worry-not graphic).

http://www.prostatecancercentre.co.uk/treatments/brachy.html

Remember-the first symptom of cancer is no symptom. And a diagnosis of cancer is not a death sentence. Do not put off checkups. You can be in excellent health and have health habits. But everyones DNA and genes carry your family history. So checkup accordingly.

June 21st was my Credit hour day. Friday was sick leave.
I'll be at work Monday cuz I'll be able to 'be right and sit tight'.:D

{Anyone has detailed questions on after effects just PM me. Frankly I have not had the problems they mentioned to any great degree.)
 
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Tempest, glad to hear the procedure all went according to plan. Lucky you caught it early.

I've been asking people about their eating habits and heard so much about the benefits of lycopene. It's the good chemical released when tomatoes are fried with a little oil at high temperature. Is there a correlation between people not getting enough lycopene in their diet and prostate cancer? I wish they'd do some studies about that (or maybe they already did).

Nowadays, I always fry tomatoes before I put them in soups or whatnot. I also make sure I have ketchup handy on the table. Please keep this in mind on your way to a full recovery. :)
 
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