James Moore lives in Idaho, USA. He was 54 when he was diagnosed on June 7, 2007.
His initial PSA was 4.3 ng/ml, his Gleason Score was 3+3=6 and he was staged T1c.
His treatment of choice was Robotic Laparoscopic Surgery. Here is his story:
I
remember in early May 2007 when my PSA results were called into my home. I had
decided to redo all of my blood tests due to my improved exercise program and
better eating habits. The nurse called me with the blood test results. All the
results were fantastic until the nurse told me my current PSA reading. It had
jumped from at PSA of 1.1 ng/ml to 4.3 ng/ml in less than six months! I was devastated
at first, but calmed down pending further tests.
A follow-up digital rectal
exam showed some enlargement of the prostate, but no hard evidence of a tumor.
My Urologist chose to perform a biopsy anyway in late May due to the unusual jump
in the PSA reading as a precaution.
When I returned one week after my biopsy
in early June 2007 for the results, my doctor said there was "kind of bad news"
that we needed to discuss. In the doctor's office, the location and grade of cancer
were fully explained. I had a Gleason score of 3+3=6, which was as far as I and
my doctor would like to see it to be, to consider the cancer "caught" in the early
stages. My staging was T1c. I had two biopsy samples which were positive, reading
less than 5% cancer volume. All the remaining samples were good, excepted for
one sample with cells that "were not well defined". I knew what all these things
meant through prior study and the good links and wonderful stories posted on this
web site.
I was in a daze when treatment options were discussed with my
doctor. At my age, only 54, I felt I needed to do something to take a first step
at fighting the disease. My doctor gave me a wonderful book to read that would
help me fully consider my disease and treatment options.
How can anyone
be prepared to be told they have cancer? I thought I'd be better prepared for
this, since a close family member had cancer and survived, but it was tough hearing
it in the context of you. I wasn't prepared for hearing the "C" word, but I worked
through the ordeal by self-study and very good support from family and friends.
I decided to choose laparoscopic surgery to remove the prostate via the
robot-assist Da Vinci system. Of course, I'd have time to change my mind if needed,
since the earliest date for surgery was end of July or early August.
After
my decision for the laparoscopic surgery option, I discussed my case with three
other Urologists in different practices. Each Urologist agreed that the surgery
would be a good choice at my age for a potentially curative solution. Each told
me that is what they would do in my situation. This gave me some comfort, which
I sorely needed.
I had looked long and hard at radiation since I started
studying about prostate cancer and treatment options in early May, but I really
wanted the deep pathology of the prostate that surgery could offer. I thought
the post-surgery pathology would allow me to further understand what I was up
against, including whether or not this first crack at the disease could provide
further hope of eradicating the disease from my body.
The time came for
my surgery the last day of July and I was really looking forward to making progress
against the disease. I had studied the procedure using literature from the doctor
and from the Internet and felt very comfortable with the pre- and post-surgery
expectations. I was not nervous at all which surprised me and those attending
me.
My surgery went off without a hitch. I had no problems in recovery
or in the two-days I stayed in the hospital after surgery. I was on solid foods
on the day after surgery and was very hungry! The pain was minimal and the only
real discomfort was the catheter I'd need to wear for one week. I got used to
the catheter and use of it in the hospital.
I went home with a typical
"large bag" catheter for sleeping and a "strap to the leg" catheter for day time.
Day-by-day, I got used to the catheter routine, but looked forward to getting
rid of it!
One week following surgery came the post-op appointment with
my doctor. It was hard to sleep anticipating the results of the post-surgery pathology
of the prostate, which I was looking forward to as much as getting rid of that
catheter!
I met with my doctor in the office, who greeted my with smiles
asked two questions in succession at first entering the room: 1) How am I doing?...
and - 2) Would I like to get rid of the catheter?
I just felt so good about
getting through this first step, and so did my doctor, that my doctor said, almost
as a side-note, or a "by-the-way" gesture, that my pathology report indicated
that there were no positive margins on the prostate. This meant that there were
indications that the surgery removed all the cancer. What a relief!
I know
I'll be anxiously waiting my first PSA in five weeks to set my baseline. I expect
it to be in the undetectable range, but doctor said if it is not, not to worry,
because some "settling" of the PSA levels may need to occur and a later reading
can be taken.
The other doctors I used for follow-up opinions also said
that if the cancer does return, there are an increasing number of options to fight
it.
I am so grateful for the blessings I've received from a good doctor,
a supportive family and friends, and from Providence.
When you are as "young"
as I am, please consider the many treatment options available to fight your first
battle with the disease. I'm glad I did. I don't know what the future holds, but
I feel I have "bought" myself some more time with my friends and family.
James'
e-mail address is: jmmail22@yahoo.com
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