THERE WAS NO RESPONSE TO AN UPDATE REMINDER IN 2017 SO THERE IS NO UPDATE.
I began getting my PSA tested at the age of 40 because my father had it. My PSA slowly but steadily increased. I am a retired Marine and at the age of 46 I was placed in a monitoring program at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington DC. I had my PSA and DRE (Digital Rectal Examination) done every 6 months.
In august of 2008 I had a biopsy and it was negative. In March 2011 I experienced a 50% spike in PSA. My PSA went from 3.2 to 4.9. My biopsy revealed 2 of 12 cores with 65% cancer in each and PIN (Prostatic Intraepithelial Neoplasia) in a 3rd.
After attending an educational and counseling course at the Center for Prostate Disease And Research I elected to have the radical one prostatectomy by Dr. David McLeod. I had that surgery three days ago. All indications are that the cancer was confined to the prostate. My surgery and recovery so far has completely surpassed all expectations for pain and basic recovery.
I will continue to update my pathology report and functional recovery.
I am 9 months post-op and 1 year since my diagnosis and my PSA is undetectible. I very rarely suffer any incontinence issues. I am still dealing with the ED, and am beginning to recover? I am currently at about 75% and hoping. The pathology after my surgery only solidified my decision for surgery. Though my Gleason stayed the same, 6, there were 7 separate tumors discovered.
I am 21 months post op. my PSA; has risen each of my last 3 quarterly visits. My next visit is in a couple of weeks. If my PSA; rises again, my doctor will recommend radiation of the prostate bed. My margin at surgery was "difficult to determine". Further evaluation reveals that there was cancer at the margin. I have no continence issues to speak of. Approaching the 2 year mark seems to be key for ED recovery. ED is becoming less of an issue. So I would say patience is a virtue.
After a reccurence, I completed IMRT last August. My PSA at the time was .26. I am currently less than .01. I still experience some infrequent, minor stress incontinence. My recurrence was 2 years post surgery. Prior to IMRT I had made a strong recovery in the ED department. IMRT was a set back.
Living a more active life with a healhier diet. Now 4-1/2 years post operative and 2 years post radiation. I am not experiencing any post radiation side effects such as bladder or bowel problems. Currently having PSA monitoried bi-annually. After recovering from the surgical ED problem, I had radiation. Now being 2 yars post radiation, I am again having some erectile recovery. Currently using trimix injections. There is mental, physical and sexual recovery from this disease.
Edward's e-mail address is: edward_wakeley11 AT comcast.net (replace "AT" with "@")
NOTE: Edward has not updated his story for more than 15 months, so you may not receive any response from him.
