I’m a retired Army officer, 62 years old, in perfect health (not overweight, no medications, great BP, cholesterol, triglycerides, etc.) aside from the fact that I have prostate cancer.
Two months ago, I had a physical and my PSA level was 9.4. Had a second PSA test, which came in at 8.5, followed by a biopsy. My Gleason score was 7, but a 3+4 seven, which is an indication that it’s less aggressive and less likely to grow. A 4+3 Gleason score indicates that your cancer - and yes, it is cancer - is more aggressive and more likely to grow, but it’s thankfully not an 8, 9 or 10.
Two weeks ago today, I had a radical prostatectomy using the DaVinci laparscopic robot, which is much less invasive than the traditional, “gut you like a deer” prostate surgery. I looked at it this way: It’s cancer, it’s in me and I want it out.
I have a friend from church who is older than me, had prostate cancer, followed his doctor’s recommendation to monitor it and he’s now dying of prostate cancer, which, althought pretty rare these days, is a helluva way to go. By contrast, my best friend, who’s three years older than me, had the DaVinci surgery at Johns Hopkins 11 years ago (I had mine at Allegheny General in Pittsburgh) and is having no difficulty aside from the occasional urine leakage and limited tolerance for hard chairs, bleachers, etc.
One subject that always comes up is erectile dysfunction/impotence. I’m on a “therapy” program that involves the use of ED drugs to promote recovery. DaVinci surgery rarely damages the nerves like traditional surgery and has a much shorter recovery period than traditional surgery, but it’s still surgery. There are a number of things you’ll need to be prepared for, some of which are just inconvenient and others a pain in the ass - figuratively and literally.
Great to hear your story. I’ll be PM-ing you later for more discussion. I need all the advice I can get.
Two weeks ago today, I had a radical prostatectomy using the DaVinci laparscopic robot, which is much less invasive than the traditional, “gut you like a deer” prostate surgery. I looked at it this way: It’s cancer, it’s in me and I want it out.
What is so strange, and I’m told it is quite common, is that I feel fine and am in perfect health—except for the cancer. I figure that either I and my doctors will kill it or eventually it will kill me. Obviously, I’m hoping for the former.
To the original poster: You will get lots of advise on what to do. I decided to take my doctor’s advice. He knows about this stuff and I don’t. I didn’t get a second opinion for the simple reason that what if it contradicted the first—do I then go for a third? I wanted that cancer out of me ASAP. But you will have to make your own call. Good luck. I hope we both beat this thing.