Never been to a high school reunion. Didn't want to get beat up again. But this wasn't a full bore reunion, just a dinner. And with spouses there, I figured I was safe.


So this guy (Larry) sits next to me, we started to talk. And what do guys over 60 talk about? THE PROSTATE!

He has an interesting story.. his PSA number was steadily going up, but his doctor could not figure out why. I shared with him my experience with Dr Nelson at Rockwood Clinic. When doing my research, his name kept popping up, so I figured I would have my best chance with him.

Larry contacted Dr Nelson, went through the testing, and scheduled the surgery for last week. And here is his story (used by permission)...

Good news!!

My surgery went well and my doctor's prognosis is "disease gone from my body." The catheter came out today and I am recovering well. I'm still really sore and unable to sit up for too long, but the catheter is out so the world is a far better place today. The pain is subsiding a little more every day, and did I mention that the catheter is out. I plan to start working on reports around the first of next week. Hopefully I will be able to start driving early next week also.

Based on the pathology report after surgery, my cancer was very aggressive (Gleason score of 8) so it was very good that we caught it early. The cancer was located very near the downstream end of the prostate where it could not be detected by the DRE. Even though the affected area of the prostate was small, I was unlucky because the cancer was located very close to the edge of the prostate. The cancer had actually grown outside of the prostate in one very tiny area. However, the surgeon was confident that he got it all and wasn't in the least worried by that. Everything tested by pathologists in the surgical margins was clean. There was no cancer in any of the lymph nodes or seminal vessicles so he is totally confident that I was "cured" by the surgery. A great relief.

You may recall that my PSA was rising but the DRE and biopsies were negative so I laid out for my Urologist a more aggressive approach I wanted to pursue to find my cancer. He was not in favor of that so I fired that Urologist and found a new one that was willing to take the more aggressive approach that I advocated. He found my cancer through imaging and a high density biopsy of 40 core samples. We scheduled the surgery as quickly as possible. If not for this aggressive approach, the result would not have been a happy one. The moral to the story is "check your PSA." And if the PSA rises, but the DRE and biopsy is negative, you must not be complacent. Assume that you have the disease and look harder. The "watchful waiting" approach is total nonsense and would have proved fatal in my case had I listened to my first doctor. NEVER assume that you don't have the disease and never take your eye off the ball. I did everything right and still barely escaped with my life. It is possible to do everything right and still not survive the disease. This disease is not to be taken lightly because the detection methods are still quite primitive and ineffective.

Thank you all for your support. The out pouring of warm wishes, chocolates, cookies, and last but not least, oxycodone, made the recovery tolerable!!!

Love to all
Larry

External Beam Radiation Therepy Begins

In the clutches of the linear accelerator

It turns out that when a guy is said to have "positive margins," when they mean is that the cancer is in the tissue they leave behind, as well as the tissue they remove. Radiation affects both the good and bad tissue, but the bad tissue does not have the ability to repair itself, whereas the good tissue does. Over the course of 40 daily doses, the cancer dies. Last Monday, Dec 20, I went in for my first treatment, which happen daily at 3pm, and I am out in 20 minutes.

There is very little in the way of side effects from these treatments, the doc said I might be somewhat fatigued at the end of each week, although this varies from patient to patient.

The bit of good news is that my second post-op PSA test came back will all zeros (0.00), down from a value of 0.03 in September. For the first year, I will have quarterly tests.

Good News!

Ron had his first PSA test and follow-up visit with his docs on Wednesday. We were relieved, thrilled, and most thankful for the results. His PSA level was 0.03.. the docs seemed to be as pleased as we were. Additionally, they were thrilled with his healing and recovery progress. Ron doesn't need to see his docs until the end of December. At that time he will have another PSA test. PSA tests will be part of his life from now on!

The next step is for Ron to meet with a radiologist to discuss the pros and cons of radiation treatments. His doc recommends radiation for the following reasons:
1. Ron is YOUNG!! (so says the very young doctor!!)
2. The cancer was aggressive and there was a lot of it.
3. The cancer had migrated to the outside margin. Radiation will make sure none of the cancer cells "jumped the mother ship" to attach themselves to a new body part.

Obviously, the final decision is up to Ron. The radiologist the doc wants Ron to consult with is an expert on all things radiation related.

Our blog will be on vacation until we have any news! Or unless we get bored and decide to post non-cancer related family news.

Thank you again for your thoughts, prayers, cards, emails, phone calls and words of encouragement during this challenging time.

Cindy and Ron

«Early morning view of St. Al's, on the Gonzaga campus..

Next week, there are 2 major events (that I know about)--

Monday, it's back to work at GU, and Wednesday we're off to the doctor's office for my first post surgery PSA test!

The obvious objective here is for the test to come back with a value of ZERO. If the value is more than .1 or .2, it starts to look like not all of the cancerous tissue was removed. At any event, we will find out more about the next medical step... the surgeon already indicated that because of the pathology of the removed tissue, the fact that the diseased tissue was at the margins, radiation will be the advised follow up treatment. This will consist of daily office visits for several weeks of playing electromagnetic pincushion.

Most of the pain is a memory. I keep the Ibuprophen handy for incision pain (I'm off the 'hard' stuff.) The main work for me is retraining the bladder to empty all the way and not leave oil in the pipeline.

This past week I felt like I was in driver's ed, as Cindy allowed me to slip behind the steering wheel of her Subaru. Maybe next week she will let me start the car! (joke).

Those of you that have contacted me, I appreciate the kind words. In the case of a co-worker of Cindy, a plate of GYNORMOUS peanut butter cookies.

Until later, this has been the ronald.

Post op pathology

Wednesday was the day I returned to the doc’s office for removal of the catheter, and an update on the pathology on the materials removed during surgery.
Evidently the cancer was aggressive, and the concern now, is whether or not it has spread to regions outside the prostate; there might be a 50% chance that it has. He said the latest science would indicate the best course of action is to follow the surgery with a round of radiation in a few months.
I also scheduled my first post-op PSA test for September 30; It is the hope of every post op guy that their new PSA number will be close to zero; close monitoring of the PSA will continue for the next two years, I suspect.
There might be not much to report on this blog in the next couple of weeks, but if there is, this will be the place to read about it. Feel free to posts your own comments, and sign up for update notifications on the wiget in the right column.

What's next?

Ron is getting stronger by the day. He is feeling much better, sleeping better, and able to eat normal food.

We have an appointment with the docs on Wednesday (August 25th.) Ron will have a post-op check and they will remove the catheter. The pathology report should be back at that time as well. This will tell us what happens next. It is our hope and prayer that the cancer was fully contained inside the prostate gland so that radiation won't be necessary.

More later....

robotic surgery demonstration