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