Watch What Your Doctor Tells You !

[hollandm]

One of the most important things is to have a doctor you can trust!  If you don't have that you have nothing.

My PSA went from 1.8 to 2.3 from one annual physical to the next, my doc wasn't alarmed but said we need to watch it.  Over the second year it continued up to 3.3.  My decision was to have a biopsy about half way thru that period.  Twelve samples and all were negative.  The biopsy is not that painful it's more the idea of what they are doing to you.  Of course I had something similar done numerous times at work with no anesthetic so maybe I was just use to it.

Nine months later with the PSA rising another biopsy.  This time 2 of the 12 samples showed cancer but the percentage of cancer cells in those samples was down in the single digits.  The cancer rating was a Gleason score of 3+3=6 which is pretty much the lowest cancer rating they give.  This is considered a non aggressive slow growing cancer, one that might never cause you a problem.

I opted to have the prostate removed.  When the lab examined the whole prostate the Gleason score was then revised to 4+4=8, an agressive fast growing cancer.  The good news was that they found no sign cancer had spread outside the prostate.  Next month I'm due back for my 6 month post op PSA test, keeping fingers crossed.

Sorry for the long post but the bottom line is get a good doc and have your PSA checked annually if you are relatively young.  If you are 85 don't screw with it, you'll out live it

[billt]

How did the prostate removal surgery go, and what is the downside to it?   Bill T.

[tombogan03884]

Dieing ain't sh!t, any body can do it.

[PegLeg45]

Dieing ain't sh!t, any body can do it.

Pretty much sums it up.  


Came too close to call once. Trauma and blood loss almost done ol' Peg in. I had one foot in the grave and one on a banana peel for about a week. I guess the one in the grave is the one they cut off 'cause I managed to stick around. After considerable thought (I had plenty of time to think it through), dying ain't a big fear...(how may be a concern from time to time   )...but not a fear....just another step in life.
 

[hollandm]

How did the prostate removal surgery go, and what is the downside to it?   Bill T.

Surgery went smoothly.  Midsection was very tender for a week and had a catheter for a week which wasn't fun!  The down side to prostate surgery is overcoming incontinence and natural erections are slow to return.

[Sponsor]

[crusader rabbit]

To clarify, my original statement wasn't a widespread condemnation of the profession.
I'm sure there are way more good docs than bad out there....I guess it only takes a couple of bad'uns to ruin it for a lot of folks.
My wife and I have personally been fortunate to have great doctors.

It's similar to what they say about lawyers:  It's just 99% that ruin it for the rest of 'em.

[billt]

had a catheter for a week which wasn't fun!

This is one of the main reasons men refuse to go to Urologists. Unlike machinists for example, they have a very poor concept of size. If there ever was a profession that required the miniaturization of the tools that go along with it, this is it! For example, a mans pee hole is very small. Let's say 3/16" under "maximum flow". These guys have no trouble shoving a 3/8" to 1/2" catheter up it. And you know what, they'll get it in. They'll push, shove, and twist until that sucker goes all the way up.

It's much the same with the "back door".  After I "assumed the position," the first thing he told me he was going to "insert" was the "probe". It felt like he was ramming a beer can up my ass! Then, all of his other "tools" go in through the I.D. of the "probe". When he was done I felt like I could pass a Cantaloupe with zero issues. These guys have only 2 ways to reach the places they need to go, and neither one is very big, but they'll give it their best shot, that's for sure. Regardless of size, they will make it fit every time! I'd hate like hell to fire a gun any of them ever built. It would most likely be safe however because the damn ammo would be 3 times as large as the chamber!

It was kind of funny when Melanie and I were leaving, she said out in the parking lot, "I didn't want to ask while we were in there, but how did it go?" I told her, "Babe, if you ever want a divorce all you have to do is walk into the bedroom wearing a strap-on and I'm Gone!" She laughed all the way home.   Bill T.

[ellis4538]

My FIL had his Prostate removed thru a small incision in his groin.  Same day surgery...no big shakes.  Until then I didn't know it could be done that way.

FWIW


Richard

[billt]

My FIL had his Prostate removed thru a small incision in his groin.  Same day surgery...no big shakes.  Until then I didn't know it could be done that way.  Richard

I discussed this with my doctor. It is some kind of new "Micro Robotic Surgery" procedure that is similar in nature to Arthroscopic Knee Surgery. They make 3 small holes and very precisely remove the bad Prostate. The largest incision they are required to make is at the end to get the Prostate itself out. I gather it's about the size of a large Walnut. This procedure is very non invasive, and makes regular Prostate surgery of just 10 or so years ago primitive in nature. Back then, depending on how good and careful your surgeon was would determine if you had bladder control or not afterward.

With this new Micro Surgery it is all but assured all normal functions remain after the patient recovers from the procedure. If down the road I need to have this done, it is for sure the way I want to go about it. My primary care doctor says he's had several men patients go through it and all of them were very happy with the way it went from a pain and recovery standpoint. This kind of thing is constantly improving.   Bill T.

[Timothy]

Pretty much sums it up.  


Came too close to call once. Trauma and blood loss almost done ol' Peg in. I had one foot in the grave and one on a banana peel for about a week. I guess the one in the grave is the one they cut off 'cause I managed to stick around. After considerable thought (I had plenty of time to think it through), dying ain't a big fear...(how may be a concern from time to time   )...but not a fear....just another step in life.
 

Ditto here though I still have both feet!  Livin' is a bit of work, dieing is just permanent!